UVKJ5 Firmware: Update Galaxy S 4G to Android 2.3.6

A firmware for Galaxy S 4G has leaked on the Internet, which updates it to Android 2.3.6. (Heck, even Samsung’s popular Galaxy S and Galaxy S2 phones are yet to see anything beyond Android 2.3.5. But that doesn’t matter much because 2.3.5 and 2.3.6 builds of Android OS don’t differentiate too much.) If you already have a Android 2.3 firmware installed on your phone, you would probably don’t care much, but if you’re an enthusiasts, you would find it resist, either.

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. [error]This guide is applicable only for Samsung’s Galaxy S 4G at T-Mobile (US). Check your phone’s version in Settings – About Phone. It has to be “T959V” (not just T959) for this firmware to be compatible with your phone. If it’s not T959V, then simply don’t try this ROM on your android handset — don’t even think about it if you care about your android device.[/error]

Pre-Installation thoughts:

  1. Installing/Flashing this ROM will erase your apps and data. So, it’s a very important you back them up, before proceeding further. To backup your apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. Restore APN settings if Internet isn’t working for you. This Android backup guide would help you. And if you’ve rooted your Galaxy S, you can save application’s data too, using Titanium backup (free app on android market) to backup apps with data. And use this this app only  again to restore those apps with data.
  2. Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. Download links below:
  3. If you have Samsung’s PC software Kies installed, un-install it first because it may interrupt the flashing process. If you’ve installed it for sake of drivers which otherwise weren’t working, make sure you exit the Kies completely before beginning the procedure below.

Update Galaxy S 4G T959V to Android 2.3.6

If you are new to flashing a firmware with odin, we suggest you to watch this video here, which shows how a firmware is flashed on Samsung android phones using Odin. Watch it in full to get the idea of it. This video was for Galaxy S i9000 android phone, and is not made using T959V, just FYI, but the procedure is same.

  1. Download the UVKJ5 Firmware. Size: 189.5 MB; Name: SGH-T959V_T959VUVKJ5_UV_TMB.rar [Password: sampro.pl]
  2. Extract the .rar file above to get two files:
    1. T959VUVKJ5-REV00-home-low-CL685701.tar.md5
    2. SS_DL.dll
  3. You need to flash the file only one file (at 2.1) — T959VUVKJ5-REV00-home-low-CL685701.tar.md5 — with odin to update your Galaxy S 4G to Android 2.3.6
  4. Download Odin PC Software which we will be using to flash the UVKJ5 Android 2.3.6 firmware on Galaxy S 4G. Filename: Odin3 v1.7.zip. Size: 192.55 KB. Download Link.
  5. Extract Odin3 v1.7.zip to get .exe file – Odin3 v1.7.exe. Run this file to pen Odin.
  6. Disconnect your phone if it’s connected to PC.  Then Switch it Off. Wait 5-6 seconds for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
  7. Now, put the Galaxy S 4G in “Download Mode” — Hold VolumeUP and Volume_DOWN keys and connect it with PC using USB cable. You should get the message “Added! !” under the Odin’s message box in the bottom left. If you don’t get “Added! !” message, than probably there is a problem with drivers. Make sure you’ve drivers installed (links given above under heading ‘Pre-Installation thoughts’).
  8. Now, in Odin, select these files at respective tabs (for visual help, see the screenshot at step 11 below):
    1. Click the PDA Tab, and select CODE_I9000XXJVS_CL565837_REV03_user_low_ship.tar (from step 2.1)
  9. Make sure these 2 checkboxes are ticked: Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time. And, the Re-Partition checkbox is not-ticked. Leave everything else on Android untouched.
  10. Double check everything said in step 8 and 9 above.
  11. Now, hit the START button to begin the flashing process. When it finishes, your phone will automatically reboot, upon which you can unplug the cable. Plus, you’ll get a PASS (with green background) message in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin. If it’s in red and with FAIL written over it, the process flashing process wasn’t successful. If you get FAIL message, or it stuck at “Setup Connection”, simply, try the whole procedure again.
  12. When it restarts, your Galaxy S 4G will be running the Android 2.3.6 with Samsung’s custom UI TouchWiz 3 atop it. For more info and what other users are saying about his, check the leak thread here.
  13. (Optional, of course) If you found this guide useful, share it with your friends and others on your Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and on websites you normally visit.

