Galaxy S Jelly Bean Android 4.1 Update [Guide]

Another day, and another Jelly Bean Android 4.1 based custom ROM has come out for the amazingly persistent Samsung Galaxy S. This new ROM comes courtesy of XDA Senior Member iall5tar and it suitable for daily use, with most of the things not working in the previous ROMs now working properly. You get all the Jelly Bean features such as a smoother interface, faster performance, advanced voice recognition and search functionality, better and smarter keyboard, improved and actionable notifications area, and a lot more which you can read about here.

NOTE: Even though the ROM is suitable for daily use, there may be a few bugs and issues in the ROM and some things may not work properly, which should be fixed as development goes on. Also, the ROM uses a smaller DPI value for smaller and sharper text, so some apps may fail to install from the Play Store. Read the note at the end of the installation guide on how to fix this.

Let’s take a look at how Jelly Bean Android 4.1 can be installed on the Galaxy S.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Samsung Galaxy S, model number i9000. It’s not compatible the GT-i9003 or with any other device and may render an incompatible device unusable. Check your device model in Settings » About phone.

Warning!

The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. If any damage occurs to your device, we won’t be held liable.

How to Install Jelly Bean Android 4.1 on Galaxy S i9000

  1. This procedure will wipe all your apps, data and settings (but it will NOT touch your SD cards, so don’t worry about those). Backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you.
    Important! Don’t forget to at least make a backup of your APN settings, which you can restore later if your data connection does not work after installing the ROM. Use the backup guide to find out how.
  2. Remove sim card lock, if you have set it earlier. Go here: Settings » Location and Security » Sim card lock » checkbox should be clear (not selected).
  3. Flash the stock XXJW4 firmware by using → this guide.
  4. Root XXJW4 to obtain Clockworkmod recovery (CWM) by using → this guide.
  5. Download the latest version of the ROM from the official development page. Download only the main ROM.
  6. Copy the zip file downloaded in step 5 to the internal SD card (do not extract the file).
  7. Turn off your Galaxy S and wait for complete shutdown (wait for vibration and check capacitive button lights).
  8. Then, boot into CWM recovery. To do so, press and hold the Volume Up + Home buttons while powering on the phone. When the screen turns on, let go of all three buttons.
    In recovery, use Volume keys to scroll up and down and power key to select an option.
  9. Select wipe data/factory reset, then select Yes on next screen to confirm. Wait a while till the data wipe is complete.
  10. Now select install zip from sdcard, then select choose zip from sdcard. Scroll to the ROM file on the sdcard and select it. Confirm installation by selecting Yes – Install _____.zip on the next screen. The ROM will start installing.
  11. The phone will reboot into recovery in the middle of installation and then continue installing the ROM. However, if it simply reboots but doesn’t continue installation, repeat step 10 to install the ROM again.
  12. After the installation is complete, select go back and then select reboot system now to reboot your phone into Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
  13. Going back to stock ROM: To go back to a stock Samsung ROM again, you can flash the XXJW4 firmware by following the guide linked in step 3 above.

Reverting to Default DPI so that all apps show in the Play Store

The ROM uses a smaller DPI value for sharper and smaller text, so some apps may fail to show up in the Play Store. In order to fix this and go back to the normal DPI value, do the following:

  1. Download the Fixes SP* included DPI 240 file from the official development page (where * is the latest version available).
  2. Copy the file to the internal SD card.
  3. Turn off phone and boot into ClockworkMod recovery.
  4. Select install zip from sdcard, then select choose zip from sdcard, then select the DPI 240 fix file downloaded in step 1. Confirm installation on the next screen.
  5. After installation is complete, reboot your phone. You will now be able to access previously inaccessible apps in the Play Store.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now installed and running on your Samsung Galaxy S. Visit the official development page for more info and to get the latest updates on the ROM. Share your thoughts on the ROM in the comments.

29 Comments

  1. can’t believe i9000 got jelly bean rom earlier than i9100 =( Wonder when we wlll see a stable jelly bean rom for i9100

    1. Yeah.. old man still rocking.. and wooing developers more than even the legendary S2 i9100 🙂

    1. The correct link for “official development page. should be http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1776738

    2. Oh boy, that’s wrong link… correcting it :/

    3. Correct links for “official development page” is @ http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1776738

  2. how can i find the link from the official dev. page? i can’t find one in there… i mean i found some link in there but i don’t think that ‘s a JB 4.1 ROM. or maybe i’m just confused? where is it? pls. reply. tnx! 🙂

  3. Im totally new at rooting my galaxy s1 with vs 2.3.3 XXJVO and before i want to root to vs 4.1 i want to know if any thing will happen to my APN settings once iv rooted my device and will wifi run normally after rooting? sorry if this is a stupid question

  4. can i do this on my unrooted galaxy s i9000 gingerbread 2.3.3 XXJVO

  5. unable to download.. please help

    1. Hello I have a different problem. My photos can be seen on edge points if anyone can tell me something from the android or display?

  6. I installed this ROM on my I9000 and it works perfect, the only thing that bothers me is that i can’t get an 3G/H internet connection. My only internet connection that works is Wifi. Is there a way to fix this? I’ve already set the correct APN settings but it still doesn’t work.
    I hope to to get a solution soon 🙂

  7. Can you please tell me what actually works
    and what it doesnt?
    thanks.

  8. interested to flash this latest ROM but main concern is if WiFi tethering is working ? And what else doesn’t work? Please reply soon. Can’t wait to show-off Jelly Bean to my techy friends who still doesn’t have it.

  9. I successfully installed this ROM to my SGS1. Noticeably faster than my previous ICS 4.03 ROM and the display seem better. However, there are some bugs that need to be addressed: -when I used the voice call, the sound is very loud and producing echo of the received voice, also in the notification window it is showing “no internet connection” instead of the name of the telecom service provider. I hope these can be fixed as I like to use this ROM. Thanks!

  10. its asking for a password to decrypt the storage.. does anyone know what the password is???

    1. wipe cache, and delvik cache n do factory reset, i had the same problem

  11. i installed this and now my phone is stuck!it shows boot logo,then instantly goes to clockworkmod recovery!what should I do?

  12. i installed this and now my phone is stuck!it shows boot logo,then instantly goes to clockworkmod recovery!what should I do?

    1. Do as bilal said in reply to Shane roosmale.

  13. Will this work on i9000t models?

  14. Thanks for a brilliant guide! I’d much rather go with the stock version of the ROM though, for speed as well as stability. Find a guide for it here –

    http://sn0v.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/installing-jelly-bean-on-the-galaxy-s/

  15. Hy, I tried to upgrade my samsung galaxy i9000 to android 4.1.1 but it won’t reboot! i followed the steps, excluding 3 and 4 , i already have ics 4.0.3 and it is stuck!! i don’t know what to do!!

  16. Hy, I tried to upgrade my samsung galaxy i9000 to android 4.1.1 but it won’t reboot! i followed the steps, excluding 3 and 4 , i already have ics 4.0.3 and it is stuck!! i don’t know what to do!!

  17. This is an excellent guide.I never tried to root my phone to another Rom.I just decided I have to try and it was worth it.One question though:What happened to the normal Google Talk

  18. Thank you very much for this tutorial, the links to the downloads. Runs smoothly on my device and looks awesome. The only issue I have so far is that after rebooting the phone it throws the apps all over the place and I have to regroup them… After a couple of times I gave up 🙂 Will wait for a fix for this issue.
    Thanks again.

    1. Trty using ant other launcher.. like, nova launcher, or apex launcher.

  19. When will this software available on I9003?

Comments are closed.