[How To] Verizon Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat based KitKang ROM Installation Guide

Want to install Android 4.4 KitKat on your Verizon Galaxy S3 SCH-I535?

Well, you could either wait for months for Samsung and Verizon to release an official Android 4.4 update for your Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-I535 or you could just go ahead and flash an unofficial AOSP build of Android 4.4 now and get the Android 4.4 installed on your phone within next few hours.

AOSP ROMs are built from source code for Android that Google releases for anyone to use and develop ROMs on Android platform.

The KitKang Android 4.4 ROM is based on CM11 sources with additional tweaks and features. The ROM is currently in testing status, so expect some bugs with it. Below is the list of known bugs so far:

• Front facing camera having issues, causes reboot
• …more bugs yet to be deiscovered!

Other than the bugs listed above, the ROM is working fine. Read the warning below carefully before you start with the procedures given on this page.

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-I535!

Do not use the procedures discussed here on any other Galaxy S3 (including the Galaxy S3 devices at Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T 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 Verizon Galaxy S3 SCH-I535 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 S3 SCH-I535 ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT CM11 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: pa_gapps-full-4.4-20131119-signed.zip (257 MB)

ROM FILE

Download Link | File name: cm-11-20131120-UNOFFICIAL-d2vzw.zip (178.3 MB)

For latest version of the ROM, check the original page →.

Reminder: Before you proceed, make sure you’ve transferred the files you downloaded above to a separate folder on your Galaxy S3 phone.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Make sure you have backed up your phone adequately (including important data stored on internal memory) before proceeding with the guide below.

NOTE:

• Make sure that your device’ bootloader is unlocked before attempting to install this ROM. For help, follow this link →
• Older versions of both CWM and TWRP recoveries are not working with Android 4.4 based ROMs, throwing installation errors and WiFi bugs, 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.

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 S3 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. 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 ROM file » select Yes on next screen to confirm installation of the file.
     
5. Now similarly flash the Gapps file, 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 S3 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:
   • 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.
     
5. Now similarly flash the Gapps 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 TWRP to flash Android 4.4 ROMs.

That’s all. You have successfully flashed KitKang Android 4.4 KitKat ROM on your Verizon Galaxy S3 SCH-I535. 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!