Update Xperia Sola MT27i to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with SlimLP Custom ROM

Android Power users are well aware of the SlimKat custom ROM. It was a modification of the Stock Android to remove all useless features and make a light and blazing fast firmware for smartphones. SlimLP is the updated version based on Android 5.0.x Lollipop and it is now available for Xperia Sola MT27i. SlimLP for Xperia Sola is officially supported and weekly released are there so this is one of the recommended Lollipop based custom ROMs for Xperia Sola. If you are looking for a custom ROM that is both fast and light, then this is the best choice at this time. Xperia Sola can be updated to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with SlimLP custom ROM. Note that this ROM is for MT27i only. Do not attempt to install it on any other smartphone or another variant of Xperia Sola. Now just follow the guide given below to install SlimLP custom ROM on MT27i Xperia Sola.

Requirements

• Unlock Bootloader of Xperia Sola. 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 Sola 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

• SlimLP Android 5.0.2 Lollipop ROM Xperia Sola MT27i (Download Latest Build)
• Android 5.0 Lollipop Gapps

Steps to Install SlimLP on Xperia Sola MT27i

1. Make sure that bootloader is unlocked and phone is charged to 50% at least.
2. Extract boot.img from ROM zip.
3. Copy ROM zip and Gapps zip to phone’s internal memory.
4. Now turn off phone wait for 5 seconds.
5. Hold volume up button and connