This guide is for all the Xperia users who want to manually update their devices to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, before the OTA update is pushed by the Sony in their devices.
The process can be used by those having any Sony Xperia device and who want to flash any firmware build in any Xperia device currently running on carrier-specific firmware.
Before starting the installation process you need to read some important points mentioned below:
- Make sure that you read the following instructions before flashing your Xperia device and proceed with caution.
- This guide is for advanced users and the Android Source team cannot be held responsible if something go wrong.
- By flashing a new firmware through this process, the warranty of your Sony Xperia device will not be void, but it is recommended that you create a backup of your regional/carrier firmware in case you need to send your device for repair.
- The instructions mentioned bellow, can be used to create any firmware file, so you can use these to create a backup with the relevant firmware build.
- You don’t need to unlock your bootloader, nor to root your device.
- Before installing a new software, make sure that you have installed the correct Sony Xperia drivers and the Flashtool software on your Windows based computer.
How to Install Android Marshmallow using Flashtool and XperiFirm on Sony Xperia devices
- Download and install the Sony Xperia drivers for your PC to be able to recognize your Xperia device. The best way is to install Sony PC Companion from here, in order to ensure that your PC has all necessary drivers installed.
- Switch off your Sony Xperia device and then connect it to your PC whilst holding the volume down button, to download the necessary USB and ADB drivers.
- Download and install Flashtool from here. Install Flashtool drivers from ‘C:\Flashtool\drivers’ and check the “Flashmode Drivers” and “Fastboot Drivers” options.
Note: If you run Windows 8/8.1/10, to install the Flashtool drivers:
- Press the Windows key + R together and in the ‘Run’ box, type: shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 00; then, to boot into the Start Up Setting Screen , make the selections: Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Start Up Settings -> Restart
- When the PC restarts, select number 7: “Disable driver signature enforcement”. The PC will start with Driver signing enforcement disabled until the next reboot.
- Now you can install the Flashtool drivers. Windows will warn that the driver is not signed and you need to confirm the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, reboot the PC.
- On your Sony Xperia device, enable “USB Debugging”(from Settings -> Developer options) and “Unknown Sources”( from Settings -> Security)
- To install a new software on your Xperia device, you need to create a FTF firmware file:
- To create a FTF firmware file, first you need to launch Flashtool, then click on the XperiFirm icon and see the XperiFirm software launch into a new window.
- In the XperiFirm look for your Xperia device on the left pane and choose the firmware for your region/carrier, in the middle pane.
- On the right side of the middle pane you will see which firmware is available for that region, click on it and download the file. Make sure that you download only the firmware for your Xperia model and variant number.
- Once you click on the firmware, you are asked to confirm if you want to download the firmware.
- Ensure that the “Unpack automatically” option is checked and then click “Download” to proceed.
- Once the download is complete, you should see a pop-up message showing “Unpacked Successfully!”, click on OK.
- The “Unpacked successfully!” message, will appear on the download dialog. Go to the next step by clicking “Close”.
- You will now revert to Flashtool that will start creating the FTF firmware file. Wait until the end of process and you should see “Torrent file creation finished”, then the FTF firmware file has been successfully created.
- On the PC, go to “C:\Users\(Your PC Name)\.flashTool\firmwares”, to ensure that the FTF firmware file has been created.
- Flash the FTF firmware file on your Sony Xperia device:
- First open Flashtool and then click on the lightning bolt in the top left of Flashtool.
- Select “Flashmode” and click on OK, then you should be in the source folder where the FTF firmware files are located. (If not, go to: “C:\Users\(Your PC Name)\.flashTool\firmwares”).
- Select the firmware build version that you want to flash from the “Firmware” pane.
- When upgrading a new Android version, the best way is a clean install, so check all options under the “Wipe” pane. This will wipe all of the data, so ensure that you have made a backup before.
- Click “Flash” and Flashtool will show that it is “preparing files for flashing”.
- In around 60 seconds a pop-up will appear and you should now connect your Sony Xperia device. Make sure your device is powered off and after connecting to the PC, hold the ‘Volume Down’ button. Once the pop-up disappears and the flashing process starts, you can release the ‘Volume Down’ button.
- Flashtool will start flashing your Sony Xperia device. When finished, you will see the “Flashing finished” message. It means that your Sony Xperia device has been successfully flashed.
- Disconnect the Xperia device from the PC and power on the handset. It may takes a while for the handset to boot, as this is the first boot after a new upgrade.
- Go to Settings -> About phone, and you should see the new Android version and firmware build number.