And let us know in comments below, what do you feel about it. Any improvements?

Posted by
Kapil Malani

A die-hard Liverpool FC fan, Kapil is a big fan of Batman, Android and street Cricket. In that order, probably. Email: [email protected]

100 Comments

  1. So does this work in Samsung Galaxy S1 ?

    1. Fuuuuuuuuuuuck ! 😀

  2. So does this work in Samsung Galaxy S1 ?

      1. Fuuuuuuuuuuuck ! 😀

  3. So does this work in Samsung Galaxy S1 ?

      1. Fuuuuuuuuuuuck ! 😀

    1. Oh sry, it’s this: sampro.pl (updating the post now)

  4. password??

    1. Oh sry, it’s this: sampro.pl (updating the post now)

  5. password??

    1. Oh sry, it’s this: sampro.pl (updating the post now)

  6. Mission completed.  Seems to work great.  Lookout mobile even restored all my data.

  7. Mission completed.  Seems to work great.  Lookout mobile even restored all my data.

  8. Mission completed.  Seems to work great.  Lookout mobile even restored all my data.

  9. Is it possible to root this version? SuperOneClick wasn’t able to root Gingerbread 2.3.5.

    Thanks for awesome guide!

    1. Lemme look for it. I’ll get back to you when I find it.

  10. Is it possible to root this version? SuperOneClick wasn’t able to root Gingerbread 2.3.5.

    Thanks for awesome guide!

    1. Lemme look for it. I’ll get back to you when I find it.

  11. Is it possible to root this version? SuperOneClick wasn’t able to root Gingerbread 2.3.5.

    Thanks for awesome guide!

    1. Lemme look for it. I’ll get back to you when I find it.

  12. Can you post pictures of this firmware on galaxy 4g s? Just to see how it looks:) please.

  13. Works great made my phone faster, thank you, your awesome

  14. Can you post pictures of this firmware on galaxy 4g s? Just to see how it looks:) please.

  15. Can you post pictures of this firmware on galaxy 4g s? Just to see how it looks:) please.

  16. Works great made my phone faster, thank you, your awesome

  17. Works great made my phone faster, thank you, your awesome

  18. I now it’s not good to ask this but I would like to root my phone, I used voodoo lag fix last time and  my phone was flying. Quadrant showed me running at 1700.

  19. I now it’s not good to ask this but I would like to root my phone, I used voodoo lag fix last time and  my phone was flying. Quadrant showed me running at 1700.

  20. I now it’s not good to ask this but I would like to root my phone, I used voodoo lag fix last time and  my phone was flying. Quadrant showed me running at 1700.

  21. Why i can’t Download the UVKJ5 Firmware?

    1. Just checked it — download link is working fine. Try again.

  22. Why i can’t Download the UVKJ5 Firmware?

    1. Just checked it — download link is working fine. Try again.

  23. Why i can’t Download the UVKJ5 Firmware?

    1. Just checked it — download link is working fine. Try again.

  24. Thanks for this, have 2.3.6 running on my T959V. Have you noticed any performance issues? Also, are there are any custom ROMs available for the T959V?

  25. Thanks for this, have 2.3.6 running on my T959V. Have you noticed any performance issues? Also, are there are any custom ROMs available for the T959V?

  26. Thanks for this, have 2.3.6 running on my T959V. Have you noticed any performance issues? Also, are there are any custom ROMs available for the T959V?

  27. Noticing the Signal Strength bars aren’t registering on mine, anyone else notice, or are they just really sensitive now?

  28. Noticing the Signal Strength bars aren’t registering on mine, anyone else notice, or are they just really sensitive now?

  29. Noticing the Signal Strength bars aren’t registering on mine, anyone else notice, or are they just really sensitive now?

