However it seems that the old handset hasn’t been forgotten as CyanogenMod have come up with a ROM that takes the device to KitKat 4.4.2 and it goes by the name of the CM11 and is for the I8190 and I8190N version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.
This means that the older device will bring all the feature of CM11, which includes CPU sleep mode, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, offline charging and BLN plus more.
So if you want to go ahead and breathe new life into your Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini here is how to do it.
Pre-requisites
– The Android 4.4.2 CyanogenMod 11 ROM and the instructions given in this guide are meant for the international Galaxy S3 Mini (I8190 and I8190N) models only.
– Verify that your phone has access to latest custom recovery tools such as TWRP v2.6.3.0 and higher or CWM v6.0.4.5 and above.
– Back up data and settings using a recommended custom recovery tool, like ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP, as it creates a complete image of the existing phone setup. In Recovery, choose Backup and Restore and tap Backup.
– Verify correct USB drivers for the phone are installed on the computer (download Galaxy S3 Mini USB drivers).
– Ensure USB debugging mode is enabled on the phone, by navigating to Settings > Developer Options. Then select the checkbox to enable USB debugging mode under Settings > Developer Options.
– Make sure the device has at least 80% battery charge to prevent unexpected device shutdown (due to battery drain) while installing the ROM.
– Ensure the phone is unlocked (not locked to a specific carrier) and rooted with latest ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery installed.
Flashing Instruction
– Connect the Galaxy S3 Mini to computer via USB cable and copy the downloaded ROM and Google Apps zip files to the root folder on the phone’s SD card.
– Disconnect the USB cable and Power off the phone. Wait for 5 to 10 seconds until the device shuts down completely.
– Now press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together, until the Galaxy S3 mini logo appears on screen.
– Then release all three buttons at the same time to boot into recovery mode. NOTE: In recovery mode, use Volume keys to navigate between options and Power key to select the desired option.
– Perform Wipe data/Factory reset (this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress) and choose Yes on next screen to confirm the action.
– Return to CWM recovery main menu and select Mounts and Storage > Format System and click Yes on next screen to confirm.
– From the main menu of CWM recovery, go to Advanced and choose Wipe Dalvik Cache. Then hit Yes on next screen to confirm.
– Select Install Zip from sdcard and then click Choose zip from sdcard. Browse to the location of the CM11 firmware file which you copied earlier to your phone’s SD card. Choose Yes on next screen to confirm the firmware installation.
– Once the firmware is installed, select “+++++Go Back+++++” and reboot the phone by tapping reboot system now from the recovery menu. Your Galaxy S3 mini will restart and it may take about 5 minutes for first boot to complete. Once booted, you should see the KitKat in effect.
