How To Update Google Nexus S with Official ICS Android 4.0.3 Firmware
If you are having a Google Nexus S device and wondered when you too will receive an OTA of ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 version, in fact the latest Android 4.0.3 version of ICS. This update comes just after reports came in about an update of ICS Android 4.0.2 for Galaxy Nexus. This update for Google Nexus S users is no less than an Xmas Gift or say a New Year Gift. But hey, if you are still wondered on how you can apply this update manually then we will see in the due course of the article on how you can Manually Update Google Nexus S with Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0.3 firmware. This update is the latest in the history of Android and Nexus S becomes the first handset to get a taste of this firmware.
This update works perfectly on the GSM version and to sum it up this works for all the users on I9023T as well as on I9020 Models as per different sources.
Disclaimer: Please note that we should not be held responsible in any manner in whole or in parts if any damage is done to your device caused by updating the firmware which is a very unlikely event if you follow the instructions as mentioned in the article including the pre requisites and the procedure to update the phone.
Before proceeding you need to first go through the list of pre Requisites which are mentioned below.
Quick Pre Requisites:
- Backup all the data present in your phone memory so as to ensure that just in case if any data is lost or corrupted, you can easily restore back the same. With the help of below mentioned tips, you can backup and restore the data.
Notes – Backup in the mail so that you can then restore manually
SMS Messages – Use “SMS Backup & Restore app”,
Contacts Stored in Phone Memory – Sync with the Gmail application,
Call Log - Call Log and Restore
Videos, Images, Videos & Files etc.– Copy to internal / External SD Card,
Internet & MMS Settings – Backup all the settings from “Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names”
- Ensure that the USB Debugging is enabled from the path Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging as shown in the below image. Also if any Antivirus suites are installed in your phone, then remove or disable the same.
- The phone should be on the Stock Firmware / official Firmware, if it’s on the Rooted or Custom ROM firmware then we can’t guarantee about the phone’s condition after this official update application. Also, phone should be left with the charge of a minimum of 50% so as to ensure that the phone doesn’t get turned Off in the process of firmware update.
Now, let’s proceed to the detailed procedure on how to apply this update in your Galaxy Nexus S which are mentioned in the next page.
Pages: Part 1 Part 2
Comments (88)
Friends call him Droid Geek because he tries out different ROM’s everyday and helps droid users experience better features on their devices. Add +Neal Pradeep on Google Plus for more Updates.
software update works like charm on my nexus s 9023
Thank you so much!! 
Installed this yesterday on my i9023 in NL. Works great.. no issues whatsoever.
thanks for your feedback!
Please I will like to know how this procedure, type of update works… I mean if I factory reset this phone, if I clears its catch will the 4.0.3 still be there like in the other process using odin…
Is this something that goes with the memory once its formatted.
I hope my question is clear. Thanks
its called as the recovery mode. its different from odin!
Please I will like to know how this procedure, type of update works. I mean if I factory reset this phone, if I clears its catch will the 4.0.3 still be there like in the other process using odin.
Is this something that goes with the memory once its formatted.
I hope my question is clear. Thanks
no, its called as the recovery mode!
hi
I have updated my nexus s to android 4.0.3 . but the wifi does not work at all. it cant find any networks and wont even scan. is there anything I could do to make it work ?
have you updated VZW one?
wait for the fix, it will be fixed v soon!
Hii Neal
Have same problem – is it pssible get wifi working
I live in Greenland and have updated to 4.0.3 – since that wifi doesnt work.
Any upgrade or what ?
Im not very technic so please help me what to do
Will google come with an update ?
Wi Fi should work properly, there is a minor issue for which Google will release the OTA!
Is it a fix from Google and will I receive it automatically ? and when
yes the fix will be automatically pushed!
Samsung Nexus S I 9023 in Romania updated to ICS 4.0.3 version IML74K. Until now works perfect. I haven’t loose any data or program during the update. WIFI works well. Enjoy!
Hi, Mircea Raducan! Where can i find this IML74K version? It is the same as the one from the above article?
The update of emails is working?
If it will not work, It is possible to reinstall the original Android?
Thank you!
yes email app works perfectly!
Fix the first line. “Procedure to Update Galaxy Nexus S with Android 4.0.3 ICS Firmware” Take the word “Galaxy” out of the sentence as this is not instructions for the Galaxy Nexus. It shows up on Google search and is very misleading ^_~
we really apologize for the same! we can’t change the same as of now as article is published!
