How to Update Galaxy Note 2 (U.S. Cellular) SCH-R950 with Android 4.3 VXUBMK3 Jelly Bean Official Firmware

U.S. Cellular has started rolling out the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update to its variant of the Galaxy Note 2 (SCH-R950). The new official firmware is now available as an Over-The-Air (OTA) update as well as through Samsung KIES.

Firmware details
PDA: R950VXUBMK3
CSC: R950USCBMK3
MODEM: R950VXUBMK3
Version: Android 4.3
Build date: Nov 11, 2013
Regions: U.S. (U.S. Cellular)

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (U.S. Cellular) SCH-R950 users who missed the OTA update notification or unable to access the update over Samsung KIES, may follow our step-by-step guide to install the update manually.

Pre-requisites
1. Install USB Drivers for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on the computer.
2. Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone by navigating to Settings >> Developer Options.
3. Make a backup of all your important data before following the guide.
4. Ensure the battery of the phone is charged more than 80 percent.
5. The Android 4.3 VXUBMK3 Jelly Bean firmware is compatible only with the U.S. Cellular version of Galaxy Note 2 (SCH-R950). Applying this to any incorrect variant might brick the device. Verify the model number of the Galaxy Note 2 by navigating to Settings >> About Phone.

Files Required
1. Android 4.3 VXUBMK3 Jelly Bean Firmware (Mirror Link)
2. Odin 3.07

Steps to Update Galaxy Note 2 (U.S. Cellular) SCH-R950 with Android 4.3 VXUBMK3 Jelly Bean Firmware
Step 1: Extract Firmware zip file using WinRAR/7-Zip/WinZip or any other extracting tool, you will get a .tar.md5 file and some other files (optional).
Step 2: Extract Odin zip file and you will get Odin3 v3.07.exe along with few other files.
Step 3: Switch off the Galaxy Note 2.
Step 4: Boot the device into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down and Power buttons together until a construction Android robot icon with a warning triangle appears on screen. Now press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Step 5: Run Odin on the computer as an Administrator.
Step 6: Connect the Galaxy Note 2 to the computer using USB cable while it is in the Download Mode. Wait until Odin detects the device. When the device is connected successfully, the ID: COM box will turn to light blue with the COM port number. Additionally, the successful connected will be indicated by a message saying Added.

Note: If the Added message does not appear, then try re-install USB drivers or changing the port on the computer.

Step 7: Select the following files in Odin from extracted R950VXUBMK3 firmware folder:

• Click the PDA button and select the .tar.md5 file.
• Click the Phone button and select file with MODEM in its name. Ignore if there is no such file.
• Click the CSC button and select file with CSC in its name. Ignore if there is no such file.
• Click the PIT button and select the .pit file. Ignore if there is no such file.

Step 8: In Odin, enable Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time checkboxes. Also, ensure the Re-Partition checkbox is chosen only if a .pit file was chosen in the previous step.
Step 9: Verify everything suggested in Step 7 and Step 8 is done correctly. Then hit the Start button to begin the installation process.
Step 10: Once the installation process is completed, your phone will restart and soon you will see a PASS message with green background in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin. You can now unplug the USB cable to disconnect it from the computer.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (U.S. Cellular) SCH-R950 should be now updated with the Android 4.3 VXUBMK3 Jelly Bean official firmware. Head over to Settings >> About Phone to verify the software version running on the device.

Note: If Galaxy Note 2 (U.S. Cellular) SCH-R950 stuck at booting animation after Step 10 then go to recovery mode (press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons together) and perform Wipe data/Factory Reset and Wipe Cache Partition task before selecting reboot system now function. In recovery mode use Volume keys to navigate between options and Power key to select the option. Please note, performing wiping task will erase your device internal memory data and not external SD card data.

Click here to know How to Root Galaxy Note 2 (U.S. Cellular) SCH-R950 running on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware.