Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update now on unlocked phones

By Rich Trenholm on 24 October 2012, 12:57pm

We made it, team Jelly Bean. If you've been waiting with baited breath for the Android Jelly Bean software update to hit your Samsung Galaxy S3 then you're in luck -- it's now available for unlocked phones.

The update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the latest version of Google's software for phones and tablets, should now be hovering in the ether ready to be wirelessly plucked down to your unlocked, SIM-free S3.

The download weighs in at 284.36MB, so it's probably best downloaded when you have a Wi-Fi connection rather than over your 3G connection. If you can't see the over-the-air update and you don't mind faffing about with a cable, plug into your computer and fire up Samsung's Kies software to take care of the update for you.

For some reason, unlocked SIM-free Samsung mobiles only get Android updates after all the handsets locked to phone networks get the update. It seems counter-intuitive that unlocked 'clean' phones, free of any of the network extras that can interfere with new software, should have to wait until after networks, but that's how it is.

Three was first to make the Jelly Bean update available to S3 owners last week, followed by O2 -- after a slight delay -- and Vodafone, both on Monday.

At least S3 owners haven't had to wait as long as S2 owners eagerly anticipating the previous update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The S3's predecessor faced a shambles of an update, with Samsung failing to get the new software out in time and, worse, failing to tell anyone when they could expect it. Well done Team Sammy for learning from that little snafu this time around.

To see if the update is available to you, open your phone's settings, go to About Device and hit Update. There should already be a notification informing you the update is ready to download. What are you doing reading this? Go and update your phone, you 'nana!

Are you excited about Jelly Bean? Are you happy with the amount of time it's taken to beam Jelly Bean into your S3? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Comments 85

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o5ky 24 October, 2012 13:14

Access to the software update service is provided to users in the order in which they request it. Try later

anonymous 24 October, 2012 13:19

I've downloaded the upgrade to 4.1 Jelly Bean on my S3 but I don't seem to have Google Now? Anyone else have this problem or know how to get it working?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 13:33

Orange and T-Mobile are still waiting for their update. The @Orangeuk Twitter account keeps sayin that they will "Keep us informed".

I have found out that if you upgraded to an S3 within the last 6 months on either of these networks then for a fee of £99 and a new contract, EE will change you phone to the LTE Model (with 4.1) and give you a 4G Contract. Could this be the real reason for the delay?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 13:38

o5ky, try Kies. My wifes Vodafone branded S3 kept giving the same message, so I installed Kies and updated it.

Or you could head over to SamMobile and download the file and flash it ;-)

anonymous 24 October, 2012 13:47

Try using KIES
im doing it now... i hope its jelly bean, it took like 1 hour

anonymous 24 October, 2012 13:55

@O5KY,
That's what I had yesterday but this worked...
Go to the Samsung Apps app & accept terms & conditions. Once complete, then try to update.

So I've now got Jelly Bean running but no Google Now :(

redmozzy 24 October, 2012 14:02

Can run Google now by long pressing left hand button (settings?). Well, does on the Criskelo rom

anonymous 24 October, 2012 14:17

Long press the home button to launch the task manager and the middle icon is Google now.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 14:34

Well, it seems that the server is currently overloaded

anonymous 24 October, 2012 14:37

Download it via KIES, seems to be working for me...

billfred 24 October, 2012 14:38

lol KIES, yuck. Just like touchwiz.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 14:45

When I Longpress the home key, it only offers standard google as the middle preset, rather than the Google Now page...
I'm wondering if there's a setting I need to adjust?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 14:48

Anon @ 14.45

I haven't messed around with anything and I've had no problems with it launching at all. The Google now icon is the Google G. I take it you have pressed it to see what happens?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:02

So basically I have a galaxy s3 locked on three network, and if I try updating it via wifi it comes up with this particular message: software update in order...... and im not able to do it this way. In which case I made an attempt using Kies, everything went smoothly untill the message came up , telling me to disconnect cable and take out the batter from my phone, then turn back on again and try updating again (whole software is downloaded, and it goes to screen where android icon appears on the phone and it said: downloading). So i made about 11 attempts with Kies and it happens every single time.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:06

double press, press the g, then click left button to go to settings and switch it on. That is what I had to do!

