How to Install XXKP1 Android 4.0 Firmware on Galaxy S2

Samsung Galaxy S2 is the first phone to receive an Ice Cream Sandwich firmware leak — it’s labeled as XXKP1, and is based on Android 4.0.1, the latest version of Android OS and is running under the hood of latest nexus device, Galaxy Nexus.

We’ve tried the XXKP1 on our Galaxy S2 i9100 and the guide below will help you all to flash it on your phone, using Samsung’s PC software – Odin3 v1.85.

Btw, know that since XXKP1 firmware is using a insecure kernel, so after installing this your Galaxy S2 will show a yellow triangle while booting up which basically signals that your phone’s warranty is void now. Sure, you can flash any other Samsung firmware — that is Android 2.3.x one, preferably that meant for your region — and restore things to normal, after which phone won’t show a yellow triangle. If nothing else, just install the XXKL1 firmware on your Galaxy S2 to go back to Android 2.3, Gingerbread.

Warning!
The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to you or your device, we won’t be held liable — you only will be responsible, you’ve been warned!!!

Compatibility
This firmware and the guide below is compatible only and only with Samsung Galaxy S2, model number i9100 (international version). Check your phone’s model number in: Settings » About phone. It’s not compatible with any other device, whether it’s any other Galaxy S2 variant (Skyrocket, T-Mobile S2, Epic 4G Touch, AT&T S2, etc.) or not. Things to take care of before Installing ROMs

  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. this Android backup guide would help you. Restore APN settings if Internet isn’t working for you, after installing the rom. And if you are using a rooted phone, you can save application’s data too, using Titanium backup(free app on android market) to backup apps with apps with data. Use the same app again to restore those apps with data.
  2. Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. Download links — 32 bit (x86) Windows |   64-bit (x64) Windows

How to Install XXKP1 — Leaked Android 4.0 Firmware — on Galaxy S2 i9100

Obviously, one needs to use Odin software. Detailed step-by-step guide is all you need. But if this is your first time, you may want to watch a video before actually trying this. We’re in the process of uploading the video, which visuals out the steps given below — so wait if you want to watch the video first before trying it yourself. That said, the steps below are more than enough on their own, too.

UPDATE: Installation video is here:

[youtube video_id=”mBasid49lQg” width=”600″ height=”400″ /]
  1. Download the XXKP1 firmware. Download Link. Filename: I9100XXKP1_Android_4.0.1_CUSTOM.rar. Size: 329.8 MB. [Password: samfirmware.com]
  2. Extract the downloaded file I9100XXKP1_Android_4.0.1_CUSTOM.rarto get these 4 files:
    1. I9100_APBOOT_I9100XXKP1_CL16459_REV02_eng_mid_ship.tar.md5
    2. I9100_CODE_I9100XXKP1_CL16459_REV02_eng_mid_ship.tar.md5
    3. I9100_KERNEL_I9100XXKP1_CL16459_REV02_eng_mid_ship.tar.md5
    4. MODEM_I9100XXKP1_REV_02_CL1085642.tar.md
  3. Download Odin software. Filename: Odin3-v1.85.zip. Size: 198 KB. Download Link. Extract the zip file to folder to get 2 files – Odin3 v1.85.exe and Odin3.ini. Do not delete the .ini file since it’s very much required, too. When asked in step 6 below, open Odin by double clicking on the Odin3 v1.85.exefile.
  4. Disconnect your Galaxy S2 if it’s connected to PC. Switch Off your phone. Wait for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
  5. Now, put Galaxy S2 in Download Mode — press and hold these keys together: Volume_down+Home+Power. This is required to install XXKP1, or any firmware, on Galaxy S2 using Odin PC Software.
  6. Open Odin (from step 3) — Odin3 v1.85.exe.
  7. Connect your phone to PC now. You should get the message “Added! !” under the Odin’s message box in the bottom left. (If you don’t get this message, than probably there is a problem with drivers. Make sure you’ve drivers installed.)
  8. Select these files in Odin at respective tabs:
    1. Click the BOOTLOADER tab, and select I9100_APBOOT_I9100XXKP1_CL16459_REV02_eng_mid_ship.tar.md5 (from step 2.1)
    2. Click the PDA tab, and select I9100_CODE_I9100XXKP1_CL16459_REV02_eng_mid_ship.tar.md5 (from step 2.2)
    3. Click the PHONE tab, and select MODEM_I9100XXKP1_REV_02_CL1085642.tar.md5 (from step 2.4)
  9. Important! On Odin, Do NOT tick the ‘Re-Partition’ and any other checkbox, and keep the ‘Auto Reboot’ & ‘F. Reset Time’ checkboxes ticked. Do not touch any other checkbox or tab or anything, except as was required in step 8 above.
  10. Double check everything said in step 8 and 9 above. [And, do not use the file in step 2.3 anywhere here, it’s useless for you]. Below is the my Odin;s screen while flashing XXKP1, and your Odin’s screen should like this too: Android 4.0 for Galaxy S2 Odin Setup
  11. Now, hit the START button to start installing the XXKP1.
  12. When process at Odin finishes your phone will reboot into recovery mode. 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 FAIL written over it, the process flashing process wasn’t successful. Try again the steps 4 to 11. On success, screen would look like this: Android 4.0 for Galaxy S2 Odin Installation
  13. In recovery mode, use volume keys to browse between options and go to and select reboot system now using Power key. The phone will restart, and your eyes will be feasted with same ol’ Samsung boot anim since the days of good ol’ Galaxy S i9000 instead of special, new, a-bit weird and default Ice Cream Sandwich animation you’ve probably see on Galaxy Nexus. No probs, though, right?
  14. (Optional, of course) If you found this guide useful, share it with others too on webpages, forums, your Facebook/twitter/Google+ pages, etc. That would be helping us grow too 😉

