[How To] Update Verizon Galaxy S4 to Android 4.4 KitKat OS

Thanks to Gummy ROM, the Android 4.4 Update is now available on Verizon Galaxy S4, SCH-I545. It will take Samsung at least 2-3 months to release the official update, but for those who want the update right now, can have it by installing the Gummy ROM using the instructions below.

Gummy ROM is build on Android 4.4 AOSP code that Google has released. Upon installing the Gummy ROM, you will Android 4.4 in its original form, as Google made it. Samsung’s customization, including TouchWiz Home launcher, and features like Smart Stay, S Beam, etc. will be gone.

Phone should be a lot faster, and would run Android 4.4, which is the latest and greatest Android OS right now.

Note: Gummy ROM is not an official KitKat update for your Galaxy S4, btw. Only Nexus 5 is the phone running official builds of KitKat, and just today, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013 edition) and Nexus 10 phones also started receiving it.

Bugs/Issues?

Well, no bugs. Everything seems to be working right away. Which is just great, considering most of the other device with Android 4.4 ROM have more than several bugs!

But, not all cool features have been incorporated right now, but that shouldn’t be far and you can expect all features to be mixed into ROM in next few updates.

Features (quoted):

* New base built from AOSP
* Status Bar Mods
* Theme Manager
* Hardware Key Mod
* Lock Screen Mod
* Many Wallpapers
* Performance Control
* Application Permission Controls
* Carrier Label Options
* Background Style
* Lock clock widget

Let’s see how to install the custom Android 4.4 KitKat update on your Verizon Galaxy S4.

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.

CHECK DEVICE MODEL NO.

To make sure your device is eligible with this, you must first confirm its model no. in ‘About device’ option under Settings. Another way to confirm model no. is by looking for it on the packaging box of your device. It must be SCH- I545!

Do not use the procedures discussed here on any other Galaxy S4 (including the S4 devices at Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and international ones) or any other device of Samsung or any other company. You have been warned!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN..

You must do this pre-installation stuff before attempting to install the ROM on your Samsung Galaxy S4 SCH- I545 in order to avoid any complications later, and have a smooth and successful process.

BACK UP YOUR DEVICE

Back up important data and stuff before you start playing around here as there are chances you might lose your apps and app-data (app settings, game progress, etc.), and in rare case, files on the internal memory, too.

For help on Backup and Restore, check out our exclusive page on that linked right below.

► ANDROID BACK UP AND RESTORE GUIDE: APPS AND TIPS

CHARGE YOUR DEVICE

If your android device powers off due to lack of battery while the process is underway, it could damage the device.

So, make sure your device is adequately charged — at least 50% battery of the device.

EXAMPLE VIDEO

If you haven’t used a custom recovery, either CWM or TWRP, before, to install a .zip file of a ROM on anything else, then we suggest you first watch a video of that, given right below, to get familiar with the process.

Just fyi, the video below shows installing a .zip file (of recovery) on Galaxy S3, but it doesn’t matter as the process remains exactly same. So, once you are finished with video, jump to downloads and step-by-step guide below.

VERIZON GALAXY S4 SCH- I545  ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT ROM

DOWNLOADS

Download the files given below and transfer them to a separate folder on your phone and remember the location.

• Android 4.4 KitKat update – Gummy ROM file : DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: Gummy-1.1-11-12-13-UNOFFICIAL-jfltevzw.zip (221 MB)

• Google Apps: DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: gapps-kk-20131031-ODEX.zip (103 MB)

Reminder: Before you proceed, make sure you’ve transferred the files you downloaded above to a separate folder on your Galaxy S4 phone.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Make sure you have backed up your phone adequately (including important data stored on internal memory).

You’ll need either CWM or TWRP recovery for installing the Android 4.4 KitKat ROM on your Galaxy S4 SCH- I545.

And since CWM and TWRP recoveries function differently we’ve put together separate guides for both of them. So if you’re a CWM user, follow the CWM users guide and if you’re a TWRP user follow the guide for TWRP users.

