How To Install Android 4.3 on your Android Phone

Earlier, the Android 4.3 source code and Nexus factory images became available for download. Google also announced that the supported Nexus devices have already started receiving their over-the-air updates. If you can’t wait, and I can’t blame you, it’s very easy to install Android 4.3 on your favorite (supported) Nexus phone or tablet. Especially if you’re used to flashing custom ROMs.

Right now, Android 4.3 is available for the GSM and Play Store Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10.

WARNING: By not waiting for an official OTA update, you’ll be wiping your device, losing all of your apps and app data. The following steps assume you have working ADB, fastboot, and an unlocked bootloader. You may need to install the Android SDK If you are not familiar with these terms, proceed at your own risk. We will not be held responsible for broken devices.

1. Download the appropriate Factory Image for your device.
2. Unzip the file you downloaded. Remember where you saved it.
3. Plug your Nexus phone or tablet into your computer.
4. Verify ADB is working. Type ‘ADB devices’ into a command prompt or terminal.
5. Reboot your device into fastboot mode (adb reboot-bootloader)
6. Navigate to your download directory i.e. c:\nakasi-jwr66v\
7. type ‘flash-all.bat’ for Windows and sudo ./flash-all.sh for Linux.
8. Sit back and watch your device be flashed to a clean install of Android 4.3.

When you’re done, you should have something like this if you’re on a Nexus 7. Enjoy.