Help How to NOT install the 4.3 update on Galaxy S4

[wakegirl]

My Galaxy S4 went and downloaded the Android 4.3 upgrade. I have NOT installed it. An icon stays at the top of the phone to remind me to install it, and a system window appears every now and then during the day to have me install it or postpone it to later (all I can do is choose a reminder interval of 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours - there's no option to just have it go away).

I do NOT want to install this upgrade since I just got my phone a couple of weeks ago, it works fine, and I don't want to take the risk of "fixin' something that ain't broke" and have it all go wrong (as per some of the issues I've seen people raise in forums out there).

I am running 4.2.2. on model number GT-I9506 (in France), and my firmware is:
AP: I9506XXUAMJ2
CP: I9506XXUAMI1
CSC: I95606FTMAMI2

Can I go somewhere on the phone to remove this downloaded file? Is there a way for me to have the phone stop harrassing me with reminders to install the upgrade?

Also, I did a backup with MyBackupPro (anticipating that I might need to do a factory reset and be able to restore my info/apps/settings quickly with this 4.3 upgrade nonsense if I had to accept), but it's not a full backup like I used to be able to do when I used to have a Windows phone several years ago. I paid for Titanium BackUp Pro since I read that it could do an exact copy of your current system and be able to restore that image if needed, but it's saying that my phone is not rooted.

I've read about rooting, and I am not at all technically inclined, so I am not comfortable doing this. Does this mean that there is no way for me to get a full system restore the way I used to be able to on my Windows Phone several years ago unless I embark upon the process of trying to root my phone?

 

[Rukbat]

Rooting in Android is like "Run as administrator" in Windows. Windows comes that way, Android not only doesn't, but rooting technically voids the warranty.

About the only "complete" backup in Android is a Nandroid nackup, which is like doing an image backup of a hard drive. And for that you need to install a custom recovery (which also voids the warranty).

There must be some saying for it in French, and I don't mean "Merde!". I won't use the English saying for it, but I'm not exactly thrilled with the direction Android is going.

 

[electricpete]

Once you go to 4.3, you can't go back.

There's another side of the coin which suggests that updating sooner rather than later is preferred (especially if you just got your phone). Because:
1 - The likelihood of problems increases as you add more programs and customizations to your phone (the update should work with a blank slate factory configuration which it's been tested against, but hasn't been tested against the particular modified configuration of your phone).
2 - In unlikely event the update really causes problems you may want to do a factory data resset. This is less painful if you have invested less time in setting up your phone (sooner = less time invested).

All of which is not to say that another update won't be coming along in a few months and then... well we'll worry about that when we get there.

I personally elected to update from 4.2.2 to 4.3 on my AT&T S4 and it has not caused any problems for me.

 

[wakegirl]

Thanks Rukbat. Looks like I won't be able to do the type of backup I want without doing a root which doesn't look like a palatable option at this point.

Electricpete: I haven't actually installed the 4.3 upgrade. It's downloaded, and now the phone is prompting me to install it, which I don't want to do. I've added quite a few apps (about a dozen, not several, so it's not too much) and have spent a lot of time doing my colors, settings, preferences, etc. I just can't bear to think that I'd have to spend all those hours again of putting all that back on if I have to do a factory reset if 4.3 messes up certain things on my phone.

Is there no way to make that install prompt go away and to delete the downloaded 4.3 upgrade file?

 

[dynomot]

Reading between the lines it appears you are worried that the update will get rid of all your settings/preferences/home screen configurations etc. It won't and should be fine.

If your not going to root there really is nothing to be concerned about. I'd make sure I had at least an 80% full battery, won't have an urgent need for my phone for ten minutes or so and go ahead and install it.

 

[electricpete]

[GUIDE][INFO] The beginner's info thread (aka. the noob helper) - xda-developers
Above link has discussion for a previous update:

Q. How can I keep my phone from updating to MF3?
A. If you want to avoid the update, you should root your phone and freeze the following three apps using titanium backup or some similar app.
1. AT&T Software update Vxx_x_xxxx_x_x
2. FWUpgrade x.x.x
3. LocalFOTA vx_xxxx_x_x

I remember seeing somewhere on xda a similar discussion for stopping the newer update that you're dealing with: (MF3/4.2.2 to MK2/4.3) and it also involved root.

If you're not going to root, I don't think there is any way to get rid of the notifications etc, and perhaps not even any way to prevent it from installing.

If you want, you can try to prevent it from downloading without any harm. Once it starts installing, I would most definitely NOT try to stop it.... I'd be afraid that interrupting the update process would cause problems (Just like when windows says "installing updates" you're not supposed to turn off your computer).