I successfully did the upgrade. However I have two problems since then:
1. I cannot download anything from Android Market. It says fails to download due to an error. I can download through WiFi though.
2. The emails do not update automatically as they used to before.
Hey guys,
This worked for me
i have the same problme.it seems this issu is in number of countries!
my Wifi dont work and some contacts dont displkay with name and its casue (-) between numbers.
it seems this issu is in number of countries!
What if someone flash this firmware on Galaxy i9000,will it brick the phone?Both phone uses same CPU and RAM so i don’t think its gonna be a problem
yes it will brick the phone!
Let’s say someone did it, will it be possible to then re-flash it with gingerbread for I9000 in order to fix the bricked phone?
Ido
i don’t have \apply update from sd card\ in bootloader mode. what should i do?
you need to create the same!
How do you create the same? please explain, as i’m having this exact same problem, can’t apply update as have no “apply update from sd card”
Please help.
Regards.
Ok i figured it out:
Switch off the device and then reboot into bootloader mode. (To get into the Bootloader mode, hold Volume up button and the Power button together.)
Use the Volume key to navigate and select Recovery from the menu to boot into recovery, press the Power button to confirm.
When you see the warning triangle and arrow, hold the power button and tap volume up. You’ll see a menu.
Select “Apply update from /sdcard” and select the update.zip file from the list.
Once the update is flashed, select “reboot system now” to reboot your device.
Enjoy the cool Ice Cream Sandwich treat…=]
E: signature verification failed
What’s this mean? That’s all it says after I select “apply update from sd card”
It’s not installing on my phone… I’m on Mobilicity in Canada using a i9020.
it wont work on your carrier as it needs to be boot loader unlocked!
Hi I have followed step by step process but when you start showing error that appears is the following:
- Install / sdcard …
Finding update package …
Opening update package …
Verifyng update package …
E: signature failed to verify wholefile
E: signature verification failed
Installation aborted.
The data from my smartphone are:
Model number: Nexus S
Android Version: 2.3.6
Baseband version: I9020AUCKF1
Kernel version: 2.6.35.7-android-build @ gf5f63ef apa28 # 1
Build number: GRK39F
please help me …..
PHONE NEEDS TO BE ROOTED
me also same problem i have rooted but same error plz..help
very thanks in advance plz…………………………………
which error you are getting?
hey neal i guess didint send my comment ?
is this update for all kind of nexus : i9020 i9023 ?
and root the phone on ics not came yet ? (cuz im goign to buy this phone just for ics update
)
yes! root for ics has come!
and any one using nexus s plase can u tell me that nfc ( imean sending file between two nfc support phone is working now ? ) have any one tested this ?
and i heard that nfc is on battery ! is this true ? thanks in advance 4 anyone can help cuz im going to buy this phone
yes nfc is working perfectly on this!
amd sry another question is this true that on this update phone record 720 p video ? plz if u have phone answer me … appreciate person that helps
yes it will, there are no issues with video recording!
thank u so much for all your support ,, but i guess it will record at 480 as the same
thanks 4 your quick answers
thank u man
i had the following error while applying the update and it also says Error Status 7
assert failed: file_getprop(\/system/build.prop\, \ro.build.fingerprint\) == \google.crespo:2.3.6/GRK39F/189904:user/release-keys\
Anyone can help
it won’t for for T Mobile devices!
so we cant upgrade for ICS…is there any other way to go for it,,,As i also have the same problem as above,,plzz help
as of now its the only way to upgrade
When will the fix be released ?
it will be pushed automatically officially!
but when ? sorry I dont understand you
pleeeeeez tell how to intall ics im using 2.3.3 i have rooted but
:(
- Install / sdcard …
Finding update package …
Opening update package …
Verifyng update package …
E: signature failed to verify wholefile
E: signature verification failed
Installation aborted.
plz…………..help
Phone needs to be rooted before you proceed!
i have rooted my phone with super one click and also galay nexus root toolkit and again this
…with clear instruction
- Install / sdcard …
Finding update package …
Opening update package …
Verifyng update package …
E: signature failed to verify wholefile
E: signature verification failed
Installation aborted.
what i must do plz:(
thank in advance…..
you need to root the firmware before you update this!
