How to Run Android Ice Cream Sandwich on the Nokia N9 (PR 1.3)

Being a Nokia smartphone doesn’t mean that the Nokia N9 can’t run Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Thanks to the hard work of the developers, we now have a working port of Android ICS for the Nokia N9, that just works smoothly as supposed. If you’ve this Nokia device and are interested in trying out Android ICS, then follow our guide below. It contains all the steps you should follow as well as required files’ links. Here you go:

I. Before You Begin:

1. Please backup any important data you’ve stored on your device, it’s to be in safe-side.

2. The following procedure works on Windows based PCs only.

3. You must have PR 1.3 software version on your smartphone.

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. NITDROID ROOTFS (Scroll half-way down and you should see the link)

III. Installing Android Ice Cream Sandwich on the Nokia N9:

1. Place the file you downloaded to your Desktop.

2. Remove the NITDroid if you have installed it. To remove it, open Terminal on your N9 and type in following commands. The password is rootme.

devel-su
rm -rf /home/nitdroid

3. Connect your Nokia N9 to your PC using the cable that came with it.

4. Copy the file you downloaded earlier over to the MyDocs folder on your device.

5. You may disconnect the device from your PC after the file has been copied.

6. Open Terminal on your N9 and type in following commands. Press ENTER after each line you type. If it asks for the password, type in rootme.

devel-su
mkdir /home/nitdroid
tar xjvf /home/user/MyDocs/nitdroid_n9_jellybean_alpha5.tar.bz2 -C /home/nitdroid/

7. Once you’re done with the commands, turn OFF your device.

8. Turn ON your device and you should see a prompt saying Press VolUp to boot alternative OS. Hit the Volume UP button.

9. The Android ICS should boot on your device!

10. You’re all set!

Awesome! With a great OS like Android on your Nokia N9, you now have tens of thousands of apps to try out on it!

If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.

If you need help with this procedure, please ask in the comments below or in the forum.

70 thoughts on “How to Run Android Ice Cream Sandwich on the Nokia N9 (PR 1.3)”

    1. Hi. I saw your thread about ICS working perfectly on N9. Does it give calling and other phone facilities well? I do have one. Can you please help me install ICS on my N9?

    1. The ‘Documents’ folder is INSIDE the MyDocs folder….
      if are using Filemanager OR Filebox…
      then try to find it in the given directory below….

      /home/user/MyDocs

      ..

      i hope it will help you… 🙂

      1. documents is in mydocs …so u dont have to open any folder just paste it there.. its called n9 directory

    2. when you connect your nokia n9 to PC (use as mass storage) click on open folder to files…and this is MyDocs with all documents and photos in…

  1. mahesh,
    i did exactlt what you’ve asked us to do…… all goes smooth…… after i type in the codes in the terminal….. it starts installing (i guess) on the n9…… but once when ive completed that, n restart…… it restarts like a normal nokia n9 fone….. no warning…. no android….. no press vol up…..

    where do you think im going wrong?
    Faraan

    1. i guess you get wrong in installing the Silly boot setup while installing it on terminal….
      make sure you write the command correctly…

      1. i wrote everything perfectly…… infact it installs as well….. for like 5-7 minutes…..
        but wem i restart….. no prompt…. jus normal restart appears

    2. Even its same for me also, i was not able to install sillyboot, leaving that rest of the steps are followed are as is. My device is nokia N9 PR 1.3 running 40.x os version. after re-boot the device directly shows the meego home page after showing NOkia logo on screen for 2 mins

  2. Does not work on 64gig, I mean I installed it but could not download anything from the market as it was confused about the SD card, phone did not work either. Messaging works fine but map does not..A few other issues too, so pretty much just something fun to do but nothing that really you can use as an everyday phone. Reflashed it back to the PR1.3…and am a happy camper with less apps 🙂

  3. please help,,

    Executeing

    devel-su

    password

    tar xjvf /home/user/MyDocs/sillyboot.tar.bz2 -C /

    enter

    .

    .

    .

    then i got like this

    usage: tar -[cxtzjhmv0] [-x FILE] [-t FILE] [-f TARFILE] [-c DIR] [file]…

    any idea please … i’m really noob with this

  4. Help, I have followed everything up to installing the ‘jellbean’ file. i keep getting a message saying that the file or directory doesn’t exist. I have checked my phone, the tar file is in MyDocs folder, and the nitriod directory is in my ‘home’ folder. I have typed and re-typed the command line, i have checked and re-checked the syntax/spelling etc.but no joy wth the installation – any thoughts?