 

[wakegirl]

Thanks electricpete. Well, it looks like unless I root (and enter a whole new ballgame which I'm not ready to play), I've got no way of avoiding the installation or the reminders. So I'm going to bite the bullet and do it. I'll report back if I come across any issues with any of the apps and functionality.

I am not concerned about the upgrade getting rid of all my settings/preferences/home screen configurations, etc. I'm concerned about battery drainage for some strange reason, slowness of applications or functionality or a host of other things that other people have experienced. And then having to do a factory reset to try to start all over with each setting and app to identify where the incompatibility is as I try to build back to my current state.

Maybe I'm being a worry wart and everything will be fine. But I think that without rooting your phone, you should be able to refuse to install a system upgrade. I have definitely gone in to turn off the automatic search for upgrades moving forward.

Thanks to all for replying so quickly, very much appreciated.

 

[electricpete]

But I think that without rooting your phone, you should be able to refuse to install a system upgrade.

I feel your pain. We got new phones for our family of 5 two days before Christmas. Previously we all had Androids. This time 3 out of 5 went for iPhone 5c. Those 3 were more than a little amused that I spent hours and hours reading on the computer and playing with my S4 trying to get it settled the way I want. But then I hold my screen next to theirs and ask "which one is bigger?". That quiets them down...for awhile.

And Kit Kat is probably just around the corner in 2014.... more "fun".

 

[itsallgood]

6360485[/URL]]Thanks electricpete. Well, it looks like unless I root (and enter a whole new ballgame which I'm not ready to play), I've got no way of avoiding the installation or the reminders. So I'm going to bite the bullet and do it. I'll report back if I come across any issues with any of the apps and functionality.

I am not concerned about the upgrade getting rid of all my settings/preferences/home screen configurations, etc. I'm concerned about battery drainage for some strange reason, slowness of applications or functionality or a host of other things that other people have experienced. And then having to do a factory reset to try to start all over with each setting and app to identify where the incompatibility is as I try to build back to my current state.

Maybe I'm being a worry wart and everything will be fine. But I think that without rooting your phone, you should be able to refuse to install a system upgrade. I have definitely gone in to turn off the automatic search for upgrades moving forward.

Thanks to all for replying so quickly, very much appreciated.

I feel your concerns, for I had them too when I received my update. (I've had my S4 since June and have over 300 apps.) I went on ahead and did the update to 4.3 and was happy that I didn't have any major problems, except more lag then before the update. I fixed that in the settings menu. I most likely will do a factory reset, when we get 4.4 KK.

 

[speedlever]

I most likely will do a factory reset, when we get 4.4 KK.

Ditto here too. Your concerns, while valid, don't appear to be a widespread issue. I closed my eyes and did the update and experienced minimal difficulty. I had an app or two that did not seem to like the update, but did not do a FDR. As mentioned above, will likely do a FDR when KK comes early in 2014.

 

[jejb]

As the others said, especially on a stock, non-rooted phone, the 4.3 update most likely will install and run fine.

But to stop your phone from bugging you about it, go to the notification pane the next time the message pops up. Then long press the notification, go to App Info and then uncheck the notification box.

 

[redbone110]

Thinks a lot mates
I learned something here.

 

[ExAviator]

Certainly my upgrade to 4.3 OTA was painless and without any problems.

 

[electricpete]

jejb-does that work to permanently stop the update?

 

[dynomot]

jejb-does that work to permanently stop the update?

It'll stop you getting notified about it that's all. It'll still be there waiting to be installed if you ever want to, the phone will just stop telling you about it.

 

[electricpete]

Thanks dynomot and jejb. That is really good news. For me it means I won’t have to deal with Kit Kat if I don’t want to.

I did find the place in xda where I read that they seem to say root is required to stop the 4.3 OTA update:
New Root Method for AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 (OTA MF3 + Safe update to MK2) - xda-developers

Stopping AT&T Auto Software Update
Since AT&T just rolled out the new update (4.3), I add this short guide on how to stop it before it becomes late! Note that these steps require root, so you should follow the rooting steps first.

But maybe I'm misinterpretting it. Just because the above method requires root doesn’t necessarily mean that all methods to stop the update require root.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried it themselves....long-press on notification to bring up App info and uncheck notification... and now still has 4.2.2 but no more notifications ?

 

[jejb]

Maybe ATT is different from Sprint. Sprint does not force the update, so turning off the notification is all you need to do to stop it from happening. If ATT just installs it w/o asking (which would really piss me off as a user), then some other method might be required.