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:07

Access to the software update is provided to users........
Anyone know how to fix this?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:10

When will jelly bean update come to samsung galaxy s2 on t-mobile?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:20

"double press, press the g, then click left button to go to settings and switch it on. That is what I had to do!"

You Genius! Thanks so much! That's the badger! ;)

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:22

Does anything get deleted when updating? Used to have HTC's, nothing was deleted when updated to ICS on Sensation XE...

anonymous 24 October, 2012 15:32

No updates available for Indian Users.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:01

t mobile uk we still waiting for jelly bean SG3...

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:08

I've got a phone that I bought THROUGH T-Mobile as part of a pre-order upgrade seems that they may have slipped up and given me an unlocked Galaxy SIII as I just recieved the update through Kies and as far as I was concerned I was on a locked handset. I'd advise readers to check as there may be a lorry load of these things floating around without people realising.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:21

All i can say is my next phone will be a Nexus device.

No more going on to messageboards to find out when i'm getting it and then loads of errors when i do try get someone elses buthcherd Android system!

James Skinner 24 October, 2012 16:24

^^^Same i got the update as well XD

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:33

yup deffo a nexus or an iphone for me next time, the reason twats like me get these phones is because we are tech hungry sods and like to have new things ie hardware and software asap.
wtf does samsung think its playing at screwing us around like this ill never get a sammy again up yours. im just glad i got my gs3 for free offline.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:37

LOL!! Looks like we are one of the lucky few then mate... I've buzzed about it on T-Mobile's forum and they are going nuts on there! PSML

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:38

Above comment was in reply to james... Bloody thing didn't let me finish. LOL

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:45

if you cant update OTA, download it using kies

anonymous 24 October, 2012 16:49

OMG kies if poop

anonymous 24 October, 2012 17:01

aint no update on kies what a load of brown smelly stuff

cliveb 24 October, 2012 17:16

Had same problems as anon 15:02 when using Kies from Win 7 (64bit). Upgarde first time using Kies in an old XP mahine.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 17:58

Those peaple having same problem as Anon 15:02 take the battery out and restart as it says But then connect the phone using original cable without extensions and must be connected directly to USB 2/£ port Not through a dock or anything else.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 18:10

Don't think T-mobile slipped up with the unlocked handset. I got mine as an unlocked one too. So maybe T-mobile never had a locked one in the first place?

How long does it take using Kies on Windows XP? It seems to be forever.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 18:38

Can anyone tell me why my phone disconnects from Kies when i start the download?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 18:50

still nothing on orange. i dont even have the update software option on my phone so i have to sue kies. which is pants. what does orange take so long? unless there waitin for the EE thing to kick in on the 30th or 31st. Someone told me from orange jelly bean is making an appearance at the end of the month. anyone got any info on when we will see it on orange?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 19:04

I bought the phone through Orange over the phone - I'm fairly sure it will be locked to Orange, as it contains all of the bloatware and after all, I bought it through Orange. I recieved the update today, both OTA (Although I got the message about it being deployed in a queue, and to check back later) and through Kies (worked straight away). Has nobody else on Orange got this?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 19:13

nope i have had nothing from orange what so ever aprt from aload of bullshugger from the people over the phone. they havnt got the foggiest whats going on. at least the people i have spoken to anyways. when did u get all this on orange. is your phone branded to orange. does it have all the orange logo crap when its booting up? or is is unlocked? cheers

anonymous 24 October, 2012 19:17

connected to kies again and still no other update available. not fair how i dont get it lol and you do

anonymous 24 October, 2012 20:03

Everytime I try to update through Keis it downloads the firmware to the PC then when it trys to upload it to the phone it comes up with a 'cancel' message in Keis and the phone freezes with the downloading symbol on the phone. Any tips?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 20:04

