Install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on Galaxy S4 VE I9515/L via CM 13

Galaxy S4 Value edition, a little different variant of the original Galaxy S4 came out of the curtains carrying Android 4.4.2 KitKat on-board. Samsung updated this device to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, and probably this is where the software life of this device will come to an end. Samsung won’t be updating the Galaxy S4 or any of its siblings to any further version of Android because of hardware limitations. Whenever a manufacturer puts the updates of a device to an end, custom ROMs help the devices to continue their journey and enjoy the higher Android version. Something similar has happened with the Galaxy S4 Value Edition as well. Marshmallow time is at its peak as Google has already released this new version of Android all around. If you’re a Galaxy S4 Value Edition owner and you’re also willing to get your hands on Google’s latest OS in your smartphone, it may be the right time for you to do so.

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow is now available for the Galaxy S4 Value Edition GT-I9515 and GT-I9515L by means of CyanogenMod 13 custom ROM. CyanogenMod 13 is the most popular and widely used aftermarket Android firmware and has always given the devices which are forgotten by the manufacturers, a new life. The available CyanogenMod 13 custom ROM is an unofficial build. Most of the mainstream features like RIL, WiFi, Bluetooth, Camera are found to be working fine. The ROM seems good enough to flash, but we still recommend you to flash this ROM on your Galaxy S4 Value Edition if you’re an Android power user and you know how these custom ROMs work. For newbies, we recommend following this guide carefully to avoid any mishap. Let’s update our beloved Galaxy S4 Value Edition I9515 / I9515L to Android 6.0 Marshmallow via CM 13 custom ROM now.

Pre-installation instructions

1. This guide is intended for Galaxy S4 Value Edition GT-I9515/I9515L users. Do not try this on any other device. Using the files linked here on a different device can result in bricking it. Verify your device model number in your phone’s settings > about device section.
2. Your device must be running the latest possible available version of Android.
3. Charge your phone up to 50% to avoid any power issues during the flashing process.
4. Backup everything including contacts, call logs, sms messages and bookmarks. Also copy your media content to your computer.
5. Create a Nandroid backup. This is highly recommend so that in case something goes wrong, you will be able to restore your system immediately by restoring Nandroid backup.
6. Create an EFS backup of your device as well. Save the EFS backup to some safe place in your computer.
7. Backup your important apps and apps data using Titanium backup if you want.
8. Follow this guide carefully.

DISCLAIMER:THE METHODS INVOLVED IN FLASHING CUSTOM RECOVERIES, ROMS AND ROOTING YOUR PHONE ARE HIGHLY CUSTOM AND MAY RESULT IN BRICKING YOUR DEVICE, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOOGLE OR THE DEVICE MANUFACTURER THAT IS SAMSUNG IN OUR CASE. ALSO ROOTING YOUR DEVICE WILL VOID ITS WARRANTY AND YOU WILL BE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR ANY KIND OF FREE DEVICE SERVICES BY THE MANUFACTURERS/WARRANTY PROVIDERS. IN CASE OF ANY MISHAP WE MAY NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

Install TWRP Recovery on your Galaxy S4 Value Edition

1. Download Odin3 V3.10.6.zip file and extract it on your desktop.
2. Download and install Samsung USB drivers.
3. Download TWRP Recovery.tar file and copy it to your desktop.
4. Open Odin3 V3.10.6.exe that you extracted on your PC.
5. Put your S4 Value Edition in download mode now. To do so, turn it off completely. Now turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Down + Home + Power Key. Once your phone boots up, press the Volume Up key to continue.
6. Connect your phone to your PC now. The ID:COM box in the top-left corner of Odin3 should  turn blue. This indicates that your phone is connected properly.
7. Now click the “AP” tab in Odin and select the TWRP recovery.tar file that you downloaded. It will take a second or two for Odin3 to load this file.
8. Make sure that your Odin3 looks like this. The only option ticked should be F. Reset Time.
9. 
   
10. Now you’re all set to flash the recovery. Just click the start button in Odin3 and sit back.
11. Once the process box above ID:COM box shows green light and flashing process is finished, disconnect your device.
12. Now turn off your device properly as we are going to boot into recovery mode.
13. Now turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Up + Home + Power Key. This will boot your device in recovery mode. It should be TWRP recovery that you just installed.

Update Galaxy S4 Value Edition I9515/I9515L to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow via CyanogenMod 13

1. Make sure that you’ve installed TWRP recovery on your Galaxy S4 Value Edition.
2. Download  latest cm-13.0-xxxxx.zip file.
3. Download Gapps.zip (ARM 6.0.zip)file for CM 13.
4. Download SuperSu.zip file.
5. Connect your phone to your PC now.
6. Copy the all the .zip files to the storage of your phone.
7. Now disconnect your phone and turn it off complete.
8. 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.
9. Now in TWRP  recovery, wipe cache, factory data reset and advanced options > dalvik cache.
10. After wiping all these three, select “Install” option.
11. Now select “Install > Choose Zip from SD card > Select cm-13……xxxxx.zip file > Yes”.
12. This will flash the ROM in your phone, once done get back to the main menu in recovery.
13. Now once again select “Install > Choose Zip from SD card > Select Gapps.zip file > Yes”
14. This will flash the Gapps in your phone.
15. Now following the instructions listed in step 10, 11, flash SuperSu.zip file s well.
16. Reboot your device.
17. You should see the Android 6.0 Marshmallow running on your device in a while.
18. 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.

Got any queries? Reach us out through the comment box below.