Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000

Samsung’s first phablet, the Galaxy Note, was released in 2011 running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Samsung has since upgraded it to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean but that seems to be as far as official updates go.

If you have a Galaxy Note and you want to go beyond what the official updates give you, you might have to turn to custom ROMs.  We’ve found a good one for the Galaxy Note that is based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

CyanogenMod 10.2 custom ROM is based on Android 4.3 and can be used on the Galaxy Note GT-N700.  In this guide, we show you how to install it.

Prepare the phone:

1. Make sure the device is a GT-N700 by going to Settings > About Device > Model.
2. Make sure your phone already rooted and has CWM recovery installed.
3. Make a Nandroid Backup using the CWM recovery.
4. And make sure that your phone battery has charge of at least 60 percent.
5. Back up all your important contacts, messages and call logs.
6. Enable USB debugging mode by going to Settings>General>Developer Options>USB debugging.

Note: The methods needed to flash custom recoveries, ROMs and to root your phone can result in bricking your device. Rooting your device will also void the warranty and it will no longer be eligible for free device services from manufacturers or warranty providers. Be responsible and keep these in mind before you decide to proceed on your own responsibility. In case a mishap occurs, we or the device manufacturers should never be held responsible.

Install Android 4.3 using CM 10.2 on Galaxy Note:

1. Download the following files
   • CM 10.2 Nightly for Galaxy Note GT-N7000 here
   • Gapps .zip here
2. Place the two files you downloaded in step 1 onto the phone’s internal or external SD card.
3. Boot into CWM recovery by turning the phone off and turning it back on by pressing and holding down on the volume up, home, and power buttons.
4. From CWM recovery mode, select: Install Zip>Choose Zip from SD card / external SD card.                          
5. Select the downloaded CM 10.2 file first. Click on “yes”.  The file should begin flashing, just wait.
6. When flashing is through, go back to step 4.
7. Select the downloaded Gapps file. Click on “yes”. The file should flash.
8. When Topps finishes flashing, choose reboot. You should now find you have CM 10.2 custom ROM installed on your phone.

Troubleshooting tips:

• In the case of boot loop: Boot the device into recovery mode>advanced and wipe the Dalvik cache.
• You can also try wiping data/factory reset from recovery.

Have you installed CM 10.2 custom ROM on you Galaxy Note?

Share your experience with us in the comment’s box below.

JR