How to remove the OTA downloaded Kitkat firmware?

[iron56]

I have recently received the Kitkat 4.4 OTA download for Kitkat for my Galaxy S4. Having heard issues with the SDcard access by certain apps, I really woudl prefer to remain on Jelly Bean. However, having already received the firmware downloaded onto my S4, I keep getting reminders to update my firmware every 3 hours (maximum that I can delay it).

Is there a way to delete the downloaded Kitkat 4.4 firmware? I don't have much space on my S4 internal storage and I would like to remove it as well as the irritating notifications. My S4 is not rooted.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Paul627g]

As far as I know you can't remove or get rid of the annoying update OTA notification. Its basically un avoidable outside of delaying/ignoring it like you have been doing.

 

[sho50]

The SD card issues are very real! KitKat 4.4.2 simply doesn't work right. Regretfully, Google has foisted a buggy beta "update" on its customers.

Anger is natural, but we customers must demand that Google fix this travesty IMMEDIATELY, else face severe consequences (bad PR, fleeing customers, even legal action). Either provide a simple roll back to the far better 4.2 OS, or quickly fix the issues and re-release a functional KitKat product.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[gxgs]

The SD card issues are very real! KitKat 4.4.2 simply doesn't work right. Regretfully, Google has foisted a buggy beta "update" on its customers.

Anger is natural, but we customers must demand that Google fix this travesty IMMEDIATELY, else face severe consequences (bad PR, fleeing customers, even legal action). Either provide a simple roll back to the far better 4.2 OS, or quickly fix the issues and re-release a functional KitKat product.

Posted via Android Central App

Its not a bug, its how it works. Samsung just made it worse.
AnandTech | Examining MicroSD changes in Android 4.4

and there are many more articles explaining that.

I have recently received the Kitkat 4.4 OTA download for Kitkat for my Galaxy S4. Having heard issues with the SDcard access by certain apps, I really woudl prefer to remain on Jelly Bean. However, having already received the firmware downloaded onto my S4, I keep getting reminders to update my firmware every 3 hours (maximum that I can delay it).

Is there a way to delete the downloaded Kitkat 4.4 firmware? I don't have much space on my S4 internal storage and I would like to remove it as well as the irritating notifications. My S4 is not rooted.

Thanks for any help!

Which variant of the s4 do you have?

 

[thatdude93]

I still havent recieved that update on my phone

Sent from my SCH-R970C using Tapatalk

 

[iron56]

I have a GT-i9505.

Okay, I managed to get rid of the notifications by long pressing on the notification to invoke App Info and then Force Close it. It no longer bothers me, but judging from my remaining space in the internal storage, I still have 400mb of OTA downloaded firmware which I can't seem to find using ES File Explorer. Where is it?

Its not a bug, its how it works. Samsung just made it worse.
AnandTech | Examining MicroSD changes in Android 4.4

and there are many more articles explaining that.



Which variant of the s4 do you have?

 

[Paul627g]

Can't blame sdcard issues on Google, that is Samsung's department.

FWIW, KitKat 4.2.2 runs great on my Nexus 7. I think we need to point more towards the OEMs and their custom skins/UI causing issues. But I will say there is room for improvement on Google's behalf too.

Paul, Moderator Team Leader.

 

[JudH]

Can't blame sdcard issues on Google, that is Samsung's department.

On the contrair, this is very much Google. It's Google that's now requiring OEMs to not bypass the card management stuff that Google put in 4.3 or earlier. It's original Google Android code that's now limiting apps to only writing to their own folder on external sdcards. It's Samsung, or LG, or Sony, that you can't blame this on.

 

[silverfang77]

Will we still be able to store photos, videos and music on the microSD card?

 

[Rashawn29]

Will we still be able to store photos, videos and music on the microSD card?

Yes but only with the built in apps.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 via Android Central App

 

[popfx]

Hi. Did you find a way to remove the firmware from your phone? I have the same problem. Thanks. P

 

[androidcentral8450]

I have recently received the Kitkat 4.4 OTA download for Kitkat for my Galaxy S4. Having heard issues with the SDcard access by certain apps, I really woudl prefer to remain on Jelly Bean. However, having already received the firmware downloaded onto my S4, I keep getting reminders to update my firmware every 3 hours (maximum that I can delay it).

Is there a way to delete the downloaded Kitkat 4.4 firmware? I don't have much space on my S4 internal storage and I would like to remove it as well as the irritating notifications. My S4 is not rooted.

Thanks for any help!

Hi. Did you find a way to remove the firmware from your phone? I have the same problem. Thanks. P

If your phones are rooted, download NoBloat Free. Once installed, click on the System apps section. Once in this section, scroll down until you see SamsungUpdates.apk AND SDM.apk. Click on each and choose whether you want to Disable or Delete (with or without backup). I would recommend simply disabling the apps in the event you ever want to upgrade in the future. I performed these steps months ago and have never been bothered again. Just keep in mind, this will only work if you are rooted.

