Root Xperia Z3 Compact D5803/D5833 on 23.5.A.1.291 Android Marshmallow

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact was updated to latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow 23.5.A.1.291 build number. Sony has always remained consistent and bringing the stable and bug free software updates for its Xperia smartphones. The recent release replicates the same. The new build brings a number of fixes to the existing bugs. With the 23.5.A.1.291 build, Sony introduced its new and enhanced stamina mode into Android Marshmallow. Sony also fixed the multi-tasking bug and improved the overall performance and stability of the device. Sony has released a number of Android Marshmallow updates earlier, so this update only seems to improve the device experience. Rest of the features remain the same as previous build of Android Marshmallow. The update was rolled out in select regions, but it’s been already a month since Sony rolled this out. At the time of writing this, we expect to have this update hit almost all regions across the globe.

As soon as a new build from Sony comes up, users tend to update their devices. For average users, updating the device is not an issue as they don’t have to go through any hard and fast rules. The real issues comes up for Android power users who loose root immediately after updating their Sony Xperia smartphone to the latest firmware. This was supposed to happen with the Xperia Z3 Compact power users as well who update to the latest .291 firmware and probably it has. We have the good news for users looking for a method to root their Xperia Z3 Compact once again.

The succeeding guide iterates how you can install a custom recovery like TWRP on your Xperia Z3 Compact and then flash a pre-rooted Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow 23.5.A.1.291 firmware to gain the root access alongside a latest build of TWRP recovery. The method involves a bit of downgrading and upgrading the device so you need a lot of patience while following it. Have a look on it and head towards the open source world of Android customisation.

Early preparations:

  1. This is only for Sony Xperia Z3 Compact D5803, D5833. This rooting method is only for the device mentioned above. Make sure that your model number matches the one listed above.
  2. Battery should be charged at least over 60%. Make sure that your battery is charged enough to 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.
    1. Backup SMS Messages
    2. Backup Call Logs
    3. Backup Contacts
    4. Backup Media – Copy your files manually to your PC or Laptop.
  4. 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. You must have installed Sony Flashtool. Find the full guide here.
  6. 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 Z3 Compact 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]
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

Contents

Steps For Rooting Xperia Z3 Compact D5803, D5833 23.5.A.1.291 Firmware

1. Downgrade to .77/.93 Firmware and Root It

  1. If you have already updated your smartphone to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, then you have to downgrade your device to KitKat OS and Root it.
  2. Use this Flashtool Guide to Install 23.0.A.2.93 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 Z3 Compact: Z3-lockeddualrecovery2.8.26-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. Root and Install Recovery on Xperia Z3 Compact D5803/D5833 on 23.5.A.1.291 Firmware

Download the pre-rooted firmware.zip file according to your device and copy it to your phone’s internal or external storage.

  1. Custom recovery was installed in the first step.
  2. The pre-rooted firmware was downloaded and copied to phone just above.
  3. Now you have to turn off phone.
  4. Turn it on again and press volume up or down repeatedly to enter custom recovery. You should boot into TWRP recovery here. If pressing Volume Up boots into CWM/Philz, then pressing down will boot into TWRP and vice versa.
  5. Once you are in TWRP, tap Install > Locate the pre-rooted firmware.zip file > swipe to flash it and complete flashing.
  6. As flashing ends, reboot your phone.
  7. Your phone will now boot into latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow 23.5.A.1.91 rooted firmware and you will have the recovery installed as well.
  8. That’s all.

Got any questions? Ask me in the comments below

This post was last modified on October 9, 2020 6:09 pm

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.

View Comments

  • Hi. I've been following the instructions carefully. I got to step 8 and did the bootloader unlock successfully. Now I'm on to the downgrade. What I don't get is that it's talking about Lollipop but I'm on 6.0.1 Marshmallow on the D5803 Xperia Z3 Compact. So will the instructions be the same? Have they been tested yet on the latest firmware version? I only want to go through with this if it has been fully tested.

    • I had a few issues but I fixed this issue above. I will post the list of small problems in case the guide can be improved some more. To fix the looping issue I redownloaded the firmware for downgrade from mega, repeated the downgrade using flashtool and checked the options in the whipe boxes the second time. Perhaps there was a checksum issue during download or it was the checkbox choices. It really freaks you out when that happens and it's a new phone.

  • I've had some issues here so I've pasted them in for the benefit of the tutorial.

    Issue 1
    Infinite loop after downgrading operation. Apps crashing continually, device restarting over and over. Fixed by redownloading the firmware for downgrade from mega, repeating the downgrade using flashtool and checking the options in the whipe boxes.

