Update Galaxy S4 LTE to latest Android 4.4.1 KitKat with Carbon ROM

Let’s see how to install latest Carbon nightly on your International Galaxy S4 GT-I9505.

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 GT-I9505!

Please know that this page is meant only for Samsung Galaxy S4, model no. GT-I9505. Please DO NOT try the procedures given here on other variants of the Galaxy S4: GT-I9500, or the S4 sets at Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, C-Spire and others who have different model no. Also do not use the procedures discussed here on any other Galaxy device 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 LTE Galaxy S4 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 (Yes, not S4), 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.

LTE GALAXY S4 GT-I9505 ANDROID 4.4.1 KITKAT ROM

DOWNLOADS

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

GAPPS FILE

Download Link | File name: gapps-kk-20131119.zip (123.71 MB)

ROM FILE

LTE Galaxy S4: Download Link | File name: CARBON-KK-UNOFFICIAL-20131209-0412-jfltexx.zip (155.7 MB)

For latest version of the ROM available, you can check out the original page here.

Reminder: Before you proceed, make sure you’ve transferred the files you downloaded above to a separate folder on your Galaxy S4 GT-I9505.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

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

NOTE:

Older versions of both CWM and TWRP recoveries are not working with Android 4.4 based ROMs, throwing installation errors and even WiFi bugs on some phones, therefore you need to use the latest version of either recovery. We believe TWRP v2.6.3.0 and above, and CWM v6.0.4.3 and above are working fine with Android 4.4 ROMs.

You need a custom recovery to be able to install Carbon ROM on your LTE Galaxy S4.

GUIDE FOR CWM 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 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. Also perform a System Format, Go to ‘Mounts and storage‘, select ‘format /system‘, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm system format
5. First Install the ROM file:
   • 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 ROM file
     
6. Now similarly flash the Gapps file.
   └ Make sure to first flash the ROM file and then the Gapps file.
7. Reboot your device. For this, go back to the main menu of recovery and select reboot system now.

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

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

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. Also perform a ‘System format‘. For this:
   • Tap on Wipe » tap Advanced Wipe » tap System to select it » then at the bottom of the screen do a Swipe on the ‘Swipe to wipe‘ option
5. First Install the ROM file:
   • Tap on Install » browse to the location where you saved the files and tap on the ROM file. Now at the bottom of the screen, do a swipe on the Swipe to confirm flash option to begin flashing.
     
6. Now similarly flash the Gapps file.
   └ Make sure to first flash the ROM file and then the Gapps file.
7. Reboot your device. Go back to the main menu of recovery and tap on Reboot » then, tap on System to reboot your phone.

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

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

FEEDBACK US!

It was easy to install the latest Carbon ROM KitKat 4.4.1, right? Let us know how it tastes to you.

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