How to update to Jelly Bean 4.1.1 via Kies

**DizzyMaker#CB** · 12-06-2012, 01:10 PM

for those of you having issues with kies not recognizing your phone, make sure you have at least 50% battery life. otherwise it will contiue to search for devices. i decided to posty a thread about it because i think a lot of the problems are stemming from this...

otherwise it is as easy as pie ( just not key lime pie )

1) download the latest version of kies software for your OS ( either windows or mac )
windows -
mac -
2) connect phone to your computer via USB ( preferrably the factory one, as some people report aftermarkets not working )
3) kies will immediatly find the update, and ask you to update to the latest firmware version
4) "check" box agreeing to terms, select "yes", and viola!
5) let the update completely finish before disconnecting device, and thats it! enjoy JB

**rjenkin41** · 12-06-2012, 06:28 PM

It's not working for me in terms of Kies says there is no new firmware update. My S3 connects with Kies just fine, but no firmware update pops up. Any ideas? I have a Mac, and I have downloaded the newest version of Kies.

**Kelly Kearns** · 12-06-2012, 07:03 PM

I've seen people with Macs saying it doesn't have an update for them.

I would get on Samsung's live chat support and they can help you. Also some people said it took Kies awhile to notify them.

Just remembering what others have done..maybe try taking the battery out for 60 seconds..Samsung said not less, and then connect your phone again.

**Jaimeg123prmt** · 12-06-2012, 07:56 PM

Forgive my ignorance but what is kies and can I update if I am rooted.

**Kelly Kearns** · 12-06-2012, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by garcia_jx

Forgive my ignorance but what is kies and can I update if I am rooted.

Kies is the program you will find at Samsung's site. I only use it to upgrade my phone, but others also use it to transfer files and back up their phone.

Found here:

You SHOULD be able to update with it being rooted, seems it is only updating specific versions. Most I've seen didn't have a problem, I've seen a couple people say it told them their version wasn't eligible for upgrade.

You can do the upgrade through Odin if you have a problem with Kies. I read there is a thread at XDA about doing that.

**Jaimeg123prmt** · 12-06-2012, 08:07 PM

Great thanks.

**greasemuntney** · 12-06-2012, 08:07 PM

Used Kies and updated my GS3 last night. I had major issues of my phone not being seen by Kies. My wife's GS3 connected with out any issues. After many hours of searching the net and no fixes working I finally found that it was camera and not MTP connection my phone was on. So if you are on a MAC and Kies does not see your phone swipe down from top and click the USB notice in the drop down and swap from camera to MTP and Kies will work. But back to the Jelly Bean update I am loving it. Very smooth and fast. Many new upgrades and no issues so far. Coming from iOS I am still very pleased with the decision to get a Galaxy S3.

**rjenkin41** · 12-07-2012, 04:53 PM

I have had no luck updating, unfortunately. I have:
-Contacted Samsung Support, which didn't help any.
-Took the battery out for at least 5 minutes.
-Uninstalled and Reinstalled Kies Several times
-Disabled Pop-up blocks and firewall
-Turned on USB debugging mode

If anybody has another suggestion, please let me know!

**jpetty** · 12-07-2012, 04:59 PM

Get a PC or an iphone. Whats with everyone and their damn Macs

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Android Central Forums

**rjenkin41** · 12-07-2012, 05:09 PM

Good one - *****.

**insanesteve** · 12-07-2012, 08:14 PM

Kies will not work. I have talked to 6, yes 6 chat agents and they cannot figure out why my 4 computers lose connection while preparing the firmware. The guy on the phone gave up after 40 minutes. I have over 5 hours into updating for nothing, about to go back to an iphone.

**rjenkin41** · 12-07-2012, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by insanesteve

Kies will not work. I have talked to 6, yes 6 chat agents and they cannot figure out why my 4 computers lose connection while preparing the firmware. The guy on the phone gave up after 40 minutes. I have over 5 hours into updating for nothing, about to go back to an iphone.

I understand your frustration. A simple update shouldn't be this difficult.