    Issue 2
    Cannot download the giefroot rooting tool. Fixed by downloading from http://giefroot.org/ . Rooting was a total success!

    Issue 3
    Dual recovery link did not work. Links all changed on the site. Also, there are two links, Z3 and Z3C. Looks like C stands for compact so I downloaded:
    Z3C-lockeddualrecovery2.8.26-RELEASE.combined.zip
    There is a question when running install.bat, chose Super Su (app that is installed in apps menu.)

    Issue 4
    XZ Custom recovery issue. I have Cygwin on windows but I get an error "bash: ./adb.linux: cannot execute binary file: Exec format error".
    Solution: Run install.bat not install.sh when using Windows.

    Issue 5
    Can't backup TA partitions. Everyone says I must do this but tools date back to 2013 and no longer supported by devs. Update: I managed to do this using the XZ Dual Recovery below by doing a full backup including the TA.

    Issue 6
    It says to install XZ Dual Recovery. I ran it and a menu appeared. Is it done? What do I click on? Need more info here.

    Thanks, tutorial is mostly very good so far and I'm learning loads here.

    • @FireSw0rd:disqus when you run the dual recovery setup, follow on-screen instructions and complete the procedure. Reboot your phone in to recovery mode and see if there is TWRP or CWM recovery on your phone or not. If the recovery appears, go ahead, downloaded the MM pre-rooted firmware and flash it and you are all done :)

      • I completed the tutorial and I have root on Android Marshmallow now on my new phone!

        Issue 7
        The keys when starting up the phone are a little different to what's in the article:

        Up up up up = Philz Touchwiz
        Down, down, down, down = TWRP

        The need to repeat one key then push the other key is not needed
        (up, up, up, down, or down, down, down, up).

        Issue 8
        Home screen app crashed on first boot, did not reoccur.

        • @FireSw0rd:disqus That's great. Thank you for verifying the guide. Your feedback is going to help many users wishing to root the Xperia Z3 Compact afterwards.

          • Thanks for updating the guide. My main question now is what happens if use "software update" or factory reset?
            Would the factory reset take me back to Android 4.4 or 6?

          • @FireSw0rd:disqus Software update will not work as your device is rooted. To update the software, you will have to flash the new software manually using Flashtool which is quite an easy process.

            Factory reset will just wipe the phone. it will not change the firmware nor wipe the root access. It will just erase everything from your phone and keep it as it is.

            Root can only be erased by flashing the new firmware as described above.

  • https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dff4663376500ad352dc410d88588c18c7ab0deafafc93eaaec5f35038a74686.jpg

    Hi,

    -
    I have Xperia Z3C D5803 SI 1288-5849 Android 6.0.1 23.5.A.1.291 and I wanted to root it. First I had to downgrade my system

    and I used 23.0.A.2.93 firmware with Flashtool but after this my phone gets stuck on a boot loop. Now, I don't have any idea

    what I can do to fix it. Maybe I used wrong firmware (D5803_23.0.A.2.93_Generic_GLOBAL_1286-9917), maybe something else

    was wrong. I was looking for firmware from my country but there is only 23.0.A.2.93 - Brand Bell Mobility - Canada (1289-7538)

    and I'm with different provider (Wind - Canada). Can you give me some advice how to fix my problem. I will really appreciate it.
    Thanks in advance.
    P.S.
    Sorry about big picture I did something wrong it supposed to be much smaller.

    • @stanborrys:disqus
      Try flashing the firmware again and see if your device boots up or not . Flashing a global firmware on your carrier branded phone simply makes it a non-branded smartphone, it shouldn't have problems booting up.
      If the phone doesn't boot up, You can use xperifirm to download the exact firmware for your phone and flash it afterwards to recover it. let me know once you have recovered it, I will try to find files for your device and let you know if there is some solution available.

    1. Will this remove DRM?
    2. Can I downgrade without wipe data? I expected some error, but can I still proceed with the steps when the errors happens?
    • @andreyjonathan:disqus If you do not unlock the bootloader it will not remove the DRM. The data wipe is supposed to make the installation smooth and easy, you may copy your data first and then proceed with data wipe.

  • Hi. I am trying to download the files but the link for the 23.0.A.2.93 firmware
    is broken. Could you please reupload it? Tks

  • Hi,
    I've got a Z3 Compact D5803 on .291 firmware. What you said sounded like this tutorial for rooting works if you have had a rooted phone before updating it to this version. So my question is, does it also work if I've never had a rooted version? It would be the first time for me trying this out and I don't wanna mess things up since I'm quite unexperienced ^^

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