Let’s face it. Smartphones ages quickly. Perhaps, too quickly. A couple of years’ ago, all the buzz was on the Samsung Galaxy S2 with the tabloids applauding it to be the best performing smartphone yet. There is no denying that the S2 is a great device back in its prime but how does that translates in today’s time?
Many view the Galaxy S2 as something that is outdated. Heck, even Samsung has ceased all updates for the old wonder. However, looking at the S2, it can be classified as a mid-tier phone. Samsung might have stop the updates but there is no denying that the S2 is still able to handle the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS.
If you’re stil a Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 owner, you can get this KitKat today. No, it is not the official update from Samsung. CyanogenMod has returned and has taken custody of the Galaxy S2. A custom KitKat ROM called CM11 has been developed specifically for the device and it is free of bugs and bloatware. On top of that, you will get access to all the best CM apps out there.
Interested? Then read the guide below to get you Galaxy S2 updated.
1. Flash this firmware to the Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 only. Doing it on other models will risk bricking it.
2. Root the handset and then install a custom recovery like ClockworkMod.
3. Install the USB drivers for your Galaxy S2 on your PC.
4. Make a manual backup of all your personal info, settings and data files.
5. Ensure that your battery level is at least 50% to stop any power interruptions during the flash.
6. Enable the USB debugging mode on your phone. Head to Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging mode or Settings > Developer options > USB debugging.
7. Download CyanogenMod 11 for Galaxy S2 i-9100 and the Google Apps package to your computer.
Flashing Instructions
1. Connect your Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 to your PC via USB.
2. Copy the CyanogenMod 11 and the Google Apps packages to the SD card of the Galaxy S2. Do not extract the zip files.
3. Unplug the phone from the PC before turning it off.
4. Reboot into recovery mode by pressing and holding the volume up, home and power keys at the same time until the Samsung logo appears.
5. Inside recovery mode, make an Android backup of your current ROM. Select “backup and restores > backup.” You can then restore the saved ROM inside the SD card anytime you need to.
6. Do a full wipe on your phone. Select “wipe data/factory reset” and “wipe cache partition.” Then choose “advanced > wipe Dalvik cache.”
7. Return to the main menu and install the 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.
8. Once the installation has completed, go back and select “reboot system now.”
9. It might take five minutes or so before your Galaxy S2 reaches its home screen after rebooting. Once done, enjoy your KitKat.
