Install Android 4.3, Fixed Firmware I9300XXUGMK6 on Samsung Galaxy S3
Since the Android 4.3 fixed firmware is taking a bit longer to arrive to all affected by the previous update, here is a small tutorial on how to update your Samsung Galaxy S3 to the latest I9300XXUGMK6 firmware.
First of all, as always, backup your phone just in case something goes wrong. If you have ClockWorkMod Recovery installed go and make a full backup of your GS3. If not you can download the latest release recovery-cwmtouch-6.0.4.4-GTI9300.tar from the download links at the end.
Open Odin 3.09 and connect your phone to the computer preferably using the original USB cable that came with the phone. Check the "Auto Reboot" and "F. Reset Time" check boxes. Click the "AP" button and select the recovery-cwmtouch-6.0.4.4-GTI9300.tar file you downloaded from the links.
Finally click "Start" and wait a few minutes until CWM Recovery is installed on your phone. Once the installation is complete the phone will reboot. To enter CWM Recovery, power off your phone, remove the USB cable and hold the Volume Up + Home + Power buttons together. After that, follow the instructions to create a backup of your phone, preferably on an external SD card. That way no matter what happens with the phone you will always have a full backup ready to be restored.
If you have tried this firmware let us know what you think in the comments below.
First of all, as always, backup your phone just in case something goes wrong. If you have ClockWorkMod Recovery installed go and make a full backup of your GS3. If not you can download the latest release recovery-cwmtouch-6.0.4.4-GTI9300.tar from the download links at the end.
How to install ClockWorkMod Recovery
To install ClockWorkMod Recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S3, GT-19300 only, turn off the phone and hold the Volume Down + Home + Power buttons together until you see a warning message. Press the Volume Up button to put your phone in download more or so called Odin download mode.Open Odin 3.09 and connect your phone to the computer preferably using the original USB cable that came with the phone. Check the "Auto Reboot" and "F. Reset Time" check boxes. Click the "AP" button and select the recovery-cwmtouch-6.0.4.4-GTI9300.tar file you downloaded from the links.
Finally click "Start" and wait a few minutes until CWM Recovery is installed on your phone. Once the installation is complete the phone will reboot. To enter CWM Recovery, power off your phone, remove the USB cable and hold the Volume Up + Home + Power buttons together. After that, follow the instructions to create a backup of your phone, preferably on an external SD card. That way no matter what happens with the phone you will always have a full backup ready to be restored.
How to install the Android 4.3 I9300XXUGMK6 fixed firmware
After you created the backup, turn off your phone and put it into download mode by holding the Volume Down + Home + Power buttons as previously. Open Odin and connect the phone. Download the firmware from the link below and extract the ZIP file. There are two files:- BOOTLOADER_I9300XXUGMK6.tar.md5 - Click the "BL" button in Odin and select the file.
- CODE_I9300XXUGMK6_I9300OXAGMK6_I9300XXUGMK6_ROOT_ODEX.tar.md5 - Click the "AP" button and select the file. This is an already rooted firmware.
First impressions
We flashed the I9300XXUGMK6 over the previous Android 4.3 I9300XXUGMJ9 Vodafone firmware. From what we can tell, most of the bugs are fixed but unfortunately the lock screen issue is still present although it is not that expressed. The phone wakes up quickly most of the times but not as quickly as the Android 4.1.2 firmware. One other pleasant surprise was the battery life. The phone took unusually long time to charge the first time (got us worried for a while), but after that the battery lasted for almost two days, normal phone usage (few calls, little bit Facebooking...).If you have tried this firmware let us know what you think in the comments below.