how to root??:( to install ics update im new to phone in correct process plz help …
yes you can follow the process to update!
how to root plzzzzzzzz
its there at androidadvices.com
i have download driver for nexus but not detecting on computer
what i must do? help me….
yes , download drivers are must!
i upadate to ics 4.0.3 successfully. but how to root ics 4.0.3?..
we have covered the article, you need to refer the same in nexus S section!
how to root ics v 4.0.3 of nexus i9023
we will come up with the rooting procedure for your device too!
hello plz help how to root my device nexus i9023
we will come up with an article v soon!
finally i have updated my Google Nexus S from Gingerbread 2.3.6 to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3
so far so good……, i live in Indonesia, i didn’t see problem with thw wifi connection, all worked well
thanks for the tutorial, i really love this….!!
Hi, can you explain to me how you did this as i have the same phone but can’t see the “update from sd card” to start the update process?
Do i need to be rooted before i start the update.
T.i.a
I have so many problems with 4.0.3 no wi-fii no internet surfing, no mms, sometimes I cant ring out, sometimes the sound form incommig call dont work.
When comes an update, I cant use factory setting, its again 4.0.3 and not 2.6.3.
Im not happy with Samsung Nexus S phone yet!!!
yes you can roll back to any version!
hello… i update my mexus s to ics. after this update i cant find \My Files\ Folder.
any 1 help me plzzz
Hi Pradeep,
My Nexus S I9023 is stuck at 2.3.3. Baseband is I9023XXKB3 and build # is GRI54. I have tried to install 4.0.3 as mentioned but the installation failed. Is 2.3.6 a pre requisite to install 4.0.3? If so can you provide a link for 2.3.6? Thanks for your help.
we will come up with the same at the earliest!
I’m on a rooted device getting:
E:Error in /tmp/sideload/package.zip
(Status 7)
Installation aborted
any ideas?
the device is not rooted! root the device first! as sideloading in this needs root access!
Device: Google Nexus S
Country: India
Carrier: Vodafone
Hi,
I upgraded from gingerbread 2.3.3 to ICS 4.0.3 thru the method mentioned above. Since then:
1. the battery has been draining very fast
2. the GPRS/EDGE issue that was there in 2.3.3 is still there
3. when i restart my phone, the ringtone resets itself to any random tone (sometimes low battery tone becomes ringtone)
4. some times when i get a call, an android system process crashes and i can either not pick the call or the phone hangs
5. the little feature that made the phone screen switch off like a CRT monitor has now stopped working
6. the inbuilt document reader for pdf does not render pdf properly – it sometimes does not show spaces between words
7. the SMS app, document reader and some other apps have become painfully slow.
I want to switch back to good old Gingerbread. Can you please, please tell me how to do it?
you cant roll back to 2.3.6
Hi Neal,
I am using Samsung Nexus S and followed the above given process but nothing happened.
While Boot loader screen is displayed (Bootloader version: I9020XXKA3)
Lock State – LOCKED
When I am selecting Recovery mode it goingin to recovery mode and nothing is happening.
I have placed the update.zip file well above the folders and still it doesn’t work.
Can you please help me out.
Thanks,
Varma
Can I use this on Samsung Galaxy Nexus as well? It’s i9250 model. Please reply. thanks!
i seem to be having a problem finding the boot from sd card
what it says as reads.
Reboot Bootloader. when i click this just comes back to the fastboot mode.
Reboot
Recovery
Power off.
Please help!
sprint google nexus S SPH0720
hi. i have been trying to update my google nexus s 2.3.6 to 4.o but somehow the update file is displaying an error like…
E: failed to verify whole-file signature
E: signature verification failed
installation aborted.
could you please help me with this error….
thanks.
you need to root the device before applying this update!
Hi,
I followed the steps and I’m getting the following error:
Opening update package…
Installing update…
assert failed: file_getprop(“/system/build.prop”. “ro.build.fingerprint”) == “google/soju/crespo:2.3.6/GRK39F/189904:user/release-keys” || …
(Status 7)
Installation aborted.
I’ve seen someone with a similar error and you said it won’t work for T Mobile devices, however I didn’t buy my phone from T Mobile.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
how do you root the nexus s so the verification fail doesnt happen?
how you are rooting?
Upgrade 2.3
4
will this work for Samsung Captivate??