Update Galaxy S2 GT I9100 with Official Gingerbread 2.3.6 XWKL1 Firmware

Here is the news for Galaxy S2 users as an all new Official firmware has arrived and is dubbed as Gingerbread 2.3.6 firmware. This update will be very short lived as an all new Official version of Android 4.0 ICS will be rolling out very soon in 2012. Though this update is official you can update with the help of KIES too but for all those who are on the beta firmwares and KIES doesn’t recognize the device too can apply this update as we will see in the due course of the article on how to manually apply tis update. The update which we will be checking out is specially for Indian Galaxy S2 GT I9100 users, though it can be applied by any S2 I9100 users as it’s a Global update with Multi CSC. The version is dubbed as XWKL1 Gingerbread 2.3.6.

Note: This update is not for Galaxy S2 I9100G users and is strictly for the devices of whose the model number is GT I9100. If you are not sure of the Model number then you can find by dialing “*#1234#” in your phone after which you will get to see the model number of yours.

Disclaimer: Please note that this process of firmware update is not recommended for the basic users and is only recommended for the advanced users. Also, we should not be held responsible for any damage happened to your device in any manner after applying this update.

So, Let’s proceed with the list of Pre Requisites you need to follow after which we will see the further procedure.
Pre Requisistes:

• So as to ensure that the data is kept safe, you need to backup the same using the below mentioned tips so that just in case if the data gets erased or gets corrupted.

Note: Don’t backup the below mentioned data with the help of KIES as it may or may not support KIES after the update.

• A minimum of 50% battery charge needs to be there left in the device so as to ensure that the phone doesn’t get turned Off in the middle of firmware update. The APN Settings are located in this path, Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names, you need to note all these manually on a piece of paper so that you can reconfigure the same. Disable tools like Security Suites, Firewall tools and also the KIES PC Suite as these tools generally tend to interrupt the process of firmware update.

So, once you are done with all the above instructions, it’s time to proceed further where we will see on what are the instructions to update Galaxy S2 with Gingerbread 2.3.6 XWKL1.

Procedure to Update Galaxy S2 GT I9100 with Gingerbread XWKL1 2.3.6 Firmware:

• Download Odin3_1.85.zip & Gingerbread 2.3.6 Package in your computer.Once you download the same, you need to extract it.Password For Extraction:"sampro.pl"(Without Inverted Commas). After extracting, open the Odin tool in your computer.

• Now, enable the USB Debugging from the path “Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging” after which turn off your phone so as to enter the phone in the Download Mode.

• The download mode can be entered by pressing Volume down Key, Center button, and holding both simultaneously press the Power Button. Refer below Video for more.

• As soon as you enter the phone in the Download mode, connect the phone to the computer after which you will see that the ID : COM section in the Odin will turn yellow which will mean that all the drivers are successfully installed. Please don’t proceed further is the ID : COM section doesn’t turn yellow.

 

• Note: If ID : COM doesn’t turn yellow then install Samsung USB Drivers, .net framework and also you need to update the KIES with the latest version so that the missing drivers are installed. Also, most importantly you need to have the admin rights so as to turn ID : COM section yellow.

• After this you need to click on “PDA” to select file “GT-I9100_INU_I9100XWKL1_I9100ODDKL1_I9100DDKL1.tar.md5” and click on “Start”. Once the process gets finished, the phone will be restarting. Once the phone gets restarted, you need to remove the USB cable when you see the Home Screen.

• Now, you need to Close the Odin in computer and turn off phone so as to enter into the Download Mode once again. Once the device is turned ON in the download mode, open the odin in your computer and with the help of USB cable, connect the phone to the computer.
• Once phone is connected, the ID : COM section will turn yellow. Click on “PDA” to select the file “Kernel_I9100XWKL1.tar.md5” and then click on “Start”. Within a minute the device will be restarted. Now after you see the home screen, remove the USB cable to enjoy your Galaxy S2 GTI9100 on the latest and official Gingerbread 2.3.6 update.

 

For users Facing Force Close Errors:

• Just in case if you are facing issues with the force close errors then you need to turn Off the phone to enter your phone in the recovery mode. The recovery mode can be entered by pressing Volume Up Key, Center button, and holding both simultaneously press the Power Button.

In the recovery mode screen, you need to select “Wipe Data / factory reset” and “Wipe Cache Partition” which will clear off all the data which is stored in the phone.
Do let us know just in case if you face any issues in the comments section below as we will try to address them as soon as possible.

Posted in: Samsung Galaxy SII