**insanesteve** · 12-07-2012, 08:50 PM

Well, I finally talked to someone I could understand, she was very nice and let me know that Kies is down and has been since last night for scheduled maintenance, they have no clue when it is going to be back up, she said maybe tomorrow or Monday. Why the heck would you do this with a big release dropping. I asked her why the Chat people did not know, she said it is only the U.S., chat agents are out of the country and probably do not know. Samsung is a bunch of ids imo, they wasted over 5 hours of my life over a phone, I will not do this again. I loved my S2 skyrocket, never had 1 issue.

Later,
Steve

**rjenkin41** · 12-07-2012, 09:36 PM

Thank you for the update

**jafa666** · 12-08-2012, 02:47 PM

I spoke to samsung support and they told me to disable my antivirus and firmware on my pc. I also uninstalled my antivirus on my galaxys3 and the download worked today just fine. Also, make sure your running the most current kies for windows or mac. Finally make sure your phone is registered with samsung, i know that last thought is obvious, sorry just trying to help out. Hope you get phone updated it's very cool the new features in the update.

**insanesteve** · 12-08-2012, 11:21 PM

After three more hours of trying I ended up going the Mr. Robinson route. Works like a champ and got routed at the same time.

I have noticed the keyboard flashes when typing, not really worried about it as I will download my gingerbread keyboard.

Thanks
Steve

**qbnkelt** · 12-09-2012, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by insanesteve

After three more hours of trying I ended up going the Mr. Robinson route. Works like a champ and got routed at the same time.

I have noticed the keyboard flashes when typing, not really worried about it as I will download my gingerbread keyboard.

Thanks
Steve

OK....what is the Mr Robinson route?

Kies on my PC does not see my phone.
Device is fully charged and I'm using the cable in the box.
I remember similar problems with the Skyrocket but at that time all I needed to do was to use the cable in the box,
I am not disabling antivirus, etc.

**jcp007** · 12-09-2012, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by qbnkelt

OK....what is the Mr Robinson route?

Kies on my PC does not see my phone.
Device is fully charged and I'm using the cable in the box.
I remember similar problems with the Skyrocket but at that time all I needed to do was to use the cable in the box,
I am not disabling antivirus, etc.

Did you update to the most current version of Kies? Some have recommended updating Java. Enable USB debugging. Disable strict mode and screen update is developer options. The latter two suggestions will eliminate the flashing red screen border.

Sent From My Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet

**insanesteve** · 12-09-2012, 07:33 AM

Download Odin and the firmware. Also, Google 7zip and download that.
Watch the video.
Unzip Odin to your desktop
Using 7zip extract firmware file to your desktop
Put your phone into download mode
Plug into computer
Open Odin
Add firmware file to PDA line
Hit start
Wait until done and enjoy

After 3 days and close to 8 hours trying with kies , the Mr Robinson way took me 20 minutes.

Later
Steve

**bigstormgirl** · 12-09-2012, 07:43 AM

I just updated to JB last night with zero issues. FWIW, I'm using a Macbook.

**insanesteve** · 12-09-2012, 08:18 AM

Yeah...I used 4 different computers. It must be hit or miss.

**DizzyMaker#CB** · 12-11-2012, 10:31 AM

kies is hit or miss, flakey software.

another nice thing about android though is the community and devs.

for those of you still not able to update, it might be time to odin

**Kailash Makhija** · 12-11-2012, 09:22 PM

I tried with Kies as per Samsung instructions, lock screen twice they could not help me, I had to go to ATT Service center and they had to flash the memory. and I had to restore from the back up, do not upgrade. as it has bugs which need to be fixed wait for att email or unless you talk to them. It is expected in Jan some time.

**riderrick65** · 12-12-2012, 09:39 AM

WOW!!! After reading all these horror stories about upgrading to JB it makes me kinda gun shy about updating my SG3. At the moment I'm still trying to figure out all the different functions of this awesome phone! I am a new-b and still have a lot to learn

**Bob Hale** · 12-13-2012, 07:27 PM

I've tried to update my s3 for about five hrs. Kies will recognize my phone but when i start the download it disconnects my phone downloads the firmware to 100% then Kies closes. Ive talked to samsung and they said try another pc. That was after 2 hrs of pc updates and restarts and taking batts in and out. Someone please help....