  30. I installed the .. andriod.. 2.3.6 and my Ebar. went missing.. i can’t use my E net?.. when i use wifi .. everything is ok.. but the E .. that i have from provider .. T mobile. is gone ?

    1. btw.. when i install the 4G .. exacly. how you discribe.. it’s fails… ?n

    2. btw.. when i install the 4G .. exacly. how you discribe.. it’s fails… ?

  31. I installed the .. andriod.. 2.3.6 and my Ebar. went missing.. i can’t use my E net?.. when i use wifi .. everything is ok.. but the E .. that i have from provider .. T mobile. is gone ?

    1. btw.. when i install the 4G .. exacly. how you discribe.. it’s fails… ?n

  32. I installed the .. andriod.. 2.3.6 and my Ebar. went missing.. i can’t use my E net?.. when i use wifi .. everything is ok.. but the E .. that i have from provider .. T mobile. is gone ?

    1. btw.. when i install the 4G .. exacly. how you discribe.. it’s fails… ?

  33. Id like to do this but every time I click on the link to watch a video I get the Yellow Pages or Macys!  How do I get around this?

    1. This video here shows how to install a firmware usually on Samsung’s android phone using the Odin PC software — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuTTctDWW2g

      Watch it to get the idea of how firmware is flashed on Odin.

      Then follow the guide above and you’ll be fine. I hope it helps you.

  34. Id like to do this but every time I click on the link to watch a video I get the Yellow Pages or Macys!  How do I get around this?

    1. This video here shows how to install a firmware usually on Samsung’s android phone using the Odin PC software — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuTTctDWW2g

      Watch it to get the idea of how firmware is flashed on Odin.

      Then follow the guide above and you’ll be fine. I hope it helps you.

  35. Id like to do this but every time I click on the link to watch a video I get the Yellow Pages or Macys!  How do I get around this?

    1. This video here shows how to install a firmware usually on Samsung’s android phone using the Odin PC software — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuTTctDWW2g

      Watch it to get the idea of how firmware is flashed on Odin.

      Then follow the guide above and you’ll be fine. I hope it helps you.

  36. After downloading the firmware I’m not given the option to extract or put in a password….please let me know what I’m doing wrong

    1. Download and Install ‘7-zip’ free file extraction software (search on internet) and then, right click the firmware file you downloaded and then, select 7-zip – extract here option. This is how you extract it.

    2. Thank you for the speedy reply
      I’m trying that right now

    3. It’s still not working for me 🙁
      I’ve downloaded the 7-zip software and right clicked on the firmware
      (My firmware download comes up as a blank paper with the right corner folded down) is that right? or have I messed up?

    4. Hey, check out this video, which outlines how to install a firmware on Samsung Galaxy S2.

      Of course, that’s not your phone but you can see in this video how it’s done.

      Btw, you sure your phone is Galaxy S 4G, and that the above firmware is meant for your phone. What’s the model number of your phone under settings – about phone?

    5. SGH-T959V
      And what video?

    6. Thank you for your help
      I figured it out…I wasn’t opening the 7-zip right but I have it now

  37. After downloading the firmware I’m not given the option to extract or put in a password….please let me know what I’m doing wrong

    1. Download and Install ‘7-zip’ free file extraction software (search on internet) and then, right click the firmware file you downloaded and then, select 7-zip – extract here option. This is how you extract it.

      1. Thank you for the speedy reply
        I’m trying that right now

      2. It’s still not working for me 🙁
        I’ve downloaded the 7-zip software and right clicked on the firmware
        (My firmware download comes up as a blank paper with the right corner folded down) is that right? or have I messed up?

        1. Hey, check out this video, which outlines how to install a firmware on Samsung Galaxy S2.

          Of course, that’s not your phone but you can see in this video how it’s done.

          Btw, you sure your phone is Galaxy S 4G, and that the above firmware is meant for your phone. What’s the model number of your phone under settings – about phone?