If before flashing this you had your phone rooted, you would want the root back, right? Well, that’s very obvious. But Chainfire hasn’t released a working root for XXKP1 yet. So I’d suggest you to root using SuperOneClick, it should work.

Do let us know about your experience of the XXKP1 ROM in the comments below.

Speaking of which, mine isn’t too good. XXKP1 is buggier than custom Android 4.0 rom we’ve got thanks to cool development community. TW4 doesn’t feel that cool as it felt for till now, and an option to install/use stock Android 4.0 launcher would be win-win. Face unlock is cool, btw, and works like it should. Browser feels awesome, but the windows management has been a bit ruined by Samsung by using their own UI, in place of Android’s — the latter is coolest we’ve seen on any browser.

Other than that, settings screen hasn’t seen too much tweaks — which is a good thing — and all new ICS special features are there, working fully.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a good build, for most of the part, touchscreen gets moody and not behaves well. Gestures works opposite of usual, which irritates a lot. And there are many other things, listing each one out would spoil the fun, so I’m stopping here. Last thing, that red border which is present almost everywhere upon touch, is very very awkward.

Btw, screenshots can be taken now using Power key and Volume Down together, instead of what we used earlier: Home and Power. Press Volume down and Power together and hold for 1 sec. Screenshot will be taken, saved in sdcard/Pictures/Screenshots directory, and you’ll be notified of that in notification bar, with a preview, albeit. Cool! Swipe left/right on it to remove that individual notification. ICS is here, man!

Let’s hear your experience in comments too! And btw, subscribe us using Email, Facebook, Twitter and/or RSS and stay in touch, we think many more firmware are about to leak in coming few weeks and months. Let’s see which one of these upcoming leaks will make it to Kies (that is, official update status) and when.

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]

99 Comments

  1. How to take screenshot?

  2. Hold vol down + power

  3. when i rebooted phone it stays on samsung screeen… its like that for 15 minutes now. what to do?

    1. and there is yellow triangle on first screen, and now again screen. how long should that load? as usual?

  4. is there a root method for this firmware yet ?

  5. How to take screenshot?

  6. when i rebooted phone it stays on samsung screeen… its like that for 15 minutes now. what to do?

  7. when i rebooted phone it stays on samsung screeen… its like that for 15 minutes now. what to do?

    1. and there is yellow triangle on first screen, and now again screen. how long should that load? as usual?

  8. when i rebooted phone it stays on samsung screeen… its like that for 15 minutes now. what to do?

  9. is there a root method for this firmware yet ?

  10. My thoughts: TouchWiz pretty much ruins ICS

  11. My thoughts: TouchWiz pretty much ruins ICS

  12. Hello Kapil, 

    I tried the same tutorial but I was not able to install the screenshot app and neither I was able to run any app properly, Everything was just saying “Force Close”. 

    Is there any solution for that ?

    1. Screenshot can be taken directly. Just press Vol Down and Power key together. I got force closes too, btw. It’s buggy, no doubt.

  13. Is the update only in english or also in dutch?

  14. Hello Kapil, 

    I tried the same tutorial but I was not able to install the screenshot app and neither I was able to run any app properly, Everything was just saying “Force Close”. 

    Is there any solution for that ?

    1. Screenshot can be taken directly. Just press Vol Down and Power key together. I got force closes too, btw. It’s buggy, no doubt.

  15. Pretty good ROM. 🙂
    Still many things that don’t work though. Wouldn’t recommend installing if you’re going to be using this daily but it’s still pretty awesome to install and mess around with for a couple of hours.

