Root Xperia Z C6602,C6603 10.6.A.0.454 5.0.2 LP Plus CWM/TWRP

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Sony Xperia Z has started receiving the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update with build number 10.6.A.0.454. The update is being rolled out for both C6602 and C6603. One is 3G only model while other is 3G+4G Model. The basic and most probably the only difference between both phones is the bands that these phones support. Those who have not received the OTA Lollipop update yet can update their devices using manual Update Xperia Z To Lollipop Official Firmware Guide. After updating, Android power users will lose root access. Keeping phone in stock state is something power users would never do.

Rooting an Android phone opens the gate of customizations and custom mods. These custom mods are designed to make the phone work even better and add features of users’ choice. To root Xperia Z Lollipop update, there is not simple method available yet. 10.6.A.0.454 root can be done using the pre-rooted firmware. This method requires the phone to be using the older firmware first and then updating to new Lollipop firmware using the pre-rooted Lollipop firmware for Xperia Z. This method will be used to root both C6602 and C6603 10.6.A.0.454 in addition to installing CWM and TWRP custom recoveries. The custom recoveries can be used to install custom mods and custom ROMs on the phone. Too root C6602, C6603 10.6.A.0.454 ftf, follow the guide given below. Make sure that you follow all the steps given below if you have not rooted any device before or even if you have rooted using any other method.

1. This is only for Sony Xperia Z C6602 and Xperia Z C6603

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.

4. Enable USB Debugging Mode on your device.

Enable USB debugging mode on your device. To do so, tap settings>developer options>USB debugging. If you can’t find developer options in settings, then tap settings > about device and tap “Build Number” for 7 times and you’ll get em’ activated under settings.

5. Install and setup Sony Flashtool.

You must have installed Sony Flashtool. Find the full guide here.

After installing Sony Flashtool, open the Flashtool folder from the drive where you installed it. Now open Flashtool>Drivers>Flashtool-drivers.exe and install the Flashtool, Fastboot & Xperia Z drivers from the list. If you do not find the Flashtool drivers in Flashmode, skip this step and install Sony PC Companion instead, for drivers support. [Important]

6. Use OEM data cable to establish connection.

Make sure that you use the phone’s original data cable to establish connection between your phone and the PC. Using a different data cable might result in interrupting the firmware installation.

7. Unlock Bootloader (Optional)

Use the following guide to unlock the bootloader of your Xperia device before proceeding.

Disclaimer: The methods involved in flashing custom recoveries, roms and rooting your phone are highly custom and may result in bricking your device, and has nothing to do with Google or the device manufacturer that is SONY in our case. Also rooting your device will void its warranty and you will be no longer eligible for any kind of free device services by the manufacturers/warranty providers. In case of any mishap we may not be held responsible. Follow these instructions to the letter to avoid any mishap or bricking. Make sure that whatever you do, you are doing it at your own responsibility.

Steps For Rooting Xperia Z C6602, C6603 10.6.A.0.454 Firmware

1. Downgrade to .283 Firmware and Root It

  1. If you have already updated your smartphone to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, then you have to downgrade your device to KitKat OS and Root it.
  2. Use this guide to Install .283 firmware.
  3. Root using this guide.
  4. Now you have to Install XZ Dual Recovery (Steps below).
  5. Now phone is rooted, USB Debugging must be enabled.
  6. Download latest installer for Xperia Z from here. (Z-lockeddualrecovery2.8.10-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 .454 FTF

  1. Download PRF Creator and install on your system.
  2. Download SuperSU zip and place anywhere on PC.
  3. Download .454 FTF and place it anywhere on PC. [For your phone model only!]
  4. Download Z-lockeddualrecovery2.8.10-RELEASE.flashable.zip
  5. Now run PRFC and add all three required files in it.
  6. Then click on Create.
  7. Once the Flashable ROM is created, it will show the successful message.
  8. Do not touch any other option while creating the pre-rooted firmware.
  9. Now copy the pre-rooted firmware to the phone’s internal storage.
  10. Our work in this step is now done. Move on to next step.

If you do not want to create your own pre-rooted firmware, then download the one created already for your phone’s model from one of the links given below.

