Galaxy Note II gets a taste of KitKat on Verizon

By Chuong H Nguyen
last updated

Verizon Wireless Samsung Galaxy Note II owners are now being treated to Google's Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system through a new software update. Along with the improvements that KitKat brings, the software update will also add Knox 2.0 compatibility, some visual changes, and also Galaxy Gear 2 compatibility for those who want to don Samsung's flagship smartwatch.

Verizon says that the software update "will improve the performance" of your phone.

Verizon will be pushing out the update to phones, but it may take a while for you to receive notification that the update is ready. Once updated, your software version number should be KOT49H.I605VRUFND7. For a complete list of changes, be sure to hit up the source link at the bottom.

In addition to Verizon, rival carrier Sprint had also recently begun rolling out KitKat to its Galaxy Note 2 owners.

Source: Verizon Wireless (opens in new tab)

Chuong H Nguyen
Chuong H Nguyen
38 Comments
  • That should be "Gear 2" compatibility...it's a Tizen device. Posted via Android Central App
  • Are they in fact ditching the galaxy monicker for the Tizen? I did not assume that Tizen = Android = Galaxy. But I can see it too. Posted via Android Central App
  • What??????????????? Posted via Android Central App
  • Yeah based on naming conventions that is the route they chose. Look at the Samsung Z the first commercially available phone running Tizen dropping in Russia later this year. Not a Galaxy in sight. Now what they call the original gear now it's been updated to Tizen I couldn't say.
  • The original gear on boot no longer shows galaxy gear since the update. Just Samsung gear.
  • My ex-sister-in-law's wife just got it on her Verizon Galaxy Note 2 a couple of hours ago.
    (Baltimore, Maryland) It was actually my own Note 2 for several months until I sold it to her. She just said on
    her FB page that she didn't like it because a couple of apps no longer worked or kept
    crashing after KitKat OTA update from Verizon was installed.
  • clear the cache on the apps and if all else fails, factory reset / Verizon update veteran
  • not gonna work... the app developers said so on their own website.
  • If only tmobile would hurry the hell up with this update.
  • Seriously! I come to AC hoping to see an article on it.
  • Maybe there is hope for the S3 update... Posted via Android Central App
  • Leaked documents don't say otherwise Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 or iPhone 5
  • The gs3 in the U.S is getting updated. The sprint s3 got updated to 4.4 awhile back
  • Isnt everyone but Verizon updates with the S3 (not including the international models, I am talking US)?
  • Oh, Samsung has it ready to go. We're just watching Verizon drag its feet. There were some rumbling that they were going to skip the older Galaxy updates This renews my hope the GS3 will actually get it.
  • The S3 Neo has been released with KitKat on board. So go and buy a new phone!!! (JK)
  • If this update is anything like the Note 3 update, you can kiss that great Note battery life goodbye :(
  • Mine improved, you need to research what is eating your battery....it is more than likely a rogue app that is not playing well.
  • +1 Posted via Android Central App on my Galaxy S5/Galaxy Note 3
  • What did you do to find a potential rogue app. I am not interested in starting completely over. I have been denying the KitKat update everyday and I will continue to do so until I find out that the likelihood of having problems has decreased significantly.
  • Finally get to see what all the 4.4 fuss is about on my main device. Since owning my Note2 I've had no use for my Nexus 7 Posted via Android Central App
  • Will definitely at least clear the cache and data on all my apps prior to updating. Dont want to catch an error 24 Posted via Android Central App
  • Finally, I was starting to lose hope. I'm wondering if I should update. Like someone mentioned above, I've read that people have had issues with the battery.
    I'm the kind of guy who stops a microwave at one second to feel like a bomb defuser.
  • Its common to have issues after updates. Well major updates. Normally factory reset clear those issues. Old os files remain intact when updating and still run and just make a mess. Posted via Android Central App
  • I guess we don't get the update at the same time. When I went to be the update was supposed to be available but I haven't receives notification of that yet. When I check my phone it keeps saying it's up to date. Posted via Android Central App
  • Agree. I have always felt it's a good Idea to do a factory reset after a major update. Gets rid of old crap and even choice to not reinstall apps that have been sitting on the phone, never used Posted via Android Central App
  • Getting 4.4.2 now? Just in time to be out of date. Posted via Android Central App
  • Yup I'm the kind of guy who stops a microwave at one second to feel like a bomb defuser.
  • Better than not at all. I'm the kind of guy who stops a microwave at one second to feel like a bomb defuser.
  • Looks like its ready. Head to your options menu people. Rochester, NY
  • Downloaded in Tuscaloosa, AL a little over an hour ago. So far, so good. At least they didn't add any more bloatware.
  • True, but I don't see much of a difference at all. There's a *hint* of refined UI. That;s it tho
  • I was thinking the same thing. Of course, there are changes under the hood that we can't see. Or so I'm told.
  • I downloaded it just now. Going back to sleep [yawn]
    Posted via Android Central App
  • As much as Verizon drags their feet on updates, why is it that every time I get an update, performance gets worse. The last minor updated caused lots of lag for me, and now with KitKat, in addition to lag, about half the time when I make or receive a call, people cannot hear me but I can hear them, until about an hour ago when I call people I can't hear them at all. Disclosure: Back in the day, this phone was rooted, and then unrooted by a VZW update, and I have taken 3 updates since I believe in which cause I have yet to factory reset.
  • Don't do the update! Your Note 2 will stop receiving emails and your battery life will be toast. There is no fix for this. So don't update. If you already have, you are in trouble just like me. I am leaving post on Samsumgs facebook page to try to get their attention to fix this. Not sure who to contact. The phone carriers are lost. Android...what are you doing? Driving us to Apple? I want my Galaxy Note 2 working again. And no hard reboot fixes this. So save your self the heart break.
  • My Note 2 went through the update without me knowing any of these problems and yes my battery life is toast. I am very angry about this! I use to have a super cool phone with alot of features I had turned on and the battery life was amazing. I could get by 15 hrs without a charge. Now I have to turn off all of my features, constantly kill apps, and charge my battery through out the day. Sprint acts like they don't know what I am talking about and Samsung support told me I could send in my phone to be looked at but the TAT is 7-9 days. No one wants to take responsibility for rolling out a bad update so now I have an expensive piece of crap.
  • Count your blessings. My memory was nearly full when they pushed the latest Android OS release to my T-Mobile Note 2, and now it no longer boots. Nobody at T-Mobile or Samsung is taking the responsibility for COMPLETELY HOSING MY PHONE. It is a brick now, and I am trying to get it factory reset by somebody competent with no interest in selling me a new phone, but that means I lost all of my data due to THEIR F**K-UP and have to pay for THEIR mistake! The complete lack of sympathy astonishes me! The excuse "You have a old phone" doesn't quite ring true since I paid over $500 dollars for it 3 years ago. Why upgrade the OS if it is worthless in 3 years?? Switching to iPhone.