If you’re still using the Samsung Galaxy S3 as a main device, or as a backup phone, you can now try something really unexpected on this smartphone. Yes, I’m talking about the latest Android 7.1 Nougat software that is now available for your smartphone as a custom ROM. The ROM is called AICP and promises a smooth and stable Android experience for the Samsung Galaxy S3. So, if you want to know more about the procedure to flash the ROM, do not hesitate and read this guide, which will help you run Galaxy S3 update to Android 7 Nougat.
If you are wondering how it is possible that this version of Android firmware can be easily executed on an obsolete device, remember that we are talking about a custom ROM and it is not the official software. AICP is developed by third-party developers and has nothing to do with Samsung or Google. The Android 7.1 Nougat ROM has been customized and optimized to allow a Galaxy S3 update in order to adapt perfectly with the performance of this smartphone.
Of course, the Nougat custom ROM comes with all the latest Android features, but with a modified system that has a different user interface. The AICP software that is installed on the Samsung Galaxy S3 should work much better, faster, not to mention that you can customize, optimize through third-party applications.
If you want to upgrade Galaxy S3 to Android 7.1, you should first make a hard reset of the device. Without deleting the Galaxy S3 system data you will not be able to use AICP firmware. So, as a precaution, first back up and sync your data with your Google Account, or use other similar services from Google Play or any other source. You should also make a Nandroid backup of all the files, in this way you can also save the Android system that is currently installed on your laptop, so that if the new Nougat Android platform is not to your liking, you will be able to go back without problems.
You can install Android 7 Nougat on Galaxy S3 only on an unlocked device with custom recovery installed. So, in our case you must first get root permissions on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and install CWM or TWRP Recovery. The ROM file is provided in the form of a .zip package which must be flashased only through a custom recovery.
Also, other pre-requisites must be considered before installing Android 7 Nougat on Galaxy S3:
- The firmware package must be downloaded to a computer or notebook. So, make sure you can use a computer to complete this operation.
- Your Galaxy S3 will need to be connected to your computer. Therefore, the USB cable is also required.
- In order to guarantee the connection with the computer, on the phone it is necessary to activate the USB debugging option from “Developer Options”:.
- To get Developer Options go to: Settings -> About phone:, from where you have to click 7 times repeatedly on Build Number.
- Activate the USB debugging option by going to Settings -> Developer Options.
- It is necessary to connect the charger if the battery charge is less than 50%.
- Do not skip the charging process. Otherwise, your smartphone may turn off while you’re still trying to flash the Android Nougat firmware – AICP. If this happens the device could go into bricked (causing various software problems).
How to upgrade Galaxy S3 to Android 7 Nougat
- Start by downloading the AICP software. You can get this ROM based on Android 7.1 Nougat from this link.
- Also download the Google Apps compatible package. You need to flash Google Apps separately, as it is not included in the firmware package.
- Turn on the Galaxy S3 and then remember to charge the battery if this is necessary.
- Connect the phone to the computer using the USB cable.
- Find the downloaded files on your desktop and then transfer the files from your computer to the device.
- Then, remove the USB cable. The computer is no longer necessary.
- Turn off the smartphone. Press and hold the power button for a moment or press the power button once and select power off.
- Now enter restore mode on your Galaxy S3: press and hold the Power + Volume Up + Home keys simultaneously for a while.
- From recovery clean all data and cache otherwise the new ROM can not be installed. Then select wipe data factory reset, wipe cache partition and wipe dalvik cache.
- After deleting the internal system storage, you can resume the flash process. Thus, using the same recovery options, select install zip from SD card followed by choose zip from SD card.
- Go to where you saved the Android 7.1 Nougat software and install the AICP custom ROM.
- Once done, repeat the last step and install the Google Apps package on your Galaxy S3.
- When everything is complete, return to the main recovery menu. From there select reboot system now to restart the device.
After seeing how to upgrade Galaxy S3 to Android 7 Nougat, try the functions of the custom ROM, check the operation and then let us know your opinion in the comments.