A firmware for Galaxy S 4G has leaked on the Internet, which updates it to Android 2.3.6. (Heck, even Samsung’s popular Galaxy S and Galaxy S2 phones are yet to see anything beyond Android 2.3.5. But that doesn’t matter much because 2.3.5 and 2.3.6 builds of Android OS don’t differentiate too much.) If you already have a Android 2.3 firmware installed on your phone, you would probably don’t care much, but if you’re an enthusiasts, you would find it resist, either.

Warning: Warranty may be void of your device if you follow the procedures given on this page. You only are responsible for your device. We won�t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

Pre-Installation thoughts:

  1. Installing/Flashing this ROM will erase your apps and data. So, it’s a very important you back them up, before proceeding further. To backup your apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. Restore APN settings if Internet isn’t working for you. This Android backup guide would help you. And if you’ve rooted your Galaxy S, you can save application’s data too, using Titanium backup (free app on android market) to backup apps with data. And use this this app only  again to restore those apps with data.
  2. Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. Download links below:
  3. If you have Samsung’s PC software Kies installed, un-install it first because it may interrupt the flashing process. If you’ve installed it for sake of drivers which otherwise weren’t working, make sure you exit the Kies completely before beginning the procedure below.

Update Galaxy S 4G T959V to Android 2.3.6

If you are new to flashing a firmware with odin, we suggest you to watch this video here, which shows how a firmware is flashed on Samsung android phones using Odin. Watch it in full to get the idea of it. This video was for Galaxy S i9000 android phone, and is not made using T959V, just FYI, but the procedure is same.

  1. Download the UVKJ5 Firmware. Size: 189.5 MB; Name: SGH-T959V_T959VUVKJ5_UV_TMB.rar [Password: sampro.pl]
  2. Extract the .rar file above to get two files:
    1. T959VUVKJ5-REV00-home-low-CL685701.tar.md5
    2. SS_DL.dll
  3. You need to flash the file only one file (at 2.1) — T959VUVKJ5-REV00-home-low-CL685701.tar.md5 — with odin to update your Galaxy S 4G to Android 2.3.6
  4. Download Odin PC Software which we will be using to flash the UVKJ5 Android 2.3.6 firmware on Galaxy S 4G. Filename: Odin3 v1.7.zip. Size: 192.55 KB. Download Link.
  5. Extract Odin3 v1.7.zip to get .exe file – Odin3 v1.7.exe. Run this file to pen Odin.
  6. Disconnect your phone if it’s connected to PC.  Then Switch it Off. Wait 5-6 seconds for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
  7. Now, put the Galaxy S 4G in “Download Mode” — Hold VolumeUP and Volume_DOWN keys and connect it with PC using USB cable. You should get the message “Added! !” under the Odin’s message box in the bottom left. If you don’t get “Added! !” message, than probably there is a problem with drivers. Make sure you’ve drivers installed (links given above under heading ‘Pre-Installation thoughts’).
  8. Now, in Odin, select these files at respective tabs (for visual help, see the screenshot at step 11 below):
    1. Click the PDA Tab, and select CODE_I9000XXJVS_CL565837_REV03_user_low_ship.tar (from step 2.1)
  9. Make sure these 2 checkboxes are ticked: Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time. And, the Re-Partition checkbox is not-ticked. Leave everything else on Android untouched.
  10. Double check everything said in step 8 and 9 above.
  11. Now, hit the START button to begin the flashing process. When it finishes, your phone will automatically reboot, upon which you can unplug the cable. Plus, you’ll get a PASS (with green background) message in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin. If it’s in red and with FAIL written over it, the process flashing process wasn’t successful. If you get FAIL message, or it stuck at “Setup Connection”, simply, try the whole procedure again.
  12. When it restarts, your Galaxy S 4G will be running the Android 2.3.6 with Samsung’s custom UI TouchWiz 3 atop it. For more info and what other users are saying about his, check the leak thread here.
  13. (Optional, of course) If you found this guide useful, share it with your friends and others on your Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and on websites you normally visit.

And let us know in comments below, what do you feel about it. Any improvements?