Root & Install Recovery On Xperia Z1 Android 5.1.1 14.6.A.0.368 Firmware

By
Usama M
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44

Xperia Z1 has been updated to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Because of some changes in the core of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, directly rooting this firmware is not possible. Users who are looking to root their Xperia Z1 running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop 14.6.A.0.368 firmware, they will have to use a little different method which involves downgrading to a previous firmware and then flashing a pre-rooted zip file of the new Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. If you’ve been looking for a method, you’ve already spotted the right place.

In the following post we are going to help you to root & install CWM/TWRP recovery on your Xperia Z1 C6902, C6903, C6906 running latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop 14.6.A.0.368 firmware. Let’s go ahead and get it done right away.

1. This is only for Sony Xperia Z1 C6902, C6903 and Xperia Z1 C6906

This rooting method is only for the device mentioned above. Make sure that your model number matches the one listed above. To do so, go to Settings > About Device on your device and see your model number. Flashing this firmware on any other device will result in bricking it so make sure that you meet this requirement first of all.

2. Battery should be charged at least over 60%.

Make sure that your battery is charged enough to complete the flashing process. In case your battery is low and your device goes dead during the flashing process, you may end up soft bricking your device as it won’t complete the flashing process.

3. Backup everything!

Just to be on the safe side, you may consider backing up each and everything from your Android device. This is highly recommended so that in case anything goes wrong, you still have the access to all of your data and you can restore it immediately. You may backup everything as listed below.

  • Backup SMS Messages
  • Backup Call Logs
  • Backup Contacts
  • Backup Media – Copy your files manually to your PC or Laptop.
  • Titanium Backup – If already rooted, use Titanium Backup to backup all of your apps, system data and other important content. If you haven’t rooted your device previously, skip this step.
  • Backup Nandroid – If CWM  or TWRP installed previously, otherwise skip this step and perform this at the end of flashing.

Note: This method will work for both, Locked & Unlocked bootloaders.

How To Root & Install Recovery On Xperia Z1 Android 5.1.1 14.6.A.0.368 Firmware

1. Downgrade to .108 Firmware and Root It

  1. If you have already updated your smartphone to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, then you have to downgrade your device to KitKat OS and Root it.
  2. Use this guide to Install .108 firmware.
  3. Root using this guide.
  4. Now Install XZ Dual Recovery.
  5. Now phone is rooted, USB Debugging must be enabled.
  6. Download latest installer for Xperia Z1 from here. (Z1-lockeddualrecovery2.8.X-RELEASE.installer.zip)
  7. Connect phone to PC using OEM date cable and run install.bat.
  8. It will install the custom recovery.
  9. Now work here is done. Lets move on to next step.

2. Make A Pre-Rooted Flashable Firmware For .368 FTF

  1. Download 14.6.A.0.368 FTF and place it anywhere on PC.
  2. Download Z1-lockeddualrecovery2.8.10-RELEASE.flashable.zip
  3. Now create a pre-rooted firmware using this guide: How To Create Sony Xperia Pre-Rooted Firmware With PRF Creator
  4. Once the Flashable ROM is created, it will show the successful message.
  5. Do not touch any other option while creating the pre-rooted firmware.
  6. Now copy the pre-rooted firmware to the phone’s internal storage.
  7. Our work in this step is now done. Move on to next step.

Note: If you do not want to create a pre-rooted flashable zip for your phone yourself, then you can download it for your phone’s specific model number and use it in the guide.

C6902 14.5.A.0.368 Pre-Rooted Flashable Zip | C6903 14.6.A.0.368 Pre-Rooted Flashable Zip  | C6906 14.6.A.0.368 Pre-Rooted Flashable Zip

3. Root and Install Recovery on Z1 C6902/C6903/C6906 5.1.1 Lollipop Firmware

  1. Custom recovery was installed in the first step.
  2. The pre-rooted firmware was created and copied to phone in next step.
  3. Now you have to turn off phone.
  4. Turn it on again and press volume up or down repeatedly to enter custom recovery.
  5. Click on install and locate the folder where you placed the flashable zip earlier.
  6. Tap on it and install it.
  7. Now reboot the phone and find SuperSu in app drawer.
  8. Install Root Checker from the Play Store to verify root access now.
  9. Pheww! That’s all. You’re rooted and have the custom recovery installed.

Got any questions? Ask me in the comments below

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Usama M
Usama is a software engineer by profession and at TechBeasts.com he uses his expertise to solve everyday consumer tech problems with his main areas of interest being Android, iOS and Windows.

