If you’ve already bought a Sony Xperia Z device and you’re desperately trying to improve its performances, you probably want to learn how to install a custom recovery image on your device. Today, in this article, we will teach you an easy tutorial about how to flash the CWM-ClockworkMod Recovery on Sony Xperia Z.
With this tutorial, we want to thank to those of XDA-Developers who developed a powerful tool and had made available this CWM recovery tool for Sony Xperia Z smartphone. ClockworkMod Recovery Image or simply CWM is one of the most popular Custom Recovery Image flashed in the Android devices.
For installing a CWM tool on your Android device, you have to follow and apply a compatible CWM flashing guide with your device, or else you can easily damage your device. The CWM installing process is considered a risky operation and complex for your device, and that’s why you need to be an advanced android.
After you successfully install the CWM in your Xperia Z smartphone, you’ll be able to do a complete back-up and restore operations like Nandroid back-up, which helps to take a full back-up, for your existing ROM, to be a restore point in case you want after you made some modifications in your device, to comeback at the decided back-up point and your previous ROM. Also with CWM tool you can perform restorations, wipe the internal system memory, and install .zip files, a direct control to optimize your smartphone performance, maintenance and a lot more actions.
After you flashed the CWM recovery tool in your device, you’ll be able to install the new available custom ROMs firmware for your device, because in the ROM flashing process, you need to have installed a custom recovery tool in order to complete the custom ROM installation.
Pre-requisites and Guidelines:
- For being able to install the CWM recovery tool the Xperia Z device, you need to root it and unlock the bootloader for the same. You can use our tutorials to obtain the root access and a free unlocked bootloader from the links.
- When you obtain the root access in your device, your device’ warranty will be void, you can restore your warranty only if you unroot the device and re-lock its bootloader, or downgrade the stock or to install an official Android operating system released for your device, but when you’re returning to one official Android OS, the root access and the free unlocked bootloader will be revoked.
- If you want to keep your root access and the unlocked bootloader for your device, you’ll not be able to install future OTA new updates available for Xperia Z smartphone.
- If you want an official Android OS in your Xperia Z device, you have to install the OS or software manually.
- Back-up all your important data stored in the Sony Xperia Z internal memory device, before starting the flashing guide.
- You’ll need a Windows PC near you, the Sony Xperia Z device, and the USB cable.
- Deactivate or disable the security applications protection installed in your device and your PC (programs like antivirus and firewall).
- Enable the USB debugging option on your smartphone.
- Your device’ battery must be more than 70% charged to complete the process.
- This tutorial and all instructions listed here are only for educational and instructional purposes. We can’t be blamed, or held responsible for the changes that you make to your device. Take this tutorial only at your risk.
- This tutorial is compatible only with the Sony Xperia Z smartphone. So, do not try to apply the same for any other Android device, otherwise your device may get damaged.
How to Install ClockworkMod CWM Recovery on Sony Xperia Z -Guide
- Firstly, verify the Firmware version number. To do that, go to Settings -> about phone. Your smartphone should be running a 10.1.A.1.350 firmware version.
- Secondly, download and install from here the SDK on your PC.
- Download from here the Fastboot file, and install it in your PC. To do that extract the downloaded file on your PC, and then copy the android_winusb.inf file to extras -> google -> usb_driver (positioned on the Android SDK folder).
- Download the CWM recovery file from here.
- Copy the downloaded file on Android SDK folder -> platform-tools.
- Turn off your Xperia Z device.
- Now, connect your device to the PC while pressing on the Volume UP button. After that your device will boot into the fastboot mode.
- Install the drivers for Xperia Z device. To do that select “Browse my computer for driver software” -> “Let me pick from a list of device drivers” -> “Have Disk”; go to Android SDK -> extras -> google -> usb_driver and after that select the android_winusb.inf file; next select the android_winusb.inf file;
- Next select “Android Bootloader Interface”.
- Open the Android SDK folder and from there, go to platform-tools, and there open a CMD (command prompt) window. To do that, press and keep the SHIFT button from your PC keyboard and simultaneously right-click on an empty zone on the folder and from the menu choose “Open command window here”.
- In this CMD widows, type the following command: “fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version” and after press Enter.
- After the previous command was successfully entered, on the same CMD, enter the following command line: “fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce flash boot name_of_file.img” and replace the name_of_file with the name of the CWM recovery file downloaded previously).
- Now, press Enter from your PC’s keyboard. The flashing process has been started now.
- When the process is finished you will get a “finished” message/notification.
- Type “fastboot reboot” to reboot your smartphone.
- Disconnect your Xperia Z device from your computer removing the USB cord.
That’s all! Now you can enter in the CWM Recovery Mode menu. To do that you need to turn off your Sony Xperia Z smartphone and reboot the device by pressing Volume UP and Power buttons simultaneously.
When the Sony Logo notifies you a Led light, press the Volume Up key more number of times until the CWM menu is showed in your smartphone’s display. If you want to enter again in your Android device, you simply select the “reboot system now”.
Congratulation! Now you have successfully learnt how to install CWM on your Sony Xperia Z smartphone.
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