Updating Android on Samsung Galaxy S2

radderfire · 10 Oct 2014 at 13:28

Hi Guys, sorry for the newb like question, but I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 currently running Android 2.3.3. Can this be updated to the latest version of Android, and if so, what are my chances if any of bricking the phone?

Thanks :cool:

Confused · 10 Oct 2014 at 13:34

You can do an "over the air" upgrade to 4.1.2, the last "officially" supported version by Samsung. This is a case of pressing a couple of buttons on the phone.

There are also a number of 3rd parties who have versions of Android as new as 4.4.4 (the current latest official release available from Google)

radderfire · 10 Oct 2014 at 16:42

Is there much risk of causing problems with the phone? Is there anything I should backup or other precautions I should take before trying?

Thanks

Confused · 10 Oct 2014 at 16:57

It would be recommended to do a factory reset even after doing the "over the air" (OTA) update, 2.3.3 to 4.1.2 is quite a big jump.

When installing a 3rd party ROM, you will be doing a full wipe anyway.

Always take a backup before you do anything. Your contacts should be backed up to Google (if you have your contacts still on your SIM, then get this changed ASAP), and you can back up text messages with something like SMS Backup & Restore.

Orcvader · 10 Oct 2014 at 17:16

As above, I would back up everything just in case. There should be an option to move all your contacts to your Google account in the contacts app.

I would also suggest perhaps installing Slimkat to the phone, I did it on my sister's S2 as she found the official Samsung 4.1.2 TouchWiz to be pretty slow and unreliable, and Slimkat made it feel like a completely new phone.

Pawnless Endgame · 10 Oct 2014 at 20:04

Also, make sure that the battery is quite high, like 60%+, because updating Android means that the firmware is also flashed.

As Touchwiz has been mentioned too, consider changing to another launcher. If you've used Litestep, Darkstep etc as shell replacements on Windows PCs, then the "launcher" is the phone's equivalent. Examples are Go Launcher, Nova and Apex.