Update Xperia Z2 to Android Marshmallow 6.0 AOSP ROM

AOSP Android 6.0 Marshmallow custom ROM has made its way to the Xperia Z2 finally. You can now flash the AOSP custom ROM on your Xperia Z2 and update it to all new Android 6.0 Marshmallow. You can learn to flash Android 6.0 Marshmallow AOSP custom ROM on your Xperia Z2 as you scroll down in the succeeding post.

Xperia Z2 was recently updated to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Sony has also announced its plans to update some of its devices to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Fortunately, Xperia Z2 is one of those lucky devices which are in the queue to get the sweetness of Marshmallows. In case you’ve no idea about what’s the big deal in Marshmallow and why its going to be a major update, you may be interesting in knowing that Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings the core enhancements in the Android OS. It includes new and enhanced security features, enhanced app permissions, doze mode for better battery consumption and a lot of other enhancements to improve the over-all Android experience. Sony will be rolling out this update for all of its Xperia Z flagships from Xperia Z2 onwards. We will be seeing the update coming out in next few months. While Sony is cooking up the official Marshmallow firmware for our beloved Xperia Z2, some of you may be pretty much impatient to wait and may want to check out a look and feel of Marshmallow on their device. In order to get your Xperia Z2 Marshmallowed right now, you can flash the AOSP Marshmallow custom ROM that we just mentioned above.

Let’s go through some pre-installation instructions and then head towards the method to install Android Marshmallow AOSP custom ROM on the Xperia Z2.

Pre-installation instructions

1. This custom ROM is compatible with Xperia Z2 only. Do not try flashing it on any other device.
2. Charger your Xperia Z2 up to 50% to make sure that it doesn’t die during the flashing process.
3. Flash a custom recovery like TWRP or CWM on your Xperia Z2.
4. Create a Nandroid backup of your phone before flashing the custom ROM.
5. Backup your important call logs, contacts, sms messages and media content as well.
6. To know about what’s working and what’s not working on this ROM, checkout its official thread.
7. Follow this guide carefully to flash the Android 6.0 Marshmallow custom ROM successfully on your phone.

Disclaimer: The methods involved in flashing custom recoveries and rooting the device are highly custom. Rooting the device and flashing a custom recover is never recommended by a device manufacturer. In case something goes wrong, TechBeasts or the device manufacturers may not be held responsible. Make sure that you’re doing everything at your own risk.

How To Update Xperia Z2 to Android Marshmallow 6.0 AOSP ROM

• Download Sirius image boot.img file.
• Download AOSP Android Marshmallow ROM files for Xperia Z2.
• Download and install Minimal ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer.

Make sure that you’ve installed Minimal ADB and Fastboot drivers.

1. Now go to your Windows drive (i.e. C drive) > Program files > Minimal ADB & Fastboot folder.
2. Copy all the Sirius image boot.img file, ROM files (boot.img, system.img etc) to this Minimal ADB & Fastboot folder.
3. Now connect your phone to your PC in fastboot mode. To do so, turn off your Xperia Z2 completely. Now press and hold Volume Up and plug the data cable in. Your phone will be connected to your PC in fastboot mode.
4. Now open the Minimal ADB & Fastboot folder from Program files and open “Py_cmd.exe” file.
5. Now in the command window, issue the following commands one by one.

fastboot device

This will verify the connection of your device in fastboot mode.

fastboot flash [sirius]boot.img 

(Replace sirius boot.img with the exact name of the sirius image file)
This will flash the boot into your device in order to make the Marshmallow firmware boot up.

1. Now boot into recovery on your phone. To do so, turn off your phone completely. Now turn it on and see the purple LED, as soon as it blinks press the volume up or down key to boot into recovery.
2. Now in recovery, perform a factory data reset. If you’re coming form Android Lollipop, you need to wipe system using the advanced wipe options in the recovery.
3. Once you’re done wiping, its turn off your phone, and connect it to your computer in fastboot mode using the method explained in step 3.
4. Once you’ve connected your phone in fastboot mode, issue the following commands one by one now.fastboot flash boot boot.img

   (replace boot.img with the name of the boot.img that you found in ROM folder)
   This will flash the boot into your device in order to make the Marshmallow firmware boot up.

   fastboot flash system system.img
   This will flash the AOSP Android Marshmallow system.

   fastboot flash [sirius]boot.img   

   (Replace sirius boot.img with the exact name of the sirius image file)

5. Once all of the above steps are done, reboot your phone.

How To Install Google GApps

1. Download Google GApps for Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
2. Copy the downlaoded GApps.zip file to your Xperia Z2.
3. Now boot into TWRP or CWM recovery on your Xperia Z2. To do so, turn off your phone completely. Now turn it on and as soon as you see the boot screen press Volume Up or Down key to boot into TWRP or CWM.
4. Now depending on your recovery, select the install zip option  and locate the GApps.zip file. Flash the file and reboot.
5. You’re all done and you’ve installed GApps as well.

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