  5. If i want to again make my fone as it was. Can I after installing this? Whats the risk in it. And will I be able to use it correctl as it is now when i turn on meego

  6. Arslan Ghani (DUBAI- UAE)

    Bro i need help? the NaviFirm i download its name is
    DFL61_HARMATTAN_40.2012.21-3.333.1_PR_LEGACY_333_ARM_RM-696_PRD_signed.bin
    which you download in your video is
    DFL61_HARMATTAN_30.2012.07-1_PR_LEGACY_005-OEM1-958_ARM.bin

    2nd when i do CMD it nothing its show C:program filesnokiaflasher

    what i do plz help ghani_id@yahoo.com

  7. dude i follow every command after all at the last command it shows me error no such directory exists
    please suggest me quickly

  8. after encoding tar xjvf /home/user/MyDocs/nitdroid_n9_jellybean_alpha5.tar.bz2 -C /home/nitdroid/ then i enter it show remarks of : tar: cant open no such file or directory

  9. i hav installed the nninedroid_ics_alpha1.tar.bz2 file on my nokia n9… is it possible for me to upgrade to this alpha5 jellybean update???

    plz help 🙁

    in the alpha ics no data connection
    and the wifi module is turning on 🙁

  10. hey i’m very new to this….what does open terminal means??how to open terminal???please make a video how to install android for dumb ass like me…

  11. I’m trying to install this on my N9.

    First, there’s no /home/user/MyDocs-folder on my phone.
    I do have a folder named “Documents”.
    I then created a folder “MyDocs” in the “Documents”folder.
    Then I typed:

    mkdir /home/nitdroid
    tar xjvf /Documents/MyDocs/nitdroid_n9_jellybean_alpha5.tar.bz2 –C /Documents/nitdroid/

    Now it’s says:

    mkdir: invalid option — ‘C’

    What can I do to make this work?

  12. every time i conect navifirm this error is come (service specific exception com.nokia posti server.caresuite webservice.unauthorized fauit) plzz help me why this erro come i want instile andriod on my nokia n9 any 1 help me

  13. Hi there I have installed the jellybean on my Nokia n9 but it can’t connect to wifi and also camera not working any help will he great
    Thanks

  14. help
    after the installation i have turned OFF my device;but when i tern it ON the phone automatically starts with the old os (meego) !!

  15. It didnt work to me >.< but after when I tryed to install the software I tryed to delete it like you guys say it higher but it dont want to delete it, I mean I write rm -rf /home/nitdroid then enter and it give me a new space to write another thing but what is it ?? help please

  16. It is just a copy pasted stuff. You need to have more command and knowledge about linux. Most of you and me are unaware of the real facts. I have read all this hell of times 😀

  17. Hi Mahesh
    I have a Nokia N9 purchased from the united arab emirates . I am unable to flash this device for some odd reason . Is there any way you could assist me in the flashing of my device or if you could flash it for me remotely I would like that . my Phone as I said is from the United arab emirates so the code appearing on the back of my sim slot is 059l6b5. I would like a full detailed process emailed to me on farish1979@gmail.com specific to my phone .I use Windows 8 on my computer so if you can give me information specific to that operating system .
    waiting for your response
    regards
    Farish

  18. The prompt does always show up.
    Just keep pressing vol up after powering up you phone, It should work just fine.

    PS: you have to fully turn off your meego first, which meanq keeping the power button pressed for a good 15-20 sec (keep an eye on the little led)

  19. hi,once the commands install is done completely then i restart the phone, i am unable to see any option asking for press vol up button… help me out

  20. It’s pityful when some noob people cursing the post starter when they didn’t succeed. In development or modification the main key is TRY AND ERROR. So once you fcked up, try again and again. There must be any mistake you don’t realize .

  21. Not sure if you need to use Flasher and Sillyboot anymore. Tried without but it doesn’t seem to work. Nitroid downloads as a .tar file so Ive tried unpacking it in MYDocs and that doesn’t seem to work either. Seeing as this is a year and a half old, maybe it is outdated?

  22. hi anybody help me please. i did all the steps are perfectly but when i switch on my phone its running meego os please help me

    1. Hello Abdul,

      It’s been a while since we did the procedure and the developer may have made some changed in it, so I’d suggest you to take a look at the original thread and see what it says.

      Thanks!

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