One of the good things about deciding to buy a terminal from the Samsung Galaxy range is that we make sure the have continuous update support, thanks to the great Android community behind all the terminals of the South Korean company. This is even or above all I would say, when Samsung removes them from its list of upgradeable devices to new versions of Android and stops supporting them.
For the case that concerns us today, I am going to teach you how to update the Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 4.4.4 Google Edition, or what is the same, to the latest version of Android available today, through a custom Rom based on the original firmware of the Samsung Galaxy S4 itself, Google Edition version.
Once again we must thank the users and chefs of the XDA Android Research and Development Forum, which is without a doubt the best Android forum with a lot of difference.
Features of the Rom Android 4.4.4 Google Edition
This Rom is based entirely on the latest original firmware of Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition, or what is the same model GT-I9505G. A rom considered pure Android to have an Android experience as clean as possible, although adapted by Samsung itself so that the hardwarwe of our Samsung terminals fits perfectly and we can get the best possible performance.
The Rom is coming Rooted as standard, with the Busybox installed and with a lot of tweaks and adjustments to get the most out of our Samsung Galaxy S4. Even the camera works perfectly, having the options of 1080p video recording. active mode or shooting in mode HDR among other options of interest.
What do I need to be able to install this Rom?
The first thing you will need, logically, is to have a terminal compatible with this Rom, or what is the same, a Samsung Galaxy S4 International Model GT-I9505. This must also be previously Rooted and available to the latest version of TWRP Recovery.
In addition to all that, and as I always advise you, you should have a safe backup EFS folder, nadroid backup of your entire operating system, as well as a backup of all your favorite applications, and that is with the flashing of this Rom we will proceed to format the entire system of our S4.
Files needed to flash the Rom
Being a Samsung original rom, this already comes with the Google Play Store conveniently installed as standard, so it will be enough for us to download the zip of the Rom itself and the zip of a specific Kernel for this version of Android that will avoid the problem of sporadic reboots reported by the first users of the Rom.
Once these compressed files have been downloaded in ZIP format, we will copy them to the root of the external memory of the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505, and we will restart in Recovery mode to proceed with the installation and flashing process.
Rom installation method or how to update Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 4.4.4 Google Edition
From the modified recovery we will follow these simple steps:
- We enter the option Wipe, then advanced wipe y we select all the options except the external memory card which is where we have the files to flash the Rom and the new Kernel.
- We go to the option install and select the kernel zip navigating to the external memory card which is where we initially place the file in question.
- Finally we return again to the option install to select the zip of the Rom and slide the bar again to execute the action and flash the Rom that will update our Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 4.4.4 Google Edition.
- Now we will only have to select the option Reboot system now and wait patiently for the first restart of the terminal, a first restart that usually takes a little while since you are finishing installing all the new flashed operating system.
Download – Android 4.4.4 Google Edition Rom for GT-I9505, Android Kernel 4.4.4 Google Edition
Is there the same for the S3? ox at least 4.4.2 on pure android ... thanks.
Works with s4 Telcel sgh-i337m?
Hello, do you have a video on youtube showing how to do the process? Thank you!
Does this ROM include the camera's hdr driver? I have cm 11 m10 installed on my galaxy s4 and it works great. I would only change it if said driver is available, although I understand that Samsung does not release it.
As discussed in the official XDA thread, the HDR works perfectly since it is a direct port of the official Samsung firmware for the S4 Google Edition.
Greetings friend.
Hello Francisco.
It is not clear to me what exactly I would lose compared to my official 4.4.2 (apart from the touchwiz layer) if I install this modified 4.4.4 version.
Could you detail it please? You would have a much more complete entry.
It is to assess the pros and cons of whether it is really worth the change and more considering that in November more or less it is likely that the official update 4.4.4 will arrive via OTA (at least to the free S4 since the associated to Movistar, Vodafone, etc ... I suppose it will take a lot longer).
Thank you very much.
Hi Francisco, a query could this update be made on the GT-I9500 model?
First of all, thanks, I have followed the steps and I have my S4 with android 4.4.4
I am not very well versed in these topics, possibly I did a wrong or incomplete step, as I still have the unexpected restart problems that I had with 4.4.2. The difference, that now when restarting, it appears at the top in red small letters that refer to recovery, but I could not tell you exactly what it says.
My device is on 4.4.4 KTU84P.S001.083.014 and kernel 3.4.0.-2669391 android @ gpe # 1 Tue Jun 17 10:47:41 KST 2014
Is it what it should have come to?
You can be so kind as to give me your opinion on the reboots.
Thank you very much
When restarting, it says KERNEL IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING SET WARRANTY BIT KERNEL.
Does this have anything to do with it?
Thank you
Hello Fernando and what about the GT I 9500 version ??? can the update be done ???
And please let me know if it is true that the official version will be released.
Thank you
Works with s4 Telcel sgh-i337m?
Tried it already, it doesn't work on SGH-i337.
Normally the cooked roms that come for the i9505, are also compatible with the i337m… .this ROM is compatible with these two versions
I want to update my s4 i9505 to 4.4.4 google edition but I want to know if this rom is really original or cooked because I do not like the cooked ones, they do not give anything but problems and another thing which of the 2 files is the rom and which is the kernel ...?
I have installed it and I have to say that the performance difference is absolutely brutal. With this version of Android it goes infinitely better than with the official Samsung one. It looks like another mobile.
does it work on the GT-I9500 version?
all very well, the only thing is that it comes clean there is a link to download the kernels .. tks
My car navigator is kitkat 4.4.4
I will win something by updating the smartphone, sign up to 4.4.4? Thanks to whoever helps me