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44 COMMENTS

  2. Hi Usama M, thank you for the wonderful post.. i did everything exactly and the OS is running fine too.. however my photo’s stopped working ..it gives “unfortunately, photos has stopped” message.

    • @disqus_6XZj17YFUX:disqus You can do two things.
      1. try updating Google Play Services to the latest version.
      2. If you’re talking about Google Photos, then uninstall it and re-install.
      Let me know if this helps.

      • Hello Usama, the problem I am facing is that the write permission to system partition is denied. As a result I cannot use Xposed installer or freedom. I cannot even edit the build.prop I tried everything several times, I flashed SuperSU separately also and created my own FTF using PRF creator but still no luck. Denied writing permission to system partition

  3. Thanks
    But the Rom in half rooted, I had to again install a dual recovery and then ZIP it with superSU and is already full root.

    • @jateshsingh:disqus That’s why we also linked in the guides to create FTF so that if the firmware shows any issues, you can create your own as well. 🙂 Stay connected with us.

  4. Thanx. the root works.
    But, my battery shows different % when i restart and d battery doesn’t charge as-well. It only charges from 0 to 100. Doesn’t charge anywhere between.
    Till now i have rooted it more den 5 times to see if i’m missing any step, but, no luck.
    I have also tried battery calibration as mentioned in one of your guides. Still problem is there.
    Please help. thanks in advance. (Sony Xperia Z1 C6902)

    • @dattarajsamant:disqus wipe cache and dalvik cache of your phone using recovery, and let me know if the battery issue is resolved or not. Otherwise flash a stock firmwre on your phone or create your own FTF using the links above. We have attached multiple firmware links in this post.

  5. Will this method void the warranty of my phone? This 5.1.1 update has removed the root access and I really wanna have root access on my phone badly. Help me out, Please.:(

    • @sanjeevrai:disqus this method works for both, locked & unlocked bootloader. If you won’t unlock the bootloader of your phone, you won’t void its warranty.

      • Sir pls. Help me… i am Mithilesh
        After installing the DN4 rom in my galaxy note2 my phone is always getting stops working and getting hang and to again start working i want switched off it by removing the battery.so plese help me sir to overcome by this problem.
        and One more thing Sir when i was installing the ROM after all the process at the end of installation a error message was came that is ERROR THERE IS NO SU BINARY INSTALLED AND SUPER SU CANNOT INSTALL IT.THIS IS A PROBLEM!IF YOU JUST UPGRADED TO ANROID 4.3 YOU NEED TO MANUALLY RE-ROOT -CONSULT THE RELAVANT FORUMS FOR YOUR DEVICE.

      • Thanks for the clarification. Would it be better to create my own pre-rooted firmware by downloading through XperiFirm or to downloaded the one you uploaded?
        And one more thing. Since I have updated my phone to 5.1.1, it has a serious battery drain problem(even in stand-by mode). Can you provide a solution for that also?
        Highly appreciate your help 🙂

        • @sanjeevrai:disqus It depends on you. The one linked here will work fine as well, and you can also create your own, there won’t be an issue. You’ve both options open for yourself.
          After flashing Android 5.1.1, wipe cache and dalvik cache using custom recovery and then check the performance of your phone’s battery.

          • Thank you so much. I rooted my phone. I can now hibernate apps and stop them from autostarting, and this has improved the battery performance a little. I didn’t wipe the cache and dalvik cache after flashing zip file and installed all the apps that were there before(and this took real good time ;p). So, I’m pretty dillemmatic about wiping them and setting up my phone again. But really, this is a great post. All credit goes to you bro. 😀

    • @keyserrvillanuevavillaflor:disqus all links attached above have pre-rooted firmware. Can you please specify what issue you’re exactly facing? Have you checked the root access using Root Checker application?

  8. Done with the details and instructions, after rebooting into pre-rooted zip with new firmware the phone Z1 C6903 it’s not rooted anymore.

    • @petersmitgary:disqus try flashing the pre-rooted firmware.zip file again. Let me know if it still remains the same, I’ll give you another firmware link.

      • I’ve done that for numbers of time, but no luck. Guess Android 5.1 latest from Sony isn’t available yet to be rooted. When I looked into the process of installing the pre-rooted Zip, it said some changes failed regarding to both recovery and supersu Zip. Thanks very much for the help though. Cheers!