NOTE: Android 4.4 requires latest version of CWM and TWRP recoveries, otherwise the Android 4.4 ROM won’t install fine. Also, TWRP recovery has issues with Android 4.4. We would recommend using the CWM recovery to install this ROM.

GUIDE FOR CLOCKWORKMOD RECOVERY (CWM) USERS

1. Boot into recovery mode. For this:
   • Power off your device and wait for 5-10 seconds until the device is fully switched off.
   • Press and hold  Volume Up + Home + Power buttons together and release them as soon as you see the Galaxy S4 logo.
     └ In Recovery mode, use Volume buttons to navigate Up and Down between options and use Power button to select an option.
2. Create a Nandroid Backup from recovery. It’s optional but very important to do, so that in case something goes wrong you can restore to current status easily. For making a Nandroid Backup, go to Backup And Restore » Backup.
3. Perform a Factory Reset (This will delete all apps and their settings and game progress). For this:
   • Select Wipe data/Factory reset, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm factory reset (screenshot)
4. Install the ROM file first (Gummy-1.1-11-12-13-UNOFFICIAL-jfltevzw.zip). For this:
   • Select Install zip » Choose zip from sdcard (or external sdcard, you know where your files are) » browse to the location where you saved the file and select the Gummy-1.1-11-12-13-UNOFFICIAL-jfltevzw.zip » select Yes on next screen to confirm installation of the file.
     
5. Now similarly flash the gapps-kk-20131031-ODEX.zip, as you did in step 4.
   └ Make sure to first flash the ROM file and then the Gapps file.
6. Now, reboot your device. For this, go back to the main menu of recovery and select reboot system now.

Note: In case your device gets bootloop (stuck at logo while rebooting), just do a factory reset (step 3) and you will be fine.

That’s all. Your phone will now reboot and it will take some time as it’ll be phone’s first boot after installing Android 4.4, be extremely excited for this!

GUIDE FOR TWRP RECOVERY USERS

1. Boot into recovery mode. For this:
   • Power off your device and wait for 5-10 seconds until the device is fully switched off.
   • Press and hold  Volume Up + Home + Power buttons together and release them as soon as you see the Galaxy S4 logo.
     └ In Recovery mode, use Volume buttons to navigate Up and Down between options and use Power button to select an option.
2. Create a Nandroid Backup from recovery. It’s optional but very important to do, so that in case something goes wrong you can restore to current status easily. For making a Nandroid Backup, go to Backup » and select all check boxes and swipe on the Swipe to confirm option at the bottom of the screen to confirm backup.
   
3. Perform a Factory Reset (this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress). For this:
   • Tap on Wipe » then at the bottom of the screen do a Swipe on the ‘Swipe to factory reset‘ option (screenshot)
4. First Install the ROM file (Gummy-1.1-11-12-13-UNOFFICIAL-jfltevzw.zip):
   • Tap on Install » browse to the location where you saved the files and tap on the Gummy-1.1-11-12-13-UNOFFICIAL-jfltevzw.zip file. Now at the bottom of the screen, do a swipe on the Swipe to confirm flash option to begin flashing.
     
5. Now similarly flash the gapps-kk-20131031-ODEX.zip file.
   └ Make sure to first flash the ROM file and then the Gapps file.
6. Now, reboot your device. For this:
   • Go back to the main menu of recovery and tap on Reboot » then, tap on System to reboot your phone.

Note: In case your device gets bootloop (stuck at logo while rebooting), just do a factory reset (step 3) and you will be fine. ALSO, CWM recovery is preferred in place of CWM to flash Android 4.4 ROMs.

That’s all. You have successfully flashed CyanogenMod 11 on your Samsung Galaxy S4 SCH- I545. Enjoy!

Feedback Us!

It was easy to install Android 4.4 KitKat, right? Let us know how it tastes to you.

Your suggestions and queries, if any, are most welcomed!

Via Droid Hive (kejar31)