I can't upgrade from kies , when downloading components finishes it just closes , and OTA update is not available for me can someone please help me.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 20:23

(I posted before at 19.04) - I have no branding from orange when I boot the phone, but the phone contains all the usual stuff from orange about the sim and other bloatware.. I'm guess it must be unlocked if I received the update today though. Is there a definitive way to tell if my phone is unlocked or on orange?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 20:24

Update Google search its replaced with Google now

anonymous 24 October, 2012 20:27

Hey I'm on EE which is basicly orange t-mobile and have just updated to jelly bean I had to update Google search for Google now. Loving it hope you all get it soon.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 21:08

kies is the biggest pile of ....

anonymous 24 October, 2012 21:12

OK - who requested the update 1st?

anonymous 24 October, 2012 21:19

i wish samsung would also copy the way ios upgrades its software. it looks like i will never buy a samsung again i hate waiting for stuff especially when i payed 500gbp for this phone. up yours samsung i hope apple take you to the cleaners i will never ever buy samsung products again. you really pee me off i might make a video of a dog taking a dump on my phone (check youtube)

anonymous 24 October, 2012 21:24

Hey my previous comment was on at 15:02. Basically what I have done is phoned my network provider (im on Three uk) and spoke to them. I explained to someone from their tech department what the whole problem is, that i am not able to upgrade either via wifi or kies. And for everyone who wrote that thats some usb cable connection fault, blah blah. Nope its not this. Basically Three has lied to us, they posted on Twitter that upgrade is available, but this is a false advertisement. I have said it to person from tech support on Three and they have agreed with me, I have also said that information like this should be removed from Twitter. Some customers on Three will recive their update, whilst other wont yet.

anonymous 24 October, 2012 22:44

I cant get it from OTA or Kies, Is there something wrong with the Servers?

anonymous 25 October, 2012 00:05

after updated my phone s3 its seem working fine but listening music by music player i found problem after playing music sometime there is nowhere to close it. I want to close it but the sign of music player start showing up which is pause sign on top left corner....

anonymous 25 October, 2012 02:23

Am on three UK network got jelly bean Ota about 10 minute ago:-)

anonymous 25 October, 2012 06:07

what is the version number of the jelly bean??????

maz0650 25 October, 2012 08:56

T Mobile UK, why are we still waiting for JB on S3. DIGITUM EXTRACTUM!!!!!

anonymous 25 October, 2012 08:59

It's at jelly bean 4.1.1

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:32

I RECIEVED JELLY BEAN ANDROID 4.1.1 ON ORANGE NETWORK THROUGH KIES ON 24 OCT 2012 . UPDATE TOOK ABOUT 20 MINUTES .

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:33

I RECEIVED JELLY BEAN ANDROID 4.1.1 ON ORANGE NETWORK THROUGH KIES ON 24 OCT 2012 . UPDATE TOOK ABOUT 20 MINUTES .

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:35

I RECEIVED JELLY BEAN ANDROID 4.1.1 ON ORANGE NETWORK THROUGH KIES ON 24 OCT 2012 . UPDATE TOOK ABOUT 20 MINUTES .

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:38

I an Orange customer and updated to Android 4.1 on 24 Oct 2012 with Kies . Updated easy in about 20 minutes . Not too exited at any new features though !!!! Personally I think Its a lot of hype for nothing .

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:39

I an Orange customer and updated to Android 4.1 on 24 Oct 2012 with Kies . Updated easy in about 20 minutes . Not too exited at any new features though !!!! Personally I think it's a lot of hype for nothing .

anonymous 25 October, 2012 10:40

No need to repeat yourself 4 times :/

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:41

anonymous 25 October, 2012 10:44

sorry for the repeated posts I didnt think it was submitting the comment .