    1. Can you tell me wat isnot working?

  16. Is the update only in english or also in dutch?

  17. Pretty good ROM. 🙂
    Still many things that don’t work though. Wouldn’t recommend installing if you’re going to be using this daily but it’s still pretty awesome to install and mess around with for a couple of hours.

    1. Can you tell me wat isnot working?

    2. Can you tell me wat isnot working?

  18. hi
    please help

    i can not turn on wireless and search in web

    1. You can’t just turn on the WiFi by dragging down the notification bar and clicking the WiFi icon. You have to actually go into setting and turn WiFi on manually. Once you have done that it should work fine. 
      4.0.3 has just been announced so i would wait until that comes out instead of installing this ROM.

  19. hi
    please help

    i can not turn on wireless and search in web

    1. You can’t just turn on the WiFi by dragging down the notification bar and clicking the WiFi icon. You have to actually go into setting and turn WiFi on manually. Once you have done that it should work fine. 
      4.0.3 has just been announced so i would wait until that comes out instead of installing this ROM.

  20. Internet 3G connection not working, problem with APN setup (cannot write to APN)
    wireless is working but many problems with apps not able to run. Face recognition is working fairly well but needs good lighting to function. Do not recommend this version of ICS for daily use. Not having internet connection is a serious if not fatal flaw in this release.  
      

  21. Internet 3G connection not working, problem with APN setup (cannot write to APN)
    wireless is working but many problems with apps not able to run. Face recognition is working fairly well but needs good lighting to function. Do not recommend this version of ICS for daily use. Not having internet connection is a serious if not fatal flaw in this release.  
      

  22. hi
    i installed successfully, but it’s not stable , and have a huge bugs collection, many exceptions throws through simply daily use of phone, how can i downgrade to my previews version?
    is it possible to use odin with I9100JPKJ2 md5 file?

    1. Yes you can go back to firmware of your choice, including jpkkj2, using Odin.

      If nothing else, search for xxkh3 here and install that.

  23. hi
    i installed successfully, but it’s not stable , and have a huge bugs collection, many exceptions throws through simply daily use of phone, how can i downgrade to my previews version?
    is it possible to use odin with I9100JPKJ2 md5 file?

    1. Yes you can go back to firmware of your choice, including jpkkj2, using Odin.

      If nothing else, search for xxkh3 here and install that.

  24. It seems as there is no way to go back to GB because Odin does not recognize the phone anymore

    1. Tick or untick your “Usb Debugging” on your phone. 
      Can’t remember off the top of my head but you need it ticked or unticked for ODin to work. Change the settings of your USB debugging and try again. 🙂

  25. It seems as there is no way to go back to GB because Odin does not recognize the phone anymore

    1. Tick or untick your “Usb Debugging” on your phone. 
      Can’t remember off the top of my head but you need it ticked or unticked for ODin to work. Change the settings of your USB debugging and try again. 🙂

  26. Do not install this. XXKP2 just got released today which has fixed most of glitches/bugs in XXKP1.

    If Kapil would be kind enough to do some research and post how to install XXKP2 I’m sure the community of Androidsoul would love it! :’)

  27. Do not install this. XXKP2 just got released today which has fixed most of glitches/bugs in XXKP1.

    If Kapil would be kind enough to do some research and post how to install XXKP2 I’m sure the community of Androidsoul would love it! :’)

  28. vibration is not workin after this install, plzzzz help!!!

  29. internet is nt working in 4.0 ics on samsung galaxy s2, plzzzzzz help

    1. It’s buggy. Not suitable for daily use. Go back to Android 2.3. Search for xxjh3 here and install that.

    2. Err… search for xxkh3.

  30. vibration is not workin after this install, plzzzz help!!!

  31. internet is nt working in 4.0 ics on samsung galaxy s2, plzzzzzz help

    1. It’s buggy. Not suitable for daily use. Go back to Android 2.3. Search for xxjh3 here and install that.

    2. Err… search for xxkh3.

  32. can my samsung galaxy s2 GT-i9100G version 2.3.5 gingerbread.DZK11 upgrade/install 2.3.5_XWKJ3 dan XXKP1 Android 4.0 Firmware??

    1. Cannot, all upgrade are only for GT-I9100. No upgrade for GT-I9100G at the moment.

  33. can my samsung galaxy s2 GT-i9100G version 2.3.5 gingerbread.DZK11 upgrade/install 2.3.5_XWKJ3 dan XXKP1 Android 4.0 Firmware??

