Last Updated on April 12, 2017 by Mathew Diekhake

The Samsung galaxy S4 I9500 or otherwise known as just the S4 announced way back in March of 2013 and released not long after that. When it first came out it had Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. It was then updated to Android 4.3 and lastly 4.4.2 KitKat. Thankfully, today we have a newer version of the 4.4.2 namely UBUFND2 KitKat, an official firmware released by Samsung.

By reading this post, you should have no hassle completing this guide in 15 minutes or under that time. We know that it is very tempting to just dive in where it says the start of the steps instead of taking the time to read through some guidance first, but we recommend you do. Firstly, there are a few things you will need and the rest are precautionary measures.

Samsung Galaxy S4 smart case

Today I was reading other blogs and I found out that many are reporting that 4.4.3 could be out in just a few weeks time.That is exciting news for Android enthusiasts. However, don’t sit back and wait for it because just because it launches that soon does not mean it will be coming to this device that quickly. In fact, we expect it being more like the end of the year. With that in mind, it is a good idea to follow this guide and install the latest chocolate build instead.

 

Checklist

  • This guide is made for the GT-I9500 model that has the name of Galaxy S4. Do not try and install it on any other. It is an official firmware that has only been made for that device. Failing to listen to this and to install it on a different device could result in very serious issues such as the bricking of the handset. We are in no way liable for damages if that happens.
  • Download the Samsung Galaxy USB drivers here to make sure there is no connection problems when we plug in the smartphone to the Windows-based computer.
  • You might have seen me mention Windows in the last step and thought why not any other operating system instead like Linux or Mac? Well, the reason is that Odin, the tool we use for this update that is officially made by Samsung developers, is made only to work on Windows PCs. As far as we know this goes from XP through to Windows 8. However, XP is not supported by Microsoft anymore. This only started happening a few weeks ago. That means if I was you I would be looking to upgrade to Vista at the very least.
  • It is a good idea to take the time to backup all personal data and mobile settings so you do not lose them if the worst case scenario happens as something goes wrong. Internal storage is safe to use. The S4 I9500 comes with 16 GB of built-in storage and has a maximum user space of 9 GB. That means 7 GB is already being used by the Android OS and its programs. For most of us, that is not enough space and when it comes to backing up the device you might not have room to do so. If that sounds like the situation you find yourself in at this point do not worry because Sammy has a solution. Thanks to external storage options such as microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC people can go to the stores and buy extra memory options. Always ask your local retailer what the right SD card for your device is. It is tricky because there are lots of different types. If you are confident and don’t live near any stores you can also shop online at places such as eBay. Alternatively you can sync Samsung smartphones with Samsung Kies.
  • Enable USB Debugging mode by visiting the Develop Options section. If you are upgrading from Android 4.2 then it is hidden. You will need to go to Settings > About Phone > Tap on build number seven to ten times to unlock it.
  • Disable Samsung Kies software if it is already installed on your computer. Also temporarily disable any antivirus or malware protection that is running on the Android OS and on the Windows computer. The reason we ask for this to happen is because when we use ODIN to flash a new ROM or firmware the Kies application or security programs will block it. That does not mean that Samsung does not like what we are doing here though. Remember they are the ones that issued this.

How To Install Android UBUFND2 4.4.2 KitKat on the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500

1. Download the UBUFND2 firmware file to the C: Drive or any location of your choice.

2. Download the Odin application, namely 3.09.

3. Click Start on Windows > then type Odin into the search field. The program will come up. Now double-click the zipped file and it will open. After “unzipping” the file, it will be clickable once again. When it shows a blue icon this is the program. Double click once more and Odin is open on the desktop. There are security warnings along the way, dismiss them.

4. With the smartphone turned off, boot into download mode by pressing Home + Power + Vol Down. Keep holding until you see the logo shown up.

5. Connect the S4 I9500 to the computer with a USB cable. If you do not know where it is people use it every day as a connection to the phone charger so check the bedroom or bathroom! One end will fit the phone and the other the computer system unit. It can do in the front or back. If Odin does not say “added” then update the USB drivers.

6. Click the PDA button with Odin and upload the UBUFND2 firmware here.

7. Leave the other options inside Odin as they already are by default.

8. Click the start button.

9. Wait until Odin sends out a “pass” message on the screen.

10. Turn off Odin by clicking the red “X” in the top right corner.

11. Right-click the safely remove hardware icon that is found from the Windows taskbar. The bar I am referring to is a bar at the bottom of the screen, the same bar the Start button is on. It is often near the clock on the opposite side though. Now click Stop USB Mass storage device. Wait until it says it is now safe to remove the hardware.

12. Unplug the S4 from the computer and you are finished.