It’s rumoured that the Samsung Galaxy S2 might not get KitKat 4.4, but owners needn’t worry, as CyanogenMod has launched its own version of KitKat – CM11.
CyanogenMod 11 can go onto the GT-i9100 version of the Galaxy S2. It’s part of the Android Open Source Project, so it’s free from all the bloatware that comes on the official update. Users will also get a theme editor, CPU Governor and customisation, as well as default memory, services and apps.
It’s not an official update, so owners will need to install it themselves, which does carry some risks, so if you want to proceed, make sure you read through these instructions carefully.
Requirements:
Flash the firmware to the Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 only – any other models might be damaged.
Root the phone then install a custom recovery like ClockworkMod.
Install the right USB drivers for your Galaxy S2 on your PC.
Make a manual backup of all your personal info, settings and data files.
Make sure that your battery level is at least 50 per cent to prevent any power loss during the flash.
Enable USB debugging mode on your phone. Head to “Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging mode” or “Settings > Developer options > USB debugging.”
Download CyanogenMod 11 for Galaxy GS2 and the Google Apps package to your computer.
Flashing Instructions:
Connect your Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 to your PC with a USB cable.
Copy the CyanogenMod 11 and Google Apps package onto the SD card of your phone without extracting the zip files.
Unplug the phone from the PC and turn it off.
Reboot it into recovery mode by pressing and holding the volume Up, home and power keys at the same time till you see the Samsung logo.
Inside recovery mode, make an Android backup of your current ROM. Select “backup and restore > backup.” You can then restore the saved ROM inside the SD card anytime.
Do a full wipe on your phone. Select “wipe data/factory reset” and “wipe cache partition.” Then select “advanced > wipe Dalvik cache.”
Return to the main menu and install CyanogenMod 11 by selecting “install zip from SD card > choose zip from SD > search the ROM you have copied earlier > confirm installation.” Do the same thing with the Google Apps.
Once the installation has finished, go back and select “reboot system now.”
It might take five minutes or more before your Galaxy S2 reaches the home screen after rebooting.
If all’s gone well your Galaxy S2 should now be running the CyanogenMod 11 ROM.
