Samsung Galaxy S2X cannot get update to Jellybean, nor can it work with Kies Air

Are you using Kies or Kies Air? Because they're two different software suites. Also, check to make sure that usb debugging is not turned on in the settings menu.

I'm using Kies, cause Kies Air doesn't work for macs.

That's great Ardwinna. Hope everything goes smoothly.

Can I get some Koodo technical support about using Kies? I heard someone said not to use Kies to update the firmware, because it corrupted his phone. He ended up having to pay someone to fix it. Now I'm worried that if I do the same thing, my phone will be corrupted. I don't have an alternate phone or the $$ to get it fixed.

So far?? I hate Kies!! I've installed/uninstalled this program so many times today, that's all I did. My computer probably rebooted about 10 times. 3/4 of the times it won't really connect to the phone, and the backup doesn't work. I realized that after trying 3 times. I then downloaded a backup app for everything, and now it's telling me there is no update for my phone, so I uninstalled/reinstalled/rebooted. Now it's just 'connecting' but not actually connecting. PAIN IN MY ASS!!!

The main problem is that sometimes Kies recognizes my phone, and then sometimes it won't. So far the debugging enable isn't doing anything different.

Uh..... this 'windowshade' mode ... ??? I have USB connected on the phone, but it doesn't show up on my desktop. If I click on that, I can turn on USB storage which shows an ejectable icon on my desktop. Is THAT what you're referring to!?

Ok, i have FINALLY got Kies to connect and recognize my phone, and guess what!? The new jellybean update is NOT there. WTF!? Yes, I did everything properly, it's just not showing up on the screen, even though I saw it 5 hours ago, on 3 separate occasions.

You have to be kidding me... You didn't read ANY of the other comments, did you??? I did ALL of that more than a dozen times. 12 times (or more) !!! This is ALL I did today! I installed kies, tried to boot the phone, installed the driver, then it rebooted my computer, then I tried the phone again, oh, it worked! So I click on update firmware, but it suggests I back up my phone. Good idea. I try to back up via kies, and you know what? It doesn't back up, so I try to cancel, but that freezes, so I force quit, uninstall/reinstall/reboot my computer and I start this whole vicious cycle ALL OVER AGAIN. I think I did this particular cycle 3 times before I gave up and downloaded a back up app on my phone. 10 hours later I *FINALLY* got the phone to show up AND connect in kies, and you know what I see!?!?! NO FIRMWARE update for the newest Jellybean OS. Not even a little bit. I'm not mad at you Jonathan, I'm mad at the effing program, the phone, Samsung, Kies, everything but you! I am beyond frustrated right now. You have no idea. I spent 10 hours trying to install this firmware. I did see it show up in Kies a few times, but I've been having so many problems connecting the phone that now it just won't pop up anymore, no matter what. It says my phone is up to date. That's bullshit because I have 4.0.4 and the newest is 4.1.2 for the Galaxy S2X. Or whatever number it is. So...... if you can explain to me why Kies is suddenly telling me why my firmware is up to date, that'd be great. But i am NOT rebooting, uninstalling, reinstalling this program again.

Disconnect the S2x from your Mac. If you've done a backup, unmount the microSd card, (Settings > Storage - scroll to bottom of page - Unmount SD card). Then factory reset the S2x. (Settings > Back up and reset - enable Back up my data and Automatic restore and verify you have a gmail backup account listed). Tap Factory data reset, tap reset device. No need to do a backup through Kies, in fact you should be able to disable those backup features in Kies. Once the device is detected and the upgrade appears, let Kies run it's course, it takes roughly a half hour to complete the entire upgrade and there are times where it looks like Kies is not doing anything, just let it do it's thing.

My apologies, I missed your earlier comment that you're up and running now. Good to hear.

@Ardwinna: None taken. Please show me where you performed a full factory-reset on your device and unmounted your microSD card. If your device wasn't detected by Kies, nothing was removed. All I'm reading is that you spent the better part of yesterday installing and re-installing Kies. [i]"I then downloaded a backup app for everything, and now it's telling me there is no update for my phone, so I uninstalled/reinstalled/rebooted. Now it's just 'connecting' but not actually connecting". What am I supposed to make of that?? For the record Koodo doesn't support Kies in any way shape or form. We're here voluntarily offering out technical expertise. I understand your frustration, we're here to try and help. No offence Ardwinna, but I think it might be best that you call Samsung's technical support department in the morning and see what they have to say.