Galaxy S3 Mini is currently running on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and it doesn’t seem that Samsung is in a mood to update this device to any further version of Android. While Samsung has stuck this device on 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, Google has rolled out Android 4.4.4 KitKat and started updating its Nexus devices to this latest and greatest version of Android. Galaxy S3 Mini users might be disappointed on this, but the disappointment isn’t meant to last long as the developers are always there to bring up something that can give the Android devices a new life.
XDA Senior Member New Maclaw has once again brought up the latest firmware, Android 4.4.4 KitKat for the Galaxy S3 Mini based on the famous custom ROM CyanogenMod 11. The firmware is stable and maybe kept for everyday’s use on your device. This seems quite a good chance to get your Galaxy S3 Mini KitKat treatment as CyanogenMod has always remained the users’s choice. As you move forward, you will find a comprehensive guide that will help you to install this Android 4.4.4 KitKat on your Galaxy S3 Mini using the CyanogenMod 11 Custom ROM. You just need to make sure that you follow all the instructions carefully in order to get it done successfully.
Update: Install Android 5.0.2 Lollipop On Your Galaxy S3 Mini With CyanogenMod 12 Custom ROM
Here are the early preparations:
- This ROM is only for Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini GT-I8190/N/L. Do not try this on any other device, please check your device’s model in Settings > About Device > Model.
- Your device must have a custom recovery installed, in case you’re missing it you may Follow our full guide here to install TWRP.
- Your device’s battery should be charged at least over 60%. This is highly recommended in order to prevent any power issues during the flashing process.
- Make sure that you backup your important media content, Contacts, Call Logs & Messages. This is highly recommended just in case something goes wrong and you need to reset your phone.
- If you already have rooted your device, use Titanium Backup to back up all your important apps + system data. Also if you are using a custom recovery, it is recommended that you backup your current system using that first. [Just for the sake of safety]. Here’s our full Nandroid Backup guide.
- You will have to go through Data Wipes during installation of this ROM, so make sure that you have backed up all the mentioned data.
- Make an EFS backup of your phone before you flash this ROM.
- You need enough confidence to flash this ROM.
- Alright! Go ahead and flash the custom firmware, follow this guide to the letter.
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How To Install Android 4.4.4 KitKat On Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Using CM 11 Custom ROM:
- Download cm11.0_golden.nova.20140628.zip file.
- Download Gapps.zip file for CM 11.
- Connect your phone to your PC now.
- Copy the both the .zip files to the storage of your phone.
- Now disconnect your phone and turn it off complete.
- Boot into TWRP recovery now, in order to do so, turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Up + Home Button + Power Key. You should see the recovery mode in a while.
- Now in TWRP recovery, wipe cache, factory data reset and advanced options > dalvik cache.
- After wiping all these three, select “Install” option.
- Now select “Install > Choose Zip from SD card > Select cm1..0_golden.nova.20140628.zip file > Yes”.
- This will flash the ROM in your phone, once done get back to the main menu in recovery.
- Now once again select “Install > Choose Zip from SD card > Select Gapps.zip file > Yes”
- This will flash the Gapps in your phone.
- Reboot your device.
- You should see the Android 4.4.4 KitKat ROM running on your device in a while.
- That’s all!
First boot may take up to 10 minutes, you may not worry if it’s taking that much long. In case it’s taking too long, you may boot into TWRP recovery and wipe cache and dalvik cache and reboot your device as it may fix the issue. In case your device is having issues, you may return to your old system using the Nandroid backup or follow our guide here to install stock firmware.
In case you got any issues or you face any difficulties regarding this post, please feel free to stop by the comment box below and let us know. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you all.
Hello Usama thanks for the good job.
I just install this custum ROM in my S3 mini and completed succeseful.
I just wanna know about battery life feedback with this new system, do you use it too ? how do you feel about the battery draining ?
@rachid_e:disqus Custom ROMs usually eat less battery.. I haven’t used it, but it won’t eat it up that faster.
I DID IT! I’m a tech newb but if you just read the instructions carefully, you will follow. This is my first time doing all of this and I did it on my own! All it takes is a little reading and you’ll be good. Thank you VERY MUCH Usama for all of your valued articles!! 😀 I’m sooo happy!
@firstladykp:disqus Pleasure is all mine 🙂 Stay connected with us and let me know if you should require any further help.
@syedabidzaidi:disqus yes it will also work with CWM. Just use the latest recovery.
Mr usama, which Gapps u prefer for a s3 mini user like me ? full modular or maybe just micro or mini ?
@disqus_T83bY2SP5w:disqus Go with micro. That will suite you.
Mr usama again im sorry to bother u this much. but when im installing the gapps, which i downloaded earlier but i download all the package. it showed an error message. and now i cant open every apps in my phone. such as gallery and other. So what should i do ? reinstalling the gapps ? do i have to wipe the data again ?
@disqus_T83bY2SP5w:disqus clear cache and dalvik cache and flash gapps again. No need to wipe data.
