The latest Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is planned for the KitKat update but it appears that the Korean phone manufacturer is taking their own sweet time to roll it out. As such CyanogenMod has leapfrogged the phone vendor and offer the Note 3 users a custom Android 4.4.2 update.
This latest custom OS is a nightly built from the team of hackers and is based on the Android Open Source. Thanks to this, the ROM is stable and free of bloatwares. In fact, the interface is much like a stock Android.
If you’re interested to update you Galaxy Note 3 to the latest KitKat OS, you can follow the instructions below.
Pre-requisites
• The CyanogenMod 11 Nightly build and the instructions given in this guide are meant for the Galaxy Note 3 LTE (N9000) model only. Verify device model number by navigating to Settings > About Phone.
• 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 Note 3 LTE USB drivers ).
• Ensure USB debugging mode is enabled on the phone, by navigating to Settings > Developer Options (NOTE: Tap the phone’s Build Number seven times to unlock or reveal the hidden Developer Options under Settings.) Then select the checkbox to enable USB debugging mode under Settings > Developer Options.
• Make sure the phone has at least 80% battery charge to prevent unexpected device shutdown (due to battery drain) while installing the ROM.
• Ensure the device is unlocked (not locked to a specific carrier) and rooted with latest ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery (v6.0.4.5 or higher) installed.
• If the device is stuck at booting or experiencing boot loop issues, perform Wipe Cache Partition and Wipe Dalvik Cache a few more times before rebooting.
• Allow newly installed ROM to stabilise for five minutes before you start working on it.
• Downloads Required
• Android 4.4.2 CyanogenMod 11 Nightly ROM (dated 07-03-2014)
• Google Apps (KitKat compatible)
• CWM Recovery Advanced Edition (Philz_Touch recovery)
• TWRP Recovery
• Steps to Install Android 4.4.2 KitKat on Galaxy Note 3 N9000 with CyanogenMod 11 ROM
• Step-1: Download Android 4.4.2 KitKat CM11 ROM for Galaxy Note 3 N9000 to computer
• Step-2: Download Google Apps package
• Step-3: Connect the Galaxy Note 3 LTE to computer via USB cable. Without extracting, copy the downloaded firmware zip and Google Apps zip files to the root folder of the phone’s SD card.
• The CyanogenMod 11 Android 4.4.2 KitKat ROM can be installed on the Galaxy Note 3 LTE using either CWM or TWRP recovery. Follow any method based on the recovery mode installed on your device.
• How to Install Android 4.4.2 KitKat on Galaxy Note 3 LTE via ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery
• Power off the phone and 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 Note 3 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 Nightly firmware file (cm-11-20140307-Nightly-hlte.zip) which you copied earlier to your phone’s SD card. Choose Yes on next screen to confirm the firmware installation.
• Repeat the previous step to install Google Apps as well.
• Once Google Apps is also installed, select “+++++Go Back+++++”and reboot the phone by tapping reboot system now from the recovery menu. Your Galaxy Note 3 LTE will restart and it may take about 5 minutes for first boot. So, do not interrupt the process.
• Your Galaxy Note 3 (LTE) N9000 is now running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat via CyanogenMod 11 Nightly build. Go to Settings > About Phone to verify the firmware installed.
• How to Install Android 4.4.2 KitKat on Galaxy Note 3 LTE via TWRP Recovery
• Power off the phone and 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 S4 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). To do so, tap on Wipe and scroll down to the bottom of the screen and do a Swipe on “Swipe to factory reset” option.
• Now perform a System format by selecting Wipe > Advanced Wipe and then tap on System option. Scroll to the bottom of screen and do a swipe on “Swipe to Wipe” option.
• Tap on install and navigate to the CM11 Nightly ROM zip file you copied earlier to your phone’s SD card. Scroll to the bottom of screen and swipe on “Swipe to confirm flash” option to begin installing the firmware.
• Repeat the previous step to flash Google apps as well.
• Once Google Apps is also installed, select reboot and then tap on System to reboot your phone. Your Galaxy Note 3 LTE will restart and it may take about 5 minutes for first boot. So, do not interrupt the process.
• Your Galaxy Note 3 N9000 is now running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat via CyanogenMod 11 Nightly ROM. Go to Settings > About Phone to verify the firmware installed.
• NOTE: If the device is stuck at Samsung logo or entering bootloop, just perform factory reset once again and issue will be resolved.
