One of the most touted features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was the Multi View feature, which allows users to multitask by displaying two different apps on the screen at once, for example both the browser as well as the Gallery app at once. However, the feature was missing from all Galaxy Note 2 sold in countries outside Korea, but Samsung is now pushing out the XXALJ1 firmware update for the device in France which adds the Multi View feature.

The firmware has been released online so that people can flash it on their Galaxy Note 2 manually, and the guide below will help you install it with step-by-step instructions. The firmware will work for the Galaxy Note 2 from any country, though those with a Galaxy Note 2 from a country other than France, or those flashing it over a custom ROM might need to wipe the data on their device in order to make it work (the data can be restored later).

Let’s take a look at how the XXALJ1 firmware can be installed on the Galaxy Note 2 to get the Multi View firmware.

Compatibility

This hack and the guide below are compatible only and only with the international Galaxy Note 2, model number N7100. It’s not compatible with the US variants or other devices. 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 Galaxy Note 2 to XXALJ1 Firmware

  1. [Important] If you flash this firmware over a custom ROM or a Galaxy Note 2 from another country than France, you might need to wipe the data on the phone to make the firmware boot up properly.
    Hence, 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.
    NOTE: Don’t forget to at least note down your network’s APN settings, which are required to make mobile data work. Go into Settings » More » Mobile Networks, click on the APN that is in use, then note down the setting for each field. While APN settings should be automatically restored from network, you can enter them manually if needed to make mobile data work. You can also find your APN details → here.
  2. 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
  3. Download the firmware.
    Download XXALJ1  |  Filename: Samsung-Updates.com-GT-N7100_XEF_1_20121002105140_ak0l8212ot.zip
  4. Extract the Samsung-Updates.com-GT-N7100_XEF_1_20121002105140_ak0l8212ot.zip file on the computer to obtain a file named N7100XXALJ1_N7100OXXALJ1_N7100XXALIH_HOME.tar.md5 (the file name may end at .tar, which is normal).
  5. Download the Odin PC software. 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
  6. Extract the contents of the Odin3_v3.04.zip file to a folder on your computer.
  7. Now, turn off your Galaxy Note 2 and wait for it to shut down completely.
  8. Then, put the phone into download mode. To do so, press and hold these keys together: Volume Down + Home + Power till the phone turns on and shows a Warning!! screen. Then press Volume Up to enter download mode.
  9. Open Odin by double-clicking on the Odin3 v3.04.exe file obtained in step 6 after extracting Odin3_v3.04.zip.
  10. 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 2. 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.
  11. Click on the PDA button in Odin, then browse to and select the N7100XXALJ1_N7100OXXALJ1_N7100XXALIH_HOME.tar.md5 file obtained in step 4 above.
  12. Important! 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.
  13. Now, click the Start button to start flashing the firmware on your phone. When the flashing is complete and is successful, you’ll get a PASS message (with green background) in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin, and the phone will automatically reboot. When you see the Samsung logo, you can safely unplug the cable.
    • What do if Odin gets stuck or doesn’t do anything: If ODIN gets stuck on setup connection or at any stage of this process after you’ve hit the Start button, and doesn’t seem to be doing anything, or if upon completion of the process you get a FAIL message (with red background) in ODIN, do this: disconnect the phone from the PC, close ODIN, remove battery for 4-5 seconds, re-insert it, turn phone on in Download mode again, and do the procedure again from Step 9.
  14. [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 updated successfully:
    1. 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.
    2. Go to Wipe data/Factory Reset and select it. Select Yes on next screen.
    3. Then, select reboot system now to reboot the phone, which will now boot properly.
  15. If you run into any roadblocks while flashing the firmware, let us know and we’ll help you out.

Your Galaxy Note 2 is now running the XXALJ1 firmware, and you should now be able to use the Multi View feature. Do let us know how it works!