Last Updated on November 5, 2016 by Mathew Diekhake
Even though we are well into seeing Android KitKat’s software to many devices, there was some devastating news over the past 24 hours that international models of the S3 would not do not see any Android 4.4.2 updates. Opportunely that will not be a problem for owners of the S3 LTE I9305 that we are talking about here. Yes, I can confirm that 4.4.2 will be coming your way, possibly in a matter of weeks. If you want to wait instead of installing this update then that is understandable. However, it is not a guarantee to be coming that soon and in many respects, that is the best case scenario we anticipate happening. So, if you are anything like me, and waiting a few weeks for something is unbearable the good news is that after following these instructions you will have the XXUENC2 build rolling before you know it. Let me run you through a few things quickly first.
Anyway, if you want to flash the XXUENC2 firmware, but the OTA is not available yet, or you only don’t receive them because you are customized, then we can show you how to install it. Otherwise, if you already know how to do that then you can just download the file from us and be on your way.
Checklist
- This step by step guide is made compatible with the Samsung galaxy LTE I9305 model number only. Therefore, it is dangerous to install it on any other model because Android only made this for that version. That means if you do have a different smartphone all together it could brick it.
- Even though Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP it is still OK to use for this installment. Recognize that it can solely be done on Windows-based machine. When I say that I do not mean the brand on the system unit itself, but the operating system and software that you see on the screen. When you start the computer up and it says Windows anything from XP through to Windows 8 should be fine. However, now as we head well into 2014, everybody should try to upgrade to at least Windows Vista to ensure there are no problems in the future.
- Next, you need to backup your smartphone. The internal storage is a fabulous spot to save the private data such as contacts and call logs, SMS text and more. From memory, this device has 32 GB of built-in native storage. For many people who is not enough space, particularly when you take into account all the scope the Android OS is already taken up by the time you get to use your own video, pictures and music. So, for those people Sammy has made an additional 64 GB of space up for grabs via MicroSD, MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC memory cards. These cards are available to buy from a local electronic store or places like eBay if you prefer to shop online.
- Since this guide is installing official firmware signed off by the manufacturer and the carrier, there is no need to have any custom recovery image, apps or anything of that nature to get the job done. It is all very straightforward and all you need is ODIN that we will introduce to you shortly.
- There are many rumors about whether you need an unlocked bootloader to do things like this. I can assure you that is not correct. It will work for locked smartphone and rooted phones. However, the root will be revoked after the installation is complete. Luckily, blogs are very good at covering this thing these days and you will be able to find another guide that secure root access once again. Simply go to Google and type in the device, model number and firmware details + root and it will ping back details of any known sources. Alternatively, you can try to find it on this site!
How To Install Official XXUENC2 Jelly Bean Android 4.3 on the Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE I9305
1. Download the I9305XXUENC2 file.
2. Download Odin 3.09. Chose the desktop if you dislike searching for files. With Windows, it is not difficult to find files if you save to the C: Drive instead. Go to Start > Search box and type in Odin and the file will appear. Now double click to open it.
3. With the handset off already, press and hold Power + Volume Down + Home and boot into download mode.
4. Take the fingers off at the same time when you see a logo on the screen that looks like Android.
5. Open the Odin application by unzipping the file either on the desktop of the way I told you by using the search box. It may give security warnings coming directly from the OS. We know we trust this source so allow us access and proceed to open it.
6. Plug the smartphone into the computer system unit using the USB cable. If you cannot locate the cable check your phone charger! Many people use it for this reason every day and forget it is also the USB.
7. Look inside Odin for a message appearing saying “added” or the ID Com port changing color. That means the program is reading the connection perfectly. If not the number one reason is not having up to date USB drivers. Navigate to Samsung’s official website to download those.
8. Click on the PDA button and upload the file that says the XXUENC2 firmware file.
9. The program will already have default settings setup. There is no need to touch any of these. Two options are marked as “on” and that is normal. They are F reset Time and Auto Reboot.
10. Click start when you are happy that everything is how I asked.
11. Do not touch anything inside Odin, on the computer or mobile device while it flashes just to be safe. Interruptions are often costly.
12. Close down Odin when you see the “pass’ message appear on the screen.
13. Disconnect the Galaxy S3 properly from the PC by right-clicking on the safely remove hardware icon in the taskbar. It is normal in the bottom right side near the clock. Now stop the USB Mass storage connection. When it says it is safe to take out, then disconnect the cable from the phone and the computer and it is all done.
Troubleshooting
On rare occasions, the Galaxy S3 can get stuck in a boot loop. If you are experiencing these symptoms, then I will give you the information required to get out of trouble. The first step to take is going into recovery mode. From here, select wipe data factory reset and wipe cache partition.It can be done in any order as long as you do both. Cache can be very frustrating, so I recommend doing this twice just to make sure it is cleared. Return to the main screen and select the option called reboot system now. It will have you out of trouble.