C6602 Pre-Rooted 10.6.A.0.454 Firmware Download || C6603 Pre-Rooted 10.6.A.0.454 Firmware Download

3. Root and Install Recovery on Z C6603, C6602 5.0.2 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. Don’t reboot the phone.
  8. Turn it off from the recovery
  9. If phone is still connected to PC via USB cable, disconnect it.
  10. Now go back to the .454 ftf you downloaded in second step and copy it to /flashtool/firmwares
  11. Open flashtool and click on lightning icon in the top left.
  12. Click on it and click on flashmode.
  13. Select the .454 firmware.
  14. In the right bar, in the exclude options, exclude System only while flashing. Leave every other options as it is.
  15. Keep the volume down button pressed and connect it to PC via USB cable.
  16. The button must be kept pressed during it.
  17. The phone will enter flashmode.
  18. Flashtool will automatically detect it and start flashing.
  19. After flashing phone will reboot and you will be done 🙂
  20. That’s all 🙂 Enjoy!

Got any questions? Ask me in the comments below

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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.

33 COMMENTS

  1. hey bro << i cant install recovery mod ,, iam xperia z c6602 i had root my device but cant install recovery << what i supposed to do now :S ??

    • after i did this steps and i down graded it
      and my phone not show any led light (pink or anything )

      1. Downgrade to .283 Firmware and Root It

      If you have already updated your smartphone to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, then you have to downgrade your device to KitKat OS and Root it.

      Use this guide to Install .283 firmware.

      Root using this guide.

      Now you have to Install XZ Dual Recovery (Steps below).

      Now phone is rooted, USB Debugging must be enabled.

      Download latest installer for Xperia Z from here. (Z-lockeddualrecovery2.8.10-RELEASE.installer.zip)

      Connect phone to PC using OEM date cable and run install.bat.

      It will install the custom recovery.

      Now work here is done. Lets move on to next step.

  2. Any how-to for C6606 Rooting with .454 firmware?
    Where we can get or how to create pre-rooted firmwares for C6606 or C6616?

    Does Step-1 works with locked boot-loaders? (Installing Recovery etc)

  3. For Carrier locked devices, they must be unlocked first. Factory unlocked. Then same steps can be followed for these devices as well. Make pre rooted firmware yourself by downloading specific ftf for your device. Rest of the steps will remain same as mentioned here. Thanks 🙂

  4. Hayder Bhai ..
    Everything is perfectly done by me until in the 3rd step where you said to copy the .454 ftf file to /flashtool/firmwares. I have copied the file to respective firmware directory under flashtool but when I start flashtool and trying to flash this .454 ftf file its not been shown in the menu to select. This .454 ftf file is winrar zip file and i have placed it perfectly. Can you please tell me why this file is not been shown in Flashtool app??

  5. Z-lockeddualrecovery2.8.10-RELEASE.flashable.zip is no longer available on the linked site, only 2.8.12 and 2.8.15 – and neither have a similar filename that starts with just Z, there is an XZ and Z1, should I be using one of these instead? don’t want to use the wrong one and brick my phone

  6. (sorry if this is a duplicate comment – i don’t see my original)
    the file listed above, Z-lockeddualrecovery2.8.10-RELEASE.flashable.zip, is no longer available on the linked site. the versions available are 2.8.12 and 2.8.15 – neither has a filename starting with Z-. There is an XZ- and a Z1-, would one of these be the correct one? I don’t want to flash the wrong one and possibly brick my phone. plz help

  7. hiiii. there

    thanks for the post it really worked for me guys.

    however my xperia z stuck on boot but now everything is all right

    iam having solution for bootloop.

    first u need to flash pre rooted zip and then do not reboot system

    however u need to power off u r device from recovery and then flash

    C6603_10.6.A.0.454_Customized HK with flashtool.

    Thats it…

  8. Thank you so much for that nice working procedure!

    But… Why do I have to flash the 454 FTF (exluding system) after having flashed my pre-rooted 454 FTF with dual recovery??? Everythink is working fine without the last flash and I got root permission. What is that last FTF installation good for?

  9. exactly! My SXZ is working without any issues though I ignored the last flash that is described in the tutorial.

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