The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 started rolling out over the air recently, enabling LTE connectivity on the device to go hand in hand with T-Mobile’s new LTE network. Now, the full entire Android 4.1.2 firmware is available for manual installation.
Along with enabling the LTE radios on the device, your device will be updated to Android 4.1.2 with build number T889UVBMB4, which includes changes such as one-finger gestures to expand/collapse notifications, performance and stability enhancements. While the update should be available on your device over the air, you can use our guide below to manually update instead of waiting, which is particularly useful if you’re currently using a custom ROM.
However, keep in mind that manually updating, especially if you’re on a custom ROM, might require you to factory reset your device, and while apps and personal data can be backed up and restored, things like your Google account will need to be re-entered. If you aren’t okay with that, it is best to wait for the over the air update to arrive on your phone.
Continue reading to find out how the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean firmware can be installed on the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2.
Compatibility
The guide below is compatible only and only with T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2, model number SGH-T889. It will not work with other carrier variants. Check your device’s model number in: Settings » About phone.
Warning
The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to your device, we won’t be held liable.
How to Update T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
- [Important] You might need to wipe the data on the phone to make the firmware boot up properly, specially if you flash it over a custom ROM. To be sure you do not lose any data, backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you. The SD card contents are always safe, so there is no need to back up those. Only backup apps and personal data.
- Download and install the software Kies on your computer, which will install the necessary drivers for the phone.
Download Kies
You can also download the drivers directly — download from here: 32 bit (x86) Windows | 64-bit (x64) Windows - Download the firmware.
Download Link | Filename: T889UVBMB4_T889TMBBMB4_TMB.zip - Extract the T889UVBMB4_T889TMBBMB4_TMB.zip file to obtain a file named KIES_HOME_T889UVBMB4_T889TMBBMB4_935627_REV04_user_low_ship.tar.md5 (the file name may end at .tar, which is normal as the .md5 part will be hidden by Windows).
- Download Odin. If you are new to this, Odin is what is used to flash stuff – firmware, kernels, etc. – on Samsung phones. We’ll use Odin to flash the firmware file obtained in step 4.
Download Odin3 v3.04 | Filename: Odin3_v3.04.zip - Extract the contents of the Odin3_v3.04.zip file to a folder on your computer. You should obtain a total of 4 files after extracting it.
- Turn off your phone and wait for it to shut down completely.
- Then, put the phone into download mode. To do so, press and hold these keys together: Volume Down + Home + Power till the screen turns on. Then press Volume Up to enter download mode.
- Open Odin by double-clicking on the Odin3 v3.04.exe file obtained in step 6 after extracting Odin3_v3.04.zip.
- Important! Connect your phone to PC now. You should get the message “Added !!” under Odin’s message box in the bottom left.
- If you don’t get this message, make sure you installed drivers correctly (using Kies or directly) as given in step 1. If it still doesn’t work, try changing to another USB port on the computer and also use the USB ports on the back if you have a desktop PC.
- Click on the PDA button in Odin, then browse to and select the KIES_HOME_T889UVALJ1_T889TMBALJ1_260018_REV04_user_low_ship.tar.md5 file obtained in step 4 above.
- Do not make any other changes in Odin except selecting the required files as given in step 11. Leave all other options as they are. Make sure Re-Partition check box is not selected.
- Now, hit the START button to start flashing the firmware on the phone. When the flashing is complete, your phone will automatically reboot — and when you see the Samsung logo, you can safely unplug the cable. Plus, you’ll get a PASS (with green background) message in the left-most box at the very top of Odin.
- What to do if Odin gets stuck: If ODIN gets stuck and doesn’t seem to be doing anything, or you get a FAIL message (with red background) in ODIN, do the following – disconnect the phone from the PC, close ODIN, remove battery, re-insert it, and do the procedure again from Step 8.
- [Important] After you get the PASS message and the phone reboots, the phone might get stuck at the booting animation. If that happens, perform the following steps to make it boot. Remember that these steps will wipe your personal data like contacts, apps, messages, etc. If your phone has already booted, skip these steps, your phone has been restored/fixed successfully:
- Boot to recovery mode — for which, first power off phone (by removing battery and reinserting it), wait for 5-6 seconds, and then press and hold Home + Volume Up + Power keys together till the screen turns on, then let them go to boot into recovery. Once you are in recovery mode, use volume keys to move the selection up and down and home/power key to select the option.
- Go to Wipe data/Factory Reset and select it. Select Yes on next screen.
- Then, select reboot system now to reboot the phone, which will now boot properly.
- If you run into any roadblocks while flashing the firmware, let us know and we’ll help you out.
The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update is now installed on your T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2, and if you’re in one of the cities where T-Mobile has their LTE network enabled, you’ll be able to enjoy faster internet speeds. And if not, then you’ll have to be content with knowing that your device now runs a newer version of Android. Enjoy!
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