Update Xperia S LT26i to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with CM12 Custom ROM

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This is an unofficial build of CyanogenMod 12 for Sony Xperia S, model number LT26i. The Android version of this custom ROM is Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. This is the latest version of Android available so far and it is indeed the best of the Android yet. Sony Xperia S has been officially updated to Android Jelly Bean. It is the final official update for this phone. This phone is powered by a Dual Core processor along with 1 GB of RAM. It can easily handle the Lollipop OS. To install Android 5.0.2 on Xperia S, follow the guide given below to install it on your phone. Make sure that you follow all the steps and pre-cautions given below.

Contents

Requirements

  • Unlock Bootloader of Xperia S. If you do not know how to do it or you have no idea about what it is, then follow this guide to unlock Bootloader of your phone. How to Unlock Bootloader of Xperia Smartphones
  • Install USB Drivers for Xperia S using the drivers installer from the Flashtool installation folder. Download Flashtool from here. After installing USB Drivers, connect phone to PC using the USB cable so that USB drivers are installed properly and connection is established properly.
  • Install ADB and Fastboot Drivers. | Mac ADB And Fastboot Drivers. To avoid the lengthy installation, use the Minimal ADB and Fastboot tools for your PC to make the installation quick. ADB Drivers work best on Windows 7. ADB and Fastboot Drivers might not work on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.
  • Charge your phone up to 50%. It is very important because phone should not turn off during flashing process. If the phone turns off during the flashing process, it can damage the device.
  • Make a backup of all Contacts and Messages on phone. – Guide
  • Backup SMS Messages
  • Backup Call Logs
  • Make a Nandroid Backup if any custom Recovery is installed already. If not, you will find a custom recovery later in this guide. – Guide
  • Copy all the media files and anything else stored in the internal memory to a PC before flashing to save this data.

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.

Required Downloads

Steps to Install CM 12 on Xperia S LT26i

  1. Make sure that bootloader is unlocked and phone is charged to 50% at least.
  2. Now turn off phone wait for 5 seconds.
  3. Hold volume up button and connect phone to PC.
  4. The LED should remain blue, which means that phone is in fastboot mode.
  5. Now copy recovery.elf to Fastboot folder or Minimal ADB and Fastboot installation folder.
  6. Open that folder, hold shift button on keyboard and right-click on mouse.
  7. Click on Open Command Window Here.
  8. Type fastboot devices and press Enter.
  9. It should only one fastboot connected device in return. If it showing more that one, then disconnect any other connected device or close any Android Emulator. Also make sure that PC Companion is completely disabled if installed.
  10. Now type fastboot flash boot recovery.elf and press Enter.
  11. It will flash TWRP custom recovery on your phone.
  12. Type fastboot reboot and press Enter.
  13. Now use the guide given above to make the Nandroid backup if not made already.
  14. Extract the downloaded custom ROM zip and copy boot.img to Fastboot folder or Minimal ADB and Fastboot installation folder.
  15. Copy the ROM zip to phone’s internal storage.
  16. Re-enter phone into the fastboot mode.
  17. Type fastboot flash boot boot.img and press Enter.
  18. Flashing will be done in few minutes.
  19. Type fastboot reboot and press Enter.
  20. While phone is booting up, press Volume up/down continuously to enter recovery mode.
  21. In the recovery mode, select Install and navigate to the folder where ROM zip is placed.
  22. Install the ROM zip and reboot the phone.
  23. Performing factory reset and wiping Dalvik cache after installing ROM is highly recommended!
  24. The phone will boot up to home screen in 5 minutes.
  25. To install Google Applications, copy downloaded Gapps zip file to phone and flash it the same way as ROM. Factory reset is not required this time.
  26. That’s all!

Got any question? 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.

