Samsung has released a new Android 2.3.6 update for the Galaxy S Plus – XXKQI for European countries, following the previous Value Pack firmware XXKQG which brought some Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 inspired goodies to the device. For those looking to update to the latest Android 2.3.6 firmware on their Galaxy S Plus can follow the guide below to do so.

NOTE: Even though the firmware is for Europe, you can flash it on your Galaxy S Plus no matter which country you’re in, though you might have to wipe your data (except SD card files) in order to get it to work and then restore them later.

Let’s take a look at how you can update your Galaxy S Plus to the XXKQI Android 2.3.6 firmware.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Samsung Galaxy S PLUS, model number i9001. It’s not compatible the GT-i9003, I9000 or with any other device and may render an incompatible device unusable. Check your device model 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 exactly what you are doing. If any damage occurs to your device, we won’t be held liable.

How to Install XXKQI Firmware on Galaxy S Plus

  1. Important! There is a possibility that after updating to XXKQI, you might need to wipe data in order to make the phone fully boot up. So, make sure to backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you.
    NOTE: Don’t forget to at least make a backup of your APN settings, which you can restore later if your data connection does not work after installing the ROM. Use the backup guide to find out how.
  2. Make sure the drivers for the phone are installed on the computer.
    Download Drivers
  3. Download the firmware.
    Download XXKQI  |  Filename: I9001XXKQI_I9001OXFKQ3_SEB.zip
  4. Extract the I9001XXKQI_I9001OXFKQ3_SEB.zip file on your computer to get the following two files:
    1. I9001XXKQI_I9001XXKPM_I9001OXFKQ3_HOME.tar.md5 (filename may end with .tar, which is normal)
    2. SS_DL.dll [not to be used]
  5. Also download the following two files:
    1. Odin Flashing software: Download Link  |  Filename: Odin.exe
    2. OPS file: Download Link  |  Filename: AriesVE.ops
  6. Turn off your phone completely. Then, turn on the Galaxy S Plus in Download Mode — press and hold these keys together: Volume_DOWN + Home + Power until a screen with an Android icon in yellow comes up. 
  7. Now, open Odin by double-clicking the Odin.exe file downloaded in step 5.1
  8. In Odin, do the following:
    1. Press the OPS button, then select the AriesVE.ops file downloaded in step 5.2.
    2. Activate the One Package option on the top left of Odin. Then, click on the One Package button on the bottom right, and select the file I9001XXKQI_I9001XXKPM_I9001OXFKQ3_HOME.tar.md5 obtained in step 4.1.
  9. Now, connect the phone to the computer using your USB cable. You should get the message “Added!!” under Odin’s message box in the bottom left. If you don’t get this message, then probably there is a problem with drivers. Make sure you have proper drivers installed (check step 2).
  10. Click on the Start button to start flashing the XXKQI firmware. It can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes for the flash to complete, so be patient.
    IMPORTANT Note: If ODIN gets stuck at some stage and doesn’t seem to be doing anything, do this — disconnect the phone from the PC, close ODIN, remove battery, re-insert it, turn phone on in Download mode again, and do the procedure again from Step 7. Same if you get a FAIL message in Odin.
  11. After the flashing is complete, your phone will automatically reboot. In some cases, the phone might reboot into recovery mode. If it does, select reboot system now with the home button (center button) to reboot and boot up into the XXKQI firmware.
  12. 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 the Volume Up + Power buttons together, and let go of the buttons as soon as the Samsung logo shows up. Then, as soon as an icon showing “an Android in a box” comes up, press the Menu button (the button on the left of the home button) to enter recovery.
      In recovery, 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. Now, go to Wipe Cache and select it. Confirm Yes on next screen.
    4. Then, select reboot system now to reboot the phone, which will now boot properly.
  13. In case you encounter any roadblocks flashing XXKQI, let us know in the comments below and we’ll try to help you out.

The XXKQI firmware is now installed and running on your Samsung Galaxy S Plus. Let us know how it works, in the comments below.