Galaxy S4 I9505 Gets Android 4.4.2 XXUFNA5 KitKat via Omega ROM [How to Install]

Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 users can now enjoy the latest KitKat custom ROM based on the recently leaked firmware, Android 4.4.2 XXUFNA5, thanks to XDA developer team behind the release of Omega ROM v21.1. The new Omega ROM is reportedly quite stable and brings several bug-fixes as well as feature enhancements over its previous release (v19.0).

Some of the noteworthy features ported into this ROM are listed below:

Based on leaked firmware XXUFNA5 Android 4.4.2 (Date: 14/01/2014)
Kernel Stock
Busybox
Improved Aroma Installer
Call-Recording
4-way reboot menu
OmegaDroid
Xposed Framework Installer
Android Camera 4.4.2 with Photsphere
Android Keyboard 4.4.2
Dolphin Browser with Flash Player support
Dolphin Browser Jet Pack
Samsung Print Service Plugin
Includes all mods from previous Omega KitKat 4.4.2 release
ROM is deodexed, rooted and zipaligned
ROM is no Full Wipe

Interested Galaxy S4 I9505 users can go ahead and install this ROM on their phones by following our step-by-step guide provided below. IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held liable for any damage to device during or after firmware installation. Users are advised to proceed at their own risk.

Pre-requisites

The Omega ROM v21.1 and the instructions given in this guide are meant for the Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 model only. Verify device model number by navigating to Settings > About Phone.
Back up data and settings using a recommended custom recovery tool, like ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP, as it creates a complete image of the existing phone setup. In Recovery, choose Backup and Restore and tap Backup.
Verify correct USB drivers for the phone are installed on the computer (download Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 USB drivers).
Ensure USB debugging mode is enabled on the phone, by navigating to Settings > Developer Options (NOTE: Tap the phone's Build Number seven times to unlock or reveal the hidden Developer Options under Settings.) Then select the checkbox to enable USB debugging mode under Settings > Developer Options.
Make sure the phone has at least 80% battery charge to prevent unexpected device shutdown (due to battery drain) while installing the ROM.
Ensure the device is unlocked (not locked to a specific carrier) and rooted with latest ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery (v6.0.4.5 or above) installed. If you are installing the CWM recovery for the first time, check out the video tutorial below, courtesy of The Android Soul:

If the device is stuck at booting or experiencing boot loop issues, perform Wipe Cache Partition and Wipe Dalvik Cache a few more times before rebooting.
Allow newly installed ROM to stabilise for five minutes before you start working on it.

Downloads Required

Steps to Install Android 4.4.2 XXUFNA5 KitKat on Galaxy S4 I9505 with Omega ROM

Step-1: Download XXUFNA5 Android 4.4.2 Omega ROM for Galaxy S4 I9505 to computer

Step-2: Download Google Apps package,

Step-3: Download Bootloader and Modem file (using links below) and flash it via Odin:

NOTE:To flash the bootloader and modem files, Power off the phone and boot it into download mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons together until a warning message appears on screen. Then tap Volume Up button to progress into Download mode. Skip steps 3 and 4, if correct bootloader and modem is already installed.

Step-4: Connect the Galaxy S4 I9505 to computer via USB cable and wait until Odin recognizes the device. Then add the two files using Bootloader (BL) and phone (CP) buttons in Odin. Then click Start button to begin flashing. Once both the files are flashed, reboot the phone and proceed to next step.

Step-5: Without extracting, copy the downloaded firmware zip and Google Apps zip files to the root folder of phone's SD card.

The Android 4.4.2 Omega ROM can be installed on the Galaxy S4 I9505 using either CWM or TWRP recovery. Follow any method based on the recovery mode installed on your device.

How to Install XXUFNA5 Android 4.4.2 Omega ROM via ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery

Power off the phone and wait for 5 to 10 seconds until the device shuts down completely.
Now press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together until the Samsung logo appears on screen and the device boots into Recovery mode. NOTE: In recovery mode, use Volume keys to navigate between options and Power key to select the desired option.
Perform Wipe data/Factory reset (this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress) and choose Yes on next screen to confirm the action. Then perform Wipe Cache Partition and once again hit Yes to confirm.
Return to CWM recovery main menu and select Mounts and Storage> Format / data and click Yes on next screen to confirm.
From the main menu of CWM recovery, go to Advanced and choose Wipe Dalvik Cache. Then hit Yes on next screen to confirm.
Select Install Zip from sdcard and then click Choose zip from sdcard. Browse to the location of the Omega ROM firmware file which you copied earlier to your phone's SD card. Choose Yes on next screen to confirm the ROM installation.
Repeat the previous step to install Google Apps as well.
Once Google Apps is also installed, select "+++++Go Back+++++"and reboot the device by tapping reboot system now from the recovery menu. Your Galaxy S4 will restart and it may take about 5 minutes for first boot. So, do not interrupt the process.

Your Galaxy S4 I9505 is now running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat via Omega ROM. Go to Settings > About Phone to verify the firmware installed.

NOTE: If the device gets stuck at boot loop (while rebooting), then just do a factory reset from recovery mode to fix the issue.

How to Install XXUFNA5 Android 4.4.2 Omega ROM via TWRP Recovery

Power off the phone and wait for 5 to 10 seconds until the device shuts down completely.
Now press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together, until the device boots into Recovery mode. NOTE: In recovery mode, use Volume keys to navigate between options and Power key to select the desired option.
Perform Wipe data/Factory reset (this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress). To do so, tap on Wipe and scroll down to the bottom of the screen and do a Swipe on "Swipe to factory reset" option.
Now perform a System format by selecting Wipe > Advanced Wipe and then tap on System option. Scroll to the bottom of screen and do a swipe on "Swipe to Wipe" option.
Tap on install and navigate to the Omega ROM zip file you copied earlier to your phone's SD card. Scroll to the bottom of screen and do a swipe on Swipe to confirm flash option to begin installing the firmware.
Repeat the previous step to flash Google apps as well.
Once Google Apps is also installed, select reboot and then tap on System to reboot your device. Your Galaxy S4 will restart and it may take about 5 minutes for first boot to complete. So, do not interrupt the process.