          1. SGH-T959V
            And what video?

          2. Thank you for your help
            I figured it out…I wasn’t opening the 7-zip right but I have it now

  38. After downloading the firmware I’m not given the option to extract or put in a password….please let me know what I’m doing wrong

    1. Download and Install ‘7-zip’ free file extraction software (search on internet) and then, right click the firmware file you downloaded and then, select 7-zip – extract here option. This is how you extract it.

      1. Thank you for the speedy reply
        I’m trying that right now

      2. It’s still not working for me 🙁
        I’ve downloaded the 7-zip software and right clicked on the firmware
        (My firmware download comes up as a blank paper with the right corner folded down) is that right? or have I messed up?

        1. Hey, check out this video, which outlines how to install a firmware on Samsung Galaxy S2.

          Of course, that’s not your phone but you can see in this video how it’s done.

          Btw, you sure your phone is Galaxy S 4G, and that the above firmware is meant for your phone. What’s the model number of your phone under settings – about phone?

          1. SGH-T959V
            And what video?

          2. Thank you for your help
            I figured it out…I wasn’t opening the 7-zip right but I have it now

  39. Quick and easy. Thanks

  40. its not working bro tried everything it failed at the end…HELP WOULD Be APPRECIAITED

  41. its not working bro tried everything it failed at the end…HELP WOULD Be APPRECIAITED

  42. its not working bro tried everything it failed at the end…HELP WOULD Be APPRECIAITED

  43. The first time I tried this method, it got stuck at “Setup Connection”. And although it says to just restart the entire process from the beginning if this happens, I wasn’t sure how to go about disconnecting the usb cord without possibly bricking my phone or screwing up the drivers. Eventually I ended up just closing Odin and popping my battery off because I couldn’t power down while in Download mode. But then I go to turn it back on and I got a screen with a picture of a phone and a computer with a yellow triangle and an exclamation point in the center, which did NOT look promising. And nothing changed when I tried to connect it in download mode either, so I started freaking out! You just have to disregard this little indescrepancy and follow the instructions like normal and, hopefully, it’ll work eventually! It did for me on the second try-thank God, or Krishna, or Mohammad, whoever! Just thought I’d add that in case anybody else has this happen to them in hopes of saving them from soiling their skivvies! Thank you so much!

  44. The first time I tried this method, it got stuck at “Setup Connection”. And although it says to just restart the entire process from the beginning if this happens, I wasn’t sure how to go about disconnecting the usb cord without possibly bricking my phone or screwing up the drivers. Eventually I ended up just closing Odin and popping my battery off because I couldn’t power down while in Download mode. But then I go to turn it back on and I got a screen with a picture of a phone and a computer with a yellow triangle and an exclamation point in the center, which did NOT look promising. And nothing changed when I tried to connect it in download mode either, so I started freaking out! You just have to disregard this little indescrepancy and follow the instructions like normal and, hopefully, it’ll work eventually! It did for me on the second try-thank God, or Krishna, or Mohammad, whoever! Just thought I’d add that in case anybody else has this happen to them in hopes of saving them from soiling their skivvies! Thank you so much!

  45. The first time I tried this method, it got stuck at “Setup Connection”. And although it says to just restart the entire process from the beginning if this happens, I wasn’t sure how to go about disconnecting the usb cord without possibly bricking my phone or screwing up the drivers. Eventually I ended up just closing Odin and popping my battery off because I couldn’t power down while in Download mode. But then I go to turn it back on and I got a screen with a picture of a phone and a computer with a yellow triangle and an exclamation point in the center, which did NOT look promising. And nothing changed when I tried to connect it in download mode either, so I started freaking out! You just have to disregard this little indescrepancy and follow the instructions like normal and, hopefully, it’ll work eventually! It did for me on the second try-thank God, or Krishna, or Mohammad, whoever! Just thought I’d add that in case anybody else has this happen to them in hopes of saving them from soiling their skivvies! Thank you so much!

  46. i check the Re-partition checkbox, now my phone is boot looping. How can I fix it???
    Thank you…

  47. i check the Re-partition checkbox, now my phone is boot looping. How can I fix it???
    Thank you…

  48. i check the Re-partition checkbox, now my phone is boot looping. How can I fix it???
    Thank you…

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