It wasn’t that long ago when the Samsung Galaxy S3 got its OS updated to Android 4.3 and ever since then, plenty of issues with the Jelly Bean have been bugging the Galaxy S3 users.
Today, that nightmare is over as a custom ROM has been developed for S3 owners to update their device to the latest Android KitKat 4.4. Of course this is restricted to the GT-i9300 models only. More importantly, this custom KitKat ROM is free of bugs.
Of course not everything is perfect. This custom firmware is developed by OmniROM and is known to have a couple of issues where the camera is not functioning and the video playback can get pretty messy.
If none of these issues matter to you, then go ahead and update you Galaxy S3 by following these simple steps:
1. This ROM is only for the international version of GT-i9300 only. Forcing it into other device will have unpleasant results.
2. Root the smartphone and install the ClockworkMod Touch 6.0.32 or later on your Galaxy S3.
3. Perform a manual backup of all your personal files.
4. Make sure that battery life is at least 50 percent.
5. Enable USB debugging mode on your smartphone located in Settings.
6. Install all necessary USB drivers on your computer for the Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300.
7. Download the OmniROM 4.4 and PA Gapps to your computer.
Flashing Instructions
1. Connect your Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 to the computer via USB.
2. Copy the OmniROM 4.4 and PA Gapps. Paste it on the SD card of your Galaxy S3. Do not extract the zip files.
3. Disconnect the smartphone then switch it off.
4. Reboot into recovery mode by pressing and holding ‘volume up + home + power’ keys simultaneously until the Samsung logo appears.
5. Perform an Android backup of the current ROM used by Galaxy S3. Select ‘backup and restore > backup’ to save the ROM. If you regret the update, the restore will be able to undo everything.
6. Install the firmware and Google apps by selecting ‘install zip from SD card > choose zip from SD card > select OmniROM 4.4 > confirm installation.’ Do the same method for PA Gapps.
7. Return to the main menu then select ‘wipe data/factory reset.’
8. Reboot your device by selecting ‘reboot system now.’ This will take a while.
Upon start up, you should see the KitKat OS running you Galaxy S3.
In case the device goes on boot loop, head back into recovery mode and perform the following:
– ‘wipe data/factory reset’
– ‘wipe cache partition’
– ‘advanced > wipe Dalvik cache’
– ‘install zip from SD card
– ‘reboot system now’
If everything is in place, there shouldn’t be any issue with the installation.