    1. Cannot, all upgrade are only for GT-I9100. No upgrade for GT-I9100G at the moment.

  34. Its not ripe to taste to the taste bud yet..so hang on guys..patience would make it more fruitful..

  35. Its not ripe to taste to the taste bud yet..so hang on guys..patience would make it more fruitful..

  36. 4.o is work nice but one thing on skype my cam r not working properly can you guide me how can i fix it ?u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

    1. You cannot fix it unless you upgrade to new version. make sure your phone is samsung galaxy s 2 is GT-I9100 not GT-I9100G.

  37. 4.o is work nice but one thing on skype my cam r not working properly can you guide me how can i fix it ?u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

    1. You cannot fix it unless you upgrade to new version. make sure your phone is samsung galaxy s 2 is GT-I9100 not GT-I9100G.

  38. Anyone help,u00a0nMy sgs2’s status right now:n2.3.3nCustom Binary Download: NOnCurrent Binary: SAMSUNG OFFICIALnnHerelies, i couldnt upgrade mine, as there is no “Added!” once plugged.

  39. Anyone help,u00a0nMy sgs2’s status right now:n2.3.3nCustom Binary Download: NOnCurrent Binary: SAMSUNG OFFICIALnnHerelies, i couldnt upgrade mine, as there is no “Added!” once plugged.

  40. hi,,, am in middle of it.. after the odin started how much time it wll take to pass or fail…whatever…? taking more than Half hour,,, sumbody can help me,,, if i did sumthing nything will happen to my phone. BTW ma phone is Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100.. pls help me out….

    1. Shouldn’t take more than 5 mins…. so retry. Btw, new firmware is available, named xxlp6, which is much better than this one. Try that. Search for it here, we’ve got guide and download links covered.

  41. hi,,, am in middle of it.. after the odin started how much time it wll take to pass or fail…whatever…? taking more than Half hour,,, sumbody can help me,,, if i did sumthing nything will happen to my phone. BTW ma phone is Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100.. pls help me out….

    1. Shouldn’t take more than 5 mins…. so retry. Btw, new firmware is available, named xxlp6, which is much better than this one. Try that. Search for it here, we’ve got guide and download links covered.

  42. After instaling setup, its taking so much time to reboot and still that yello signal is still apearing please help

    1. XXKP1 is pretty old now and new firmwares are available from Samsung, the latest and best of which is XXLPB. So, I would suggest you to install that — https://nerdschalk.com/xxlpb-galaxy-s2/

    2. no i am little conservative now and go ahead with this only if you can help to make my phone better….

    3. Hey, XXKP1 was most worst beta rom ever. Install XXLPB, or CM9, you’ll like it way better than KP1.

    4. ok i will try but can please guide me how do i install with zero error

    5. Please use ‘search’ to find the download links and gudies yourself. It helps us too. And anyway, here’s the link to upgrade to xxlpb — nerdschalk.com/xxlpb-galaxy-s2/

  43. After instaling setup, its taking so much time to reboot and still that yello signal is still apearing please help

    1. XXKP1 is pretty old now and new firmwares are available from Samsung, the latest and best of which is XXLPB. So, I would suggest you to install that — https://nerdschalk.com/xxlpb-galaxy-s2/

      1. no i am little conservative now and go ahead with this only if you can help to make my phone better….

        1. Hey, XXKP1 was most worst beta rom ever. Install XXLPB, or CM9, you’ll like it way better than KP1.

          1. ok i will try but can please guide me how do i install with zero error

          2. Please use ‘search’ to find the download links and gudies yourself. It helps us too. And anyway, here’s the link to upgrade to xxlpb — nerdschalk.com/xxlpb-galaxy-s2/

  44. YOU ARE THE BEST

  45. YOU ARE THE BEST

  46. i want my official samsung binary back how do i do that? please someone help

    1. Worry not. Flash the latest ICS release for S2 by Samsung — XXLPQ. Link – https://nerdschalk.com/xxlpq/

  47. i want my official samsung binary back how do i do that? please someone help

    1. Worry not. Flash the latest ICS release for S2 by Samsung — XXLPQ. Link – https://nerdschalk.com/xxlpq/

  48. After upgrading my mobile to ics 4.0, I am unable to connect to the internet. How doo I resolve this problem?

    1. Fill in your carrier’s internet settings in APN settings under Mobile and Networks settings.

  49. i got model number i9100p not ip100 will it still work

  50. After upgrading my mobile to ics 4.0, I am unable to connect to the internet. How doo I resolve this problem?

    1. Fill in your carrier’s internet settings in APN settings under Mobile and Networks settings.

  51. i got model number i9100p not ip100 will it still work

  52. will this work on my phone sidekick 4g

  53. will this work on my phone sidekick 4g

  54. its work thanks sir

    one question how to turn off red rectangle on selection?

  55. its work thanks sir

    one question how to turn off red rectangle on selection?

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