There is a very good reason for me why I made this post. I need to upgrade my Samsung Galaxy Nexus manually to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4 (I am currently running on 4.0.2). Unfortunately, all of the updates that I read in blogs are manual instructions for Samsung Galaxy Nexus with YAKJU firmware. So in order to install it on my phone manually, I need to convert my firmware from YAKJUXW to YAKJU.
The following are the instructions to change your Samsung Galaxy Nexus firmware from YAKJUXW to YAKJU:
SPECIAL UPDATE:
This process is also applicable to Samsung Galaxy Nexus with YAKJUXE firmware. Thanks to Mr. Dante for confirmation in comments section.
I. Before You Begin
- You will definitely lose all your data, so be sure to back up everything important.
- This is a Windows-based procedure; so make sure you are running either Windows 7 or Windows XP.
- Download and install these necessary drivers. If the provided link is not working in your country (e.g. You see the message: “This offer is not available in your country. Redirecting you…”), please post a comment below. Put your country on the comment section. I will personally e-mail you an alternative link if I found out that the download is not available in your country.
NOTE for downloading using DOLLARUPLOAD:
DollarUpload actually requires you to answer their survey before the download. I know it’s annoying, but it’s their rule. And if you download it from them, they will pay me in return, so I can keep this website alive. - Download the ADB and fastboot files. If the link provided is not working in your country (e.g. You see the message: “This offer is not available in your country. Redirecting you…”) please post a comment below. Put your country on the comment section. I will personally e-mail you an alternative link if I found out that sharecash is not available in your country.
- Download the YAKJU firmware.
II. Unlocking the Bootloader
- Put your device into bootloader mode. To do this, hold Volume Up and Volume Down simultaneously and press power until the phone boots into the bootloader mode.
- Connect your device to the PC. If you haven’t installed the drivers you downloaded above already, you may be prompted to do so now.
- Extract the yakju-imm76d-factory-c6e807a1.tar using a program like WinRar to a folder on your C:\ drive. You should now have a file named yakju-imm76d-factory-c6e807a1 without an extension. Then inside this folder, extract image-yakju-imm76d.zip to the same location.
-
Extract fastboot-and-adb.zip to the same folder (C:\yakju-imm76d-factory-c6e807a1\yakju-imm76d). This folder should now contain the following files:
- Open up a command prompt window. To do this, click on the Windows icon and type in ‘cmd’ in the search box. Windows XP users can click on Start > Run, type in cmd and hit Enter.
- Enter the following commands in the command prompt window.
cd C:\yakju-imm76d-factory-c6e807a1\yakju-imm76d (You should now be in the extracted folder)
fastboot devices (This will help you confirm that your device is connected to the computer)
fastboot oem unlock (This will unlock your bootloader and wipe all your data in the process, on the device you will have to use the volume buttons to select yes after typing in this command)
fastboot reboot-bootloader
(This will reboot your device back to the bootloader)
Your bootloader should now be unlocked.
III. Flashing the YAKJU Firmware
Now that you have unlocked your bootloader, it’s time to flash the YAKJU firmware. To do this:
- Ensure that your device is in bootloader mode after it has restarted.
- From the same command prompt window as above, enter the following commands:
fastboot flash system system.img (Let your Samsung Galaxy Nexus device to finish its task before proceeding on next command)
fastboot flash userdata userdata.img (Let your Samsung Galaxy Nexus device to finish its task before proceeding on next command)
fastboot flash boot boot.img (Let your Samsung Galaxy Nexus device to finish its task before proceeding on next command)
fastboot erase cache (Let your Samsung Galaxy Nexus device to finish its task before proceeding on next command)
fastboot reboot (This will reboot Samsung Galaxy Nexus but still on fastboot mode)
Once the device reboots, your device will be eligible for updates directly from Google. If you run into any problems during the whole process, make sure that you have installed the drivers properly and have the files extracted to the same folder and run the above commands from that same folder.
I made this on my own device and it really works. And here’s the good news, once you signed in and sync with Google (using your gmail of course) you will automatically get Ice Cream Sandwich Version 4.0.4. Isn’t that nice? 
Thanks and props to the following people where I copied these procedures:
eddie_gordo on XDA and The Unlocker
You might also be interested on the following post:
How to know if your Samsung Galaxy Nexus is running MYSID, YAKJUXW, YAKJUXE or YAKJU?