        • @petersmitgary:disqus The method explained above is verified and supposed to work. You can try creating your own pre-rooted firmware and flash it. It will definitely work. This method is verified by many users and this is the only method available to root Xperia Z1 running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

  9. dude i have a problem entering recovery mode on xperia z1. I tried your method but it didn’t worked.Any suggestion?

    • @angamcoreygonson:disqus Did you flash the pre-rooted firmware on Android 4.4.4 KitKat? If so then it shouldn’t be a problem. Tell me what variant you’re using?

      • I’m still stuck in android 4.4 kitkat.My variant is c6902.I followed all of your steps carefully.Could this be bc0z i didn’t install fastboot mode?

    • @usamamujtaba:disqus I rooted & installed recovery on my xperia z1 with the help of your method, it worked absolutely fine. But I’m not able to use the freedom app after rooting my device. Whenever I try to start the freedom app it shows an error “Write permissions on system partition are required in order to use freedom”. I tried changing the permissions using the the root explorer and rom toolbox app, but I’m still getting the same error everytime I open freedom.can you give any solution regarding this issue ?

  11. Hi Usama. I have flashed a pre-rooted zip on my Xperia Z1(C6903). And I forgot to note the CDA number that originally came with my handset. So, is there a way to know what was my previous CDA number?
    And I want to ask one more thing. I just bought a Xperia Z3(D6653) and it has Customized TW firmware in it because maybe its a Taiwan model. And I found a Customized IN firmware for the it. So, can I use this firmware to make a pre-rooted zip and will it work fine with all service bands(specifically LTE) in India?
    Need your urgent help… Please reply asap 🙁

  12. @Usama i rooted my xperia z1 c6902 with your method, it worked fine. But i’m not able to use the freedom app after rooting my device. Whenever i try to start the freedom app it shows an error “write permissions on system partition are required in order to use Freedom”. I tried changing the permissions using the root explorer and rom toolbox app..but i’m still getting the same error every time i open freedom.
    Can u give any solution regarding this issue ??

  13. @usamamujtaba:disqus I rooted & installed recovery on my xperia z1 with the help of your method, it worked absolutely fine. But I’m not able to use the freedom app after rooting my device. Whenever I try to start the freedom app it shows an error “Write permissions on system partition are required in order to use freedom”. I tried changing the permissions using the the root explorer and rom toolbox app, but I’m still getting the same error everytime I open freedom.
    can you give any solution regarding this issue ?

  14. @disqus_z1EAwEPWGk:disqus did you give root permission to freedom app? please go to SuperSu application and see if Freedom app is allowed or not. This seems to be an application issue, not the root issue.

    • @Usama Mujtaba I’ve granted root permission to the freedom app using supersu when i installed the app, but im still getting the same error. I’m also not able to use the read/write permission option in root explorer, es explorer and any other app which needs read/write permissions to make any changes.

  15. I’ve installed everything like in the instrucions, and it work great! I have root in 5.1.1 etc but I’ve lost Dualrecovery after flashing 5.1.1 (I had it earlier on 4.4.4 to install zip). And when I try to install dualrecovery again it’s everything ok, I have NDR Units app etc but when i try to access recovery (vol – while lunching or via NDR Units) nothing happens, just reboot system and lunch normal. (sorry for my english) Please help I’ve tried everything (downgrading and reflashing too)

  16. Hey it’s great post, everything work, and with your great instructions it was easy 🙂 but after flashing to 5.1.1 (via recovery) I’ve lost dualrecovery. When I reinstalled it I see NDR Units but i can’t run recovery while lunching (Vol -) and via NDR Units (reboot to Primary Recovery). I don’t know what to do, I’ve tried reflashing whole sistem, clearing caches etc. 🙁 (btw root works fine after flash 5.1.1)
    Please help:(

  17. Well the C6906 ftf link is not working 🙁
    can’t find anything on the internet!

    According to OP I can just use C6902 file instead, will only change model number.
    Keep you posted

  18. after installed C6903 14.6.A.0.368 Pre-Rooted Flashable i’ve lost my rw permission on system folder, and dual recovery, solved by reflashing z1dual recovery and restored backup

  19. Hi. I have already finished doing everything snd the phone works as I intended. Now, I need to install a custom rom on my C6902 and to do that, I need to unlock bootloader. after rooting, how can I unlock bootloader?

  20. @@usamamujtaba:disqus .. bro if i install this custom ROM…. Can i resolve battery drain issue (from X% to 0 %).. Please help….

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