How To Install Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean On Galaxy Nexus Manually [Tutorial]

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was announced to much fanfare at Google I/O 2012. It introduced a nice variety of features like vastly smoother user interface with Project Butter, more powerful notifications system, Google Now, offline voice typing and more.

Since then, Google has released the 4.1.1 update for Jelly Bean for the GSM/HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus. Now you have two choices: either wait for it to come to you automatically in the coming weeks in the form of an OTA update or install it yourself without much risk. If you intend to go for the latter method, we’ve got a nice guide for you right after the jump!

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DISCLAIMER: You will void your warranty after rooting your device. 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.

Before you get into it, please understand that there are many variants of the Galaxy Nexus and each has a slightly different way of rooting and a different update path to Jelly Bean depending on which version and build of Android 4.0.x you’re on. Keeping that in mind, we’re making this guide as generic as possible.

Step 1: Unlock bootloader of and root your Galaxy Nexus. Additionally, flash ClockworkMod Recovery.

Step 2: Go to Settings > About on your Galaxy Nexus and note the Android version and build number.

Now, with that information in hand and knowing whether your GSM Galaxy Nexus is a yakju or takju variant*, go the following thread over on [XDA-Developers] forum and download the appropriate .zip file to update to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (Build: JRO03C).

Step 3: Transfer the .zip file to the root of the /sdcard directory on your Galaxy Nexus.

Step 4: Now reboot into ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery.

Step 5: Take a nandroid backup.

Step 6: Choose install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > [file you downloaded in Step 2]. This will flash the Jelly Bean update on your Galaxy Nexus.

Step 7: Once flashing process is complete, select reboot system now from CWM’s main menu.

If you followed the steps correctly, your Galaxy Nexus will now boot into Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (Build: JRO03C).  For queries, please visit the official thread on XDA Developers linked to in Step 2.

Don’t forget to let us know what you think of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and its awesome new features over on our Facebook and Google+ page.

*You can check from the build.prop file under /system to confirm if your Galaxy Nexus is a takju or a yakju variant.

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