 

[electricpete]

Some more data fwiw:

My phone is AT&T S4 i337 running stock 4.3 from the OTA update.

I investigated the AT&T SOFTWARE UPDATE update app for my phone

If I go to App Manager, running apps - the "AT&T Software Update" App is running even though I never launched it. If I swipe over to "All Apps" and click on AT&T software update, I get attached screenshot1 which shows options are greyed out for “Force Stop” and “Turn off”. The “show notifications” box also seems non-functional: it shows "off", but clicking on it does not change the state. Maybe it only becomes functional after an update appears?...beats me.

If I scroll back to running Apps and click on AT&T software update, it shows there is an associated service DMService which can be stopped, but I’m guessing it would restart based on thread for a different Samsung phone:
How can I permanently stop the DM service - xda-developers

If I got to Settings / More / About Device / Software Update, I get the attached screenshot2. No options to turn it off, just an option to check status. I think I saw on a video someone had option to turn if off here, but I don’t.

I also remember there was a thread in xda where some guy was going to big measures to stop the 4.3 update on his S4 (because he didn't want the heavier security lockdown that comes with it) and he actually pulled his battery during update to stop it (not recommended, but that's what he did). fwiw my memory is that he didn't launch the update (it just started by itself)... but I don't trust my memory that well. I'll see if I can find that thread again....

 

[electricpete]

I found the thread I was remembering:
[Q] How do I stop ATT update? - xda-developers

I was getting the ATT update message and I kept hitting ignore or remind me latter, however I noticed last night it starts to try to install and restart without giving me an option to cancel it. I quickly remove the battery to prevent my phone from updating.

So I'm getting the impression (right or wrong) that the updater first asks politely, but if you continue ignoring it gets progressively more aggressive and eventually says "screw you bud... you're getting this update whether you want it or not".

There are other possible explanations... maybe this one guy hit the install button instead of ignore by mistake...

...but when you add this to all the discussion of detailed rooted stuff to do to avoid update, I'm leaning toward thinking mother AT&T has already made up her mind what you're going to end up with, you only have a small say in when (unless you have root). There is after all a lot of brand new bloatware crammed into the update and she doesn't put it there because she likes giving presents... she does it because it benefits her in $ome way.

I'm really just speculating based on the few tidbits I quoted above. As a complete newbie to S4 and OTA updates, I could be totally wrong. I'm definitely willing to hear other data, discussion or opinions.

 

[grandmasterjon]

Sorry for reviving an old thread but reading jejb's reply helped me solve my problem. Thanks jejb.

My phone has automatically downloaded the software to update to Kit Kat 4.4.2.

It is now requesting me to update with the option of postpone by 30 minutes, 1 hour or 3 hours. To disable the updating, I did the following on my Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 running Android 4.3:-

Go to

 

[jejb]

Glad to help.

 

[smitty543]

Problem following the above outlined:

ist step: Under "About Device" I do not have "Software Button"

2nd step: When I Swipe down the home screen do not have "Notifications"

Model # : SPH-L720
Hardware ver: 'L720.08'
Software Ver: 'L720VPUAMF9'

Any thoughts? Thanks for the assist.

 

[pncguy]

Thank you so much for this post! I just "broke" my Galaxy Note 8 by upgrading to 4.4.2 Kit Kat. The S-pen got an intolerable offset that varied depending on where you were writing on the screen. Since I wanted to get a bigger screen anyway, my plan was to go with the Note 10.1 but not update to the newest software. But then the tablet downloaded the Kit Kat update.

If it were not for this thread I would still be postponing the installation once or twice a day. Now I cleared the data and the cache and the notification is gone! Because I have also turned off automatic checks for new software, I think I'm free from the bugging!

I really appreciate the help.

 

[allisonfranz]

Hi there. I have a problem with my S4. As soon as I plug it into my desktop via usb to have it charged, it connects as media device and
disconnects with this message, “The dock is connected” on a different home page, continuously.
It started happening a few days ago, don’t know if it could have been a certain update ? Do you know what it could be ? Do I factory reset it ?​

 

[skramblr]

So I'm getting the impression (right or wrong) that the updater first asks politely, but if you continue ignoring it gets progressively more aggressive and eventually says "screw you bud... you're getting this update whether you want it or not".

I can confirm this is how the FW update works on AT&T. I was traveling overseas when an update came out. It prompted me to install it, but I kept hitting cancel due to I didn't want to take a chance of bricking my phone while traveling. After a few days I woke up in the morning to find the phone had gone ahead and installed the update when I was sleeping. Thank goodness it went OK.