Is this post helpful? If it does, please help me to publish quality articles like this. Send some donation to keep this website alive by clicking the button below:
Be a Green Stickman™ fan. Click my Facebook "like" Button Here:
Bro,
Thanks for the procedure. But before doing it let me asks you these questions first. Can this procedure convert yakjuxe to yakju? About the drivers do I install on my laptop upon downloading it or install in Samsung mobile? How do I install the drivers properly? What do you mean by this? Sorry, I am new to this kind of programming and must be sure in my every step to do the job properly. Hoping for your reply Bro. Iba talaga ang Pinoy! Hanga ako sa iyo Bro. You answered my search on how to update my Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
Hi Dante,
Are we brothers in faith?
Anyways, I am not sure if you can use this procedure in units with YAKJUXE firmware, but theoretically, it should be applicable.
Yes, all the drivers should be installed in your laptop. Just be patient in downloading it. It took me 2 hours to finish it since there are many android users downloading it.
Just follow the procedures in this article exactly and I am sure there will be no problems (Be sure you have installed everything before doing this procedures). And whatever happens, do not UNPLUG or TURNOFF the device during downloading and flashing process. Otherwise you’ll brick it in no time. If you think something is wrong, do not panic. There’s always a solution, just search it in the web.
Just post if you still have any questions. I will be glad to help.
Thank you and God bless!
By the way please make sure that your phone is in DEBUG mode. You can set it by going to SETTINGS–> Developers Option –> USB Debugging. And make sure that your sim card has an internet connection so it can get the latest update from Google.
Bro,
I extracted all the files in one directory called C:\Nexus, so I will make the command cd C:\Nexus. Is this correct? My big problem is the installation of the drivers. I downloaded Universal Naked Driver Bata 0.6.zip and extracted it using Win Rar. To be sure in installing the devices to my laptop, can you give me step by step procedure to do this? Is fastboot mode same as bootload mode? Suppose something goes wrong with my Galaxy Nexus can I return to its previous firmware so it will work? Please help me.
Just follow the instructions above to be sure. I do not have instructions to put it in a Nexus folder (unless you know what you are doing).
Regarding the Universal Naked Driver, please read Instruction No. 2. The procedures above are already the STEP by STEP procedure. Please read it carefully.
Do not think about bootload and fastboot mode. Just remember that fastboot commands will be executed in your laptop(using the command prompt) while your device is connected and in fastboot (You will see an Android image with open circuits) mode.
I cannot answer the last question but before you do it, please check the specs on your phone and write it down. Do not be so negative. If something goes wrong, internet is there to help you out(Just pray you’ll not brick your phone). Just read and follow the instructions carefully. If you don’t understand, read it again.
If you really are not sure of what you are doing, don’t do it.
By the way, what version of ICS do you have? And are you sure that you are using YAKJUXE firmware on your device?
Bro,
I use GN Official Update and it says my product device is yakjuxe and not updated by Google. ICS Version is 4.0.1. Can I jumped from 4.0.1 to 4.0.4? Well, thanks for the advice and made me strong to do it. I will just give you news if I am successful.
How’s your update? Is it successful?
By the way, It does not matter whether you jump from 4.0.1 to 4.0.4. My Samsung Galaxy S2 was upgraded from Ginger Bread 2.3.3 to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3.
Bro,
It was successful and now the product name of my device is yakju. Thanks to you a lot. This will solve the problems of people having a firmware other than yakju. Now I am running ICS 4,0,4 and automatically updated after I finish the fastboot procedures, Thanks for your follow up.
Respectfully,
Dante
Thank you for the confirmation. This is a good information for my readers as well. I updated my post, I mentioned your name in red fonts. Take a look.
That version will surely make you happy and satisfied. Thanks for visiting my site. God bless!
Bro,
You can change the title “Update Yakjuxw, Yakjuxe and Other Variants To Yakju” as written by xda developers and I think this will work. I don’t know why they put some optional procedures in which you did not include in your procedure but it works perfectly. I updated my friend’s samsung galaxy nexus and it also works. He is very thankful and I told him I just followed your procedures. The only complaint with this updated version is the carrier’s or internet signal in which is not strong. Is this happening to you also?
Thanks,
Dante
Sorry but I cannot grant your wish. I cannot change the title since I intended to post it that way. If you know something about Search Engine Optimization(SEO), you’ll understand what I mean.