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:48

sorry for the repeated posts I didnt think it was submitting the comment .

tamo 25 October, 2012 10:50

sorry for the repeated posts I didnt think it was submitting the comment .

anonymous 25 October, 2012 11:08

took me about twenty attempts to download via KIES, but did it eventually. The problem was it kept disconnecting when it tried to download to the phone, I didn't do anything different, it just decided to do it one time!

anonymous 25 October, 2012 11:47

Kies Tips:
Disable AV and firewall during upgrade
Allow windows 7 to upgrade the MTB driver from Samsung (if it wants to)
Don't worry if Kies disconnects from your phone during download from servers - it reconnects when it needs to.
If Kies disappears after the first download then just run it again
Be patient, even with fast broadband it takes 30-40mins to complete the process

anonymous 25 October, 2012 12:30

I don't know about anyone else, but some changes I've noticed are to do with the lock screen. The ripple effect is more static than before and you no longer have the long press release droplet sounds (the pinnacle of my S3 experience D: ) The icons on the lock screen are also slightly more centered together, and the settings icon + time/date banner has been raised to the very top of the notification bar. There also seems to be a "blocking mode" now.

anonymous 25 October, 2012 13:18

My unlocked S3 is purchased outside UK but I am in UK with UK simcard. It still doesn't show update on phone and also through Kies.

Any suggestions please?

anonymous 25 October, 2012 13:36

Given i know Sky GO are yet to release a stable app for it.. i dont think its worth updating yet, even though Kies said i can.. i need to be able to watch F1 on my phone, in work.
Also ANON 12:30 .. Blocking mode?! blocking of what.. you can already block specific callers in 4.0.1 the ability to block texts would be good aswell.. from the same number that you block calls from.
Is the camera any better anyone know?!

andgardn2008 25 October, 2012 21:28

i have a sim free s3 and still dont have the update on the phone or via kies so plase can someone help or attack samsung for me :D

anonymous 26 October, 2012 08:18

Nothing still , on my unlocked Galaxy s3 on Tescos mobile. Except for , the update software icon now has a red circle with a capital N inside the circle.
Samsung has a sence of humour ,even if its not that funny. You'd have thought they would have looked after the guys who bought there phones outright . .

anonymous 26 October, 2012 16:13

I have now got the new jeelybean on my samsung s3, what a waste of time its slower and more juddering on screen.. the 4.0 icecream is better. i have ad to go into warephone warehouse today as now cannot get mobile internet on my phone, since putting jellybean on, and the shop said they av ad 5 people in this week alone, with problems with there phone since putting jellybean on, i have now got samsung customer service number and there technical team number... does anyone know if u can revert from 4.1 jellybean back to 4.0 icecream sandwich thanks

anonymous 28 October, 2012 22:47

Bloody hell, don't think I'm going bother !

anonymous 30 October, 2012 08:21

Lot of people here mistaking the little update that came out recently for Jelly Bean. I'm on orange and those lazy sods have yet to get JB out yet :-(

anonymous 31 October, 2012 20:45

I am sim free on O2 in the UK and I still have not received the jelly bean update on my S3! Any ideas?

anonymous 8 November, 2012 15:52

I am unlocked and still no update via kies or mobile. Not happy.

anonymous 9 November, 2012 19:14

most s3 are unlocked even when with networks only thing is they have there brand on them like vodafone i have and its got all the vodafone crap

anonymous 9 November, 2012 19:16

as i was saying about brand well i got the update 3 days ago only did it today so whats new in it

anonymous 20 November, 2012 15:34

No JB still on Orange UK. What a shame! (why orange why?)

anonymous 5 December, 2012 11:13

When is Tmobile UK going to release JB on SG3

anonymous 1 January, 2013 12:19

I am in SPain with a open phone and no update yet. Also Kies also tells me that my version is the latest one (4.0.4)....

anonymous 6 January, 2013 15:33

i am from NEPAL, my s3 is not able to download jelly bean. whenever i try to update, it always shows "update not available". what is the reason behind this problem?