Samsung Galaxy S3’s mini version came out right after a few months of the S3 itself. The device was well received by the users, and became much popular because of being an affordable Android smartphone, especially among those who could not afford Samsung Galaxy S3 and wanted to enjoy some of the features of Galaxy S3 in a mini version.
Galaxy S3 mini boasted off a 4.0 inch Super AMOLED screen with 233 ppi, 1 GHz dual core processor, 1 GB Ram, 8/16 GB internal memory, while an external Sdcard slot supporting up to 32 GB. Out of the box, Galaxy S3 Mini runs on Android 4.1.1, while the device received an update to Android 4.1.2 after some time of its release.
While Android is an open source operating system and allows the developers to play with it in so many ways, and that being the operating system on Galaxy S3 Mini paved a way for the developers to develop custom ROMs, recoveries and mods for the device. Maclaw studios successfully managed to develop CyanogenMod 10.2 Custom Rom for Galaxy S3 Mini based on Android 4.3 recently. As of now the device is only upgradeable to Android 4.1.2, there is no official update for Android 4.2.2 or 4.3, so this is a good choice for those who want to get their hands on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean’s features before it officially rolls out for Mini S3 (that is not going to happen anytime soon).
***Please keep in mind that as soon as you install custom recovery or root your device, you may void the warranty. As the methods involved in rooting/flashing/modifying your device are highly custom, and these have nothing to do with the manufacturer, that is Samsung in our case, so make sure that whatever you do, you are doing at your own risk. Follow the instructions explained below to the letter, in case you didn’t you may end up bricking your device and we may not be held responsible in that case.***
Before we begin, here are some pre requisites that you must have:
- Your device must be rooted – Here’s the detailed root and cwm recovery installation guide.
- Make sure that your phone’s battery is charged over at least 60%.
- Use this method only on Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini i8190, we are not sure about other versions of S3 Mini, you may try at your own risk.
- Make sure that you back up all of your important Contacts, Call Logs & Messages. Although rooting your device does not delete any files, but this is highly recommended as it may become helpful in case of any mishap or data loss.
Things you need to download:
- CyanogenMod 10.2 Custom Rom: cm10.2_golden.maclaw.20131021.zip – Download Here.
- Gapps:gapps-jb-20130813-signed.zip – Download Here.
How to Install CM 10.2 Android Jelly Bean 4.3 on Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini i8190:
- Place the downloaded file on your device’s internal or external storage.
- Boot your phone into the recovery mode, to do so, press and hold Volume Up + Home Button + Power Key simultaneously and your device should now reboot into recovery mode.
- Select ”choose zip from sd card”, now select the directory here where you placed the downloaded files, either it is external storage or internal storage.
- Select the cm10.2_golden.maclaw.20131021.zip file and press yes.
- It should take a few minutes to flash the custom rom your Galaxy S3 Mini.
- As soon as the flashing has been finished, select the ”choose zip from sd card” again, and select the directory where you placed the files, this time select the file and press yes.
- After installing both the files successfully, choose wipe data/factory reset. This is not necessary but is highly recommended in order to avoid any bootloop or lag issues.
- After wiping the data, select advanced > wipe dalvik cache.
- All done, reboot your device.
- Congrats! You’ve successfully installed the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Custom firmware on your Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.
Got any queries? Feel free to leave us a comment. We will try our best to help you out with this. Thanks!
Hi there! Did follow all the steps and the phone keeps showing the CyanogenMod logo at startup but won’t start at all. What could be happening?
@disqus_7tVMP3909K:disqus boot into the recovery and wipe factory data / reset + wipe the cache. It should work now.
Normally the CM takes a little while to boot completely.
Boot into recovery, Navigate to ‘advance’ and select ‘Wipe Devlik Cache’….reboot again and it will work…
are there any chances of brick??
@disqus_LQu5ur4Y07:disqus No, there aren’t, but still we recommend do it at your own risk. Soft brick can be resolved upon flashing a stock firmware.
why can’t download that link it says download error
Is there another place to download the Golden Maclaw file because i keep getting an error in winzip that says unexpected end of archive
I’ll make a mirror and link here in a while, stay tuned.
never mind i got it sorted out thank you!
Did you download this ROM ? if so, did it work fine?
And is it the same process for any other rom? (such as android 4.4 also from maclaw studios)
Yes the process is same. You’ll just change the file.
hi I done everythin bt keep showing this cyanogenmod scrn and doesn’t wana start up what can I do
@disqus_65rmP3ucmZ:disqus boot into recovery mode > advanced and wipe dalvik cache and cache. Reboot your device, it may take up to 10 minutes to boot up completely.