 

[lonswain]

Assuming one is already rooted, can't you just remove (or rename) the update.zip file located in /cache/fota or do the apk's keep sending the message regardless?

 

[rtnuqrat]

I also can't find my current photos saved to my SD card and I use a Motorola Razr Maxx HD. If you are suggesting it's good business to do whatever updates regardless if they work with the most popular phone then that is shortsighted and is not customer oriented. I have been wanting an iPhone. I think now is the time.

 

[Photog237]

Interesting that someone else lost their photos, I lost mine too after the upgrade...the auto upgrade at that. I have been talking with AT&T and all they can say is that it "shouldn't" remove personal data and that I should be backing up. Nothing I didn't already know, but I also said there should be a way to be notified that I have an update waiting rather than force it. If there is a way to keep the updates from occurring automatically, please let me know and I will make that change pronto.

Good thing I did have some of the photos somewhere else...but that isn't the point. Had I known about an upgrade getting ready to happen, I would have backed up everything.

 

[ted fletcher]

I am a 65 year old pensioner. I bought my wife a google nexus 5 phone for her birthday. It was great until Google without my knowledge or permission ruined it by downgrading the firmware to KITCRAP!!! She can no longer use her phone because after two years learning how to use Jelly Bean she now is faced with a completely new operating system which we didn`t ask for and don`t want. I am trying to get some good old fashioned CUSTOMER SERVICE from Google but it seems to be an alien concept to them. Consequently if they don`t contact me or do something about it I will take them to court for the cost of the ruined phone and my inconvenience. What may seem to Google to be an all singing all dancing wonder of modern technology is in fact to others a ruddy nuisance and they don't seem interested in helping either. There seems to be no way to contact them. All I can do is keep posting on forums until they notice that they have an unhappy customer and come down off their haughty perch to offer a mere customer some help.

 

[ted fletcher]

I am a 65 year old pensioner. I bought my wife a google nexus 5 phone for her birthday. It was great until Google without my knowledge or permission ruined it by downgrading the firmware to KITCRAP!!! She can no longer use her phone because after two years learning how to use Jelly Bean she now is faced with a completely new operating system which we didn`t ask for and don`t want. I am trying to get some good old fashioned CUSTOMER SERVICE from Google but it seems to be an alien concept to them. Consequently if they don`t contact me or do something about it I will take them to court for the cost of the ruined phone and my inconvenience. What may seem to Google to be an all singing all dancing wonder of modern technology is in fact to others a ruddy nuisance and they don't seem interested in helping either. There seems to be no way to contact them. All I can do is keep posting on forums until they notice that they have an unhappy customer and come down off their haughty perch to offer a mere customer some help.

 

[Hossam Sherif]

Re: How to remove kies firmware update

i want to remove samsung kies update from mt phone note3 sm-n9005 4G

 

[Renaldi VII]

How exactly did Google force you to downgrade to 'KitCrap'.... when the N5 never had Jellybean to begin with?

 

[Renaldi VII]

I am a 65 year old pensioner. I bought my wife a google nexus 5 phone for her birthday. It was great until Google without my knowledge or permission ruined it by downgrading the firmware to KITCRAP!!! She can no longer use her phone because after two years learning how to use Jelly Bean she now is faced with a completely new operating system which we didn`t ask for and don`t want. I am trying to get some good old fashioned CUSTOMER SERVICE from Google but it seems to be an alien concept to them. Consequently if they don`t contact me or do something about it I will take them to court for the cost of the ruined phone and my inconvenience. What may seem to Google to be an all singing all dancing wonder of modern technology is in fact to others a ruddy nuisance and they don't seem interested in helping either. There seems to be no way to contact them. All I can do is keep posting on forums until they notice that they have an unhappy customer and come down off their haughty perch to offer a mere customer some help.

How exactly did Google force you to downgrade to 'KitCrap'.... when the N5 never had Jellybean to begin with?

Speaking of which, something tells me your wife did not have stock Jellybean on a Nexus based device, because without putting both under a microscope, it's difficult to tell them apart. Not much has changed between them, other than some under the hood stuff and tiny UI tweaks. In fact, they are so alike, the code number for KitKat is 4.4, a point revision above Jellybean (4.1, 4.2, and 4.3) - it shows that it really isn't all that different. If your wife was using a non Nexus phone, then that is a completely different matter - which wouldn't be Google's fault, because the UI of other OEMs can be very different from stock - which is what Google uses.

Honestly, I think you are taking this a bit far. You're threatening to sue Google for the cost of your phone ($400?) and the non existent customer service ($400+; also that strikes me as strange as very customer support meeting I've had with them was quite pleasureable) because KitKat is too hard and no one will help you get Jellybean onto your phone (which makes little sense for Google, since Jellybean is 2 versions old now and it wouldn't make sense for them to make an outdated firmware on an already aging device)?

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