Mr usama, after i installed Cyanogen and the gapps, the error message keep popping out from my screen. I can’t open my files , internet, and other now. What should i do ? I’m sorry i’m new in this
@disqus_T83bY2SP5w:disqus which CyanogenMod you flashed. 5.0.2 or 4.4.4? Did you perform clean installation?
4.4.4. what do you mean by clean installation ? i did every step that u state in the to do list .
@disqus_T83bY2SP5w:disqus Clean installation means, perform a factory data reset prior to the installation of custom ROM.
@disqus_T83bY2SP5w:disqus factory reset your device and flash a new stock firmware on it.
@disqus_T83bY2SP5w:disqus what error are you exactly getting?
installed twrp successfully following your instructions. however, when trying to backup – it fails. it also fails in twrp, when trying to wipe cache/dalvik cache, factory data reset for preparation to install the custom rom. my phone is a gt-i8190l (latin version – which i really didn’t know at the time i bought it). any help would be appreciated.
@disqus_lTlxLzaXAK:disqus try using TWRP 2.8, its available now.
unfortunately, it didn’t work. now thinking of unrooting. can you provide a virus free site to download the stock rom? Samsung official site does not have it. I tried a “suggest” download site and got a virus and had to reimage my pc. in the end, root and install custom roms is not my thing…just want the phone back to original stock. thanks.
@disqus_lTlxLzaXAK:disqus download it from Sammobile.com
Hi! I’ve rooted my samsung galaxy S3 mini and tried to get both Kitkat and lollipop on it.. But it wont work. Everytime I select the CM11 zip from my SD card it say “signature verification failure”. Is it possible to come around or will I have to live with the old 4.1.1?
@disqus_uFBr85s7zs:disqus you need to use the latest version of TWRP recovery to flash Lollipop. It’s recovery issue only.
So, I am thinking hard if I should do this, but I am afraid that my telephone is going to get slow or won’t start working properly.
@disqus_ESOIkd6kvW:disqus can’t help you on this question. These are custom firmwares and we cannot guarantee anything.
hello mr hussama, i have followed your instrucntions to the letter to try and update the android to 4.4.4, but on install it shows on the log that some changes failed on the set_perm. then when i try to reboot it it says that root access possibly lost. after that it just stais on the load screen for hours.. thank you in advance and continue the brilliant work
So hey, Mr Usama, I have a problem… When I set up everything, it boot up properly. But when there’s the part where I have to set up gmail account, wi-fi etc.. My phone suddenly shut down.
ive rooted my s3 mini on the 4.1.2 frimware ive downloaded both the custom 4.4.4 kitkat and google. when i put them into root of storage on my phone then wipe it etc, it wipes the files ive put in for the custom firmware. how do i get around this?
@waynecolliganbrindley:disqus Try putting files on an external SD card and then try locating them in the recovery.
before doing this, tell me – have you installed a custom recovery? If so, then which one?
@disqus_sKo0iOH1mp:disqus try clearing cache and dalvik cache from recovery and set it up afterwards. Let me know if this helps or not.
I’ve done all the steps ok and copied the zip files to my internal memory.
Now I just can’t find the zip files when I Boot into TWRP recovery and hit the install option, what am I doing wrong?
@disqus_nUnxamm1au:disqus You’ve to locate the files. If you’ve copied files properly and you’ve already flashed TWRP, then the files must appear. Try placing the files on external SD card and then try finding them on external storage. Best of luck.
Hi, so i recently tried downloading the two zip files and it says that it has been deleted, is there anyway for me to possibly get these files ?
Hello Mr. Usama. Thank you for all the information provided. This is my very first time doing something like this and it is everything going very well so far. Now, I’m in steps vii and viii. Sorry but I don’t understand the steps. Which “3” are you refering to? And, another question: which GAPP do you recomend? I saw “stock”, “full”, “mini”, “micro”, “nano” and “pico”.
Cheers.
@nickonaranjo:disqus It completely depends on your choice. Since you’re new to this stuff, I’ll recommend Stock or Full as you will want to see all Google Apps in your phone. Best of luck.
Thank you very much for your response!!!!!
Hi Mr. Usama. I’m planning ahead this installation. Once I have the KitKat rom running, I will have a “clean” system. How do I get everything I had before? Do I need to re install everything again? Is it possible to use one of those backups I did to get something back?
Thanks again!
Nicolas
@nickonaranjo:disqus you can backup everything using Titanium Backup. You can backup your contacts, call logs, sms messages and everything. All the guides are linked above. Please have a look on them.
Once you’re done flashing, you can restore everything using those guides.
Hi, i can’t download the cm1..0_golden.nova.20140628.zip & gapps.zip. Can you provide new link . TQVM
@simmonkhannaz:disqus Get the relevant gapps from opengapps.org
i have gone to the site opengapps.org, i am unable to locate Gapps.zip, can you help please. thanks
After the new ROM is up and running will the device still be rooted? I want 4.4 on my s3 mini but I don’t want the device to be rooted.
@disqus_eo0cNjEQUp:disqus You can enable root after flashing the ROM by going into developer options.