No 3g or data enabled 🙁
@disqus_VsnKM6RnoL:disqus Make sure that your apn settings are perfect. Also check that mobile data is enabled in settings, and also enabled from the icon in the notification bar, Try restarting your phone and you should have it enabled.
apn settings arent being saved, tried restarting too
@disqus_VsnKM6RnoL:disqus Contact your service providers and confirm about your packet data from them, if you still can’t find the solution, you may go back to the stock rom.
but i wanted the official firmware on my s3 mini
There is no official 4.3 for Galaxy S3 Mini. @disqus_GOdRc18zfi:disqus
Is that version is stable ? Everytime i have installed a custom rom i get minor bugs.Will i get any problems in this version.And i am not installing root application when install a new rom.Am i getting this bugs for that ?
@yusufmelihgl:disqus yes this is quite stable.
İ have tried it it is awesome but i am wondering when kitkat version will be stabled
@yusufmelihgl:disqus KitKat is not expected for S3 Mini anytime soon, perhaps we will soon get a Custom ROM based on KitKat for S3 Mini.
@yusufmelihgl:disqus yes it is stable.
Hi. Please how do I get the google apps after the rom installation because the link for gapps above is not working
@minkagg:disqus the download button is the smallest one in between the ads on the developer’s host. Please click the button properly. The link is perfect and working fine as its uploaded by me.
can i return to Android 4.1.2??? and how??
@mohamedalaajer:disqus follow this guide: https://techbeasts.com/2013/10/12/how-to-install-stock-firmware-on-samsung-android-smartphones/
not worth to upgrade, its not stable and crashes all the time, also no support for fm radio, no dlna…
@lupo100:disqus as expected.. custom roms are always like this.. perhaps these give you a little feel of the highest version of Android..
is it possible to rollback to previous version?
Yes. Just use this guide: https://techbeasts.com/2013/10/12/how-to-install-stock-firmware-on-samsung-android-smartphones/
Thanks, i successfully managed to restore to 4.1.2
It Keeps Showing The Cyanogen Logo :/ Is My Device Bricked ?
dear Usama,i have installed cwm recovery using odin and upon restart it works fine,i have not installed the custom rom, but i decided not to upgrade to 4.3, how to go back to original mode and unroot?
@disqus_b5R0NQKz1V:disqus check the guide here: https://techbeasts.com/2013/10/12/how-to-install-stock-firmware-on-samsung-android-smartphones/
isit possible if i update from CM 10.1 on 4.2.2 to CM 11 will i change from 4,2,2 to a 4.3 KITKAT by itself ?
@namelusservant:disqus yes it is possible.
Always I try but say E:failed to verify whole-file signature and E:signature verification failed
@disqus_lHtdUVJ7CQ:disqus what device model do you have?
S3 Mini I8190 … I have install Kit Kat 4.4.2 using Cyanogen Mod 11.2 it’s good to use it, but no in S3 Mini. Because some things that I search S3 Mini’s Kit Kat don’t have them.
!!~ Can you help me in version Jelly Bean 4.1.2 what firmware must be to install in S3 Mini for Kosovo …
A Firmware that help to battery life and some aplications…
GT-I8190. But thanks I’m tired about this versions with CanyogenMod.
I have Kit Kat 4.4.2 but I don’t like at the all.
@disqus_lHtdUVJ7CQ:disqus you may go back to your stock firmware then.
same bug E: signature verification failed
help me
my device s3 mini gt-i8190
@benmayvin:disqus try changing the place of .zip file. E.g place it on external if you tried it on internal first and vice versa. Also make sure that you’re using latest CWM recovery to install this guide, make sure you use the CWM recovery linked above.
tried many times, getting same issue E:failed to verify whole file signature:
E:signeture verification failed
anyway thanks
@benmayvin:disqus Let me do a little research and I’ll let you know. Stay connected.
boss i successfully upgraded to 4.4.2 but i had a big issue that my sim card is not recognized in my device i tried 4.3 also but same problem please help me to fix
thanks for ur advice
@benmayvin:disqus did you have EFS backup? if so then flash it, and this post is for 4.3, from where did you flash 4.4.2? Try flashing latest stock firmware if you don’t have EFS.
i downloaded cm11.0 from nova fusions but i think this firmware region is not for india.wil flashing 10.2 fix my issue
@benmayvin:disqus for these ROMs, region doesn’t matter, you just need to pick the proper model number.
model no is correct but i think some other issue in it,
i downloaded stock rom too,but after installing it in my device.its not booting.i don’t wat might be the problem
@benmayvin:disqus go to recovery and wipe all data and then flash stock firmware, should work after that.
after i update my samsung i8190 to 4.1.2 using Cyanogen Mod 11.2 my phone is dead help me please.. how to fix it…
@disqus_bigIZb0fPy:disqus you surely can boot into download mode,please flash stock firmware.