Regarding the signal, yes I experience it as well. It depends on your location. The good thing with NEXUS is that, it gets the best possible signal on your phone from E (EDGE) to H(HSDPA). I would rather have that kind of issue than unable to connect it in internet at all(which I experienced in ICS 4.0.2).
The very reason why I converted the firmware is that, you will totally lost your signal after 2 or 3 weeks of purchase in some Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It’s really an issue with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus before since the first day it came out from the market.
By the way, please help me improve my site by subscribing on my feed (Just click the Green Stickman image with “SUBSCRIBE now!” on the right column of this blog site). If you have a facebook please ‘LIKE’ the Green Stickman or ‘Follow’ him on Twitter. You can find the link buttons on top of this page.
Thank you and God bless!
I have downloaded everything, and I have restarted the GN into the bootloader mode (where it shows “Start” across the top with an arrow pointed right and a little Droid with it’s belly door open in the middle. I attach it to my Win 7 x64 laptop and after a few seconds it recognizes that it is there and looks for drivers. I point it to the folder where I have put the “Universal Naked Driver Beta 0.6″ and it does not install properly. First it says, something like it can’t find a proper driver for the device, then it comes up with a window that says “USB Device Not Recognized” and it shows as “Unknown Device” under a “Generic USB Hub (3 ports)”. When I try to do it again, I get a balloon that says “USB device not recognized” and if I go to the Device Manager to try and install it again, it comes back with an “unknown device” and if I try to update the driver (with yours) it says “Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date. / Unknown Device”!!
The Driver Properties shows as a 6/21/2006 Microsoft Driver version 6.1.7601.21692.
What am I doing wrong??
Thanks.
Hi Jack,
Try to install it using a Windows XP Os on other computer. Sometimes Windows 7 have strict OS administration (Sometimes does not install even official drivers for security purposes).
Please reply again after you’ve done my advice.
Thanks for posting a comment!
Yikes! I will let you know. We’ve upgrading almost everything around here. I may have to load one up with XP just for this.
Thanks.
DUH…in the magical mysterious world of windows I am. I was checking out another website for instructions to see if I could force W7 to install the drivers. I was at the point of rebooting into fastboot mode and then I plugged the Nexus back into my usb connection. I went to device manager and, voila, it now shows the “Samsung glaaxy nexus bootloader interface” installed under “android device” so it looks like I’m good to proceed. I will let you know how it goes.
Life is always strange when it involves microsoft…
Ha.ha.ha… very well said… i hope you won’t brick your phone. Just follow the procedures above. By the way, what firmware does your device has?
Thanks!
It’s got yakjuxw. I had no idea when I bought it that I wouldn’t get updates direct from Google. That’s why I bought it. I used to use a Nexus S and the fact that it always had current software made it work out the best.
If you ask me now, I think google has really messed up with its handling of the distribution of android. Its a great platform that only 2% of the world has access to AND now the rumors about the release of Jelly Bean later this year have started.
Whos watching the store and taking care of customers?
After extracting fastboot and firmware to one file, some files missing from what you put up here.
The files missing are android-info.txt, boot.img, recovery.img, system.img & userdata.img
Did you proceed on the process? Do not proceed if the files are not complete. The download link is not mine. Are you sure that your download is not corrupted?
Thanks.
Hey it Work!!! Thanks a lot dude. I live in Colombia and this devices are difficult to find around here. Now I can sleep with out having de nightmare for waiting an OTA update.
Hi Andres,
May I know the previous firmware of your device? Is it YAKJUXW like mine? I want to know just for our record here.
I am happy that my blog post helped you! Enjoy the updates!
Muy previous firmware was YAKJUXW.
Hi there,
Those links
4. Download the ADB and fastboot files
&
5. Download the YAKJU firmware,
from “Befor You Begin” are not available anymore.
Do you have another links for dowload?
Thanks alot!
Hi Marius,
The download links are now ready. Please check it out. Sorry for my late reply.
Thanks!
thanks alot!
No problem.
Hope it helps.
If you have a facebook or twitter account, please follow me. A simple return of favor. Or if you are generous, you can put some donation on my paypal account to keep this site alive.
Thanks!
This is a Windows-based procedure; so make sure you are running either Windows 7 or Windows XP.
^
Can I do this in WINDOWS! Vista???
Hi Jay,
Theoretically, it should be fine. Please give us a feedback if it is successful.
Good luck!
Hi Jay
I’m a new user here I wonder if it work on yakjusc. Please reply back thx.