How To Install / Flash Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean On Nexus S (i9020/i9020T/i9020A) [Tutorial]

We’ve already discussed everything you need to know about Jelly Bean in one of our previous post, but if you’re not in the mood to read the lengthy post itself, you should know that Android 4.1 brings vastly smoother user interface, more powerful notifications, better keyboard with next word prediction and offline typing, and lastly, the amazing Google Now.

Google has started pushing out Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean to their Nexus line of smartphones and tablets. After the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus, it is now the Nexus S’s turn to get the goods. You can either wait for Google to send it to your device in the form of an OTA update or you can go ahead and flash it manually with help from our step by step guide after the jump.

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DISCLAIMER: Redmond Pie will not be held responsible for any damage incurred to your device as a result of following this guide. Follow at your own risk.

Step 1: Unlock bootloader, root and flash ClockworkMod Recovery on your Nexus S.

Step 2: Download Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (JRO03E) [Direct Download – Google]. This .zip file is for update to Jelly Bean from Android 4.0.4 (Build: IMM76D) on Nexus S models i9020T / i9023. Some users have reported that this .zip file also works on i9020A, even though it’s not supposed to.

Place this directly under /sdcard on your Nexus S’s internal storage.

WARNING: DO NOT use this .zip file if you are not on Android 4.0.4 with the specific build number previously mentioned.

Step 3: Reboot into ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery by shutting down your Nexus S, and then pressing and holding Volume Up + Power buttons.

Step 4: Take a NANDroid backup. This will come handy later on if you find any issues with the Jelly Bean ROM.

Step 5: Navigate to install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > [.zip file you downloaded in Step 2]. This will flash Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean to your Nexus S.

Step 6: From CWM’s main menu, select reboot system now.

If you followed the steps correctly, your Nexus S will now boot into an oven fresh copy of Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

For queries, suggestions and complaints, please visit the official thread over on XDA Developers.

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