45 COMMENTS

  1. i have follow your step, n now i have great lolipop for my xperia s. but it become unrooted device, n i can’t boot in recovery mode. what i do to solve this ? “sorry 4 my bad english”

  2. Type fastboot devices and press Enter.

    —– After this step My device has gone in continuous reboot loop. SONY logo appears & reboots again with PINK LED on. I tried 2 times . Please help

  3. wow… im going to installed this on my xpedia lt26i …i will review the result later

    DONE. It works well. Thanks the guide.
    One more question: I cant find walkman in this. Are there anyway to take it to lollipop?

  4. i believe you got your problem when you had done at step 17 (flash boot.img). Custom recovery is not causing this issue. You can try to flash “step 17 fisrt”, then do “step 10”. After fastboot reboot, press volumn up down for sometimes to go to recovery. Flash rom.zip then let’s enjoy yourself with lollipop…

    Cheer …

    p/s: you have to wait more than 5 mins at the CM logo before go to the android installation.. Lets take the coffee and let your fone do it 🙂

  5. wow..DONE
    I got the problem with google services has been stopped…I only wipe the cache and david cache..

    Maybe this processing the full wipe to work…let’s try

    My bad..i forgot wipe all before flash rom..that’s why …gapps JB cant run on lollipop .. lol…so google service fail for all for sure kakka…

    It works well for now. I don’t see any error…Maybe it will appeara in some next days hahah…thanks the guide

  6. DONE… I dont see any bug for now. Maybe it will be appeare in some next days. Let’s see 🙂
    This is awesome…my xpedia is running lollipop now…
    thanks guide
    enjoying !!! 🙂

    • I’m thinking about installing this ROM, how is it working for you? I’d like to know your feedback. Thx!

  7. Hello. I updated my Xperia S LT26i for this version but i’m having problems. My device has internal storage of 32 GB but the system does not recognize. Any solution?

  8. Help me please! After flashing recovery using the given method (step 10), I can not boot in to system. I can’t access the phone’s internal storage (step 15). Whenever I select the option ‘reboot to system’ it takes me back to the TWRP custom recovery. Please help me.

  9. pls help i have the same problem after flashing the boot.img i cant reboot system dont know whats happening i followed all the steps from the beginning and i got stuck here how can i do it all from the start ?

  10. Hi i have installed lolipop custom rom its running perfectly . but i am having one issue its not showing any media files what i have to do on this ?

  11. Usama Mujtaba thanks bro . but still i am having the issue. if i run any mp3 through Astro File manager its running but i cant find the same file on mp3 player . same issue on videos & pics . and having more issues with this 1st USB not connecting with pc its charging only, 2nd issue :-showing that mobile is not rooted . i have already checked with root checker its also saying that mobile is not rooted as you know without root not able to change rom…

  12. hi! First of, tnx for the instruction. I totally blame myself for not getting it done right 😉 So I’ve just reached up to step XX, only to not get into recovery mode. My fingers are sore from pushing buttons, my nails have split and my headache is getting worse… I’ve tried your suggestion in cmd “adb reboot recovery”, but all I get is “device not found” and my phone is in a continues loop, just the Sony logo on and off. It’s just an old phone I use as a remote, but still… I’d like to get it to work again… I guess I’m screwed? 😉 oh, no leds what so ever and last I checked the battery was up to about 80%…

  13. xperia s lt26i wont boot in flashboot mode, Itried the up button + camera + power and any combination, no reaction. I cannt get any blue light anymore. The disaster begun with the phone suddenly in safe mode and then i realized that the down volume button did not work. Then I tried 3 different sound and volume cards but none helped. I wonder if its life is over. I just wanted to see if I can give it life with a new flash but I cant get in fastboot mode either!

  14. “when giving fastboot flash boot recovery.elf instruction it says phone must be rooted ,but i have already rooted my mobile by using kingo rootapp ‘ ” mobile model is sony experia LT26I ,current version is jelli bean

    • @disqus_sitBGL6D6J:disqus This ROM requires an unlocked bootloader. Your phone probably doesn’t have an unlocked bootloader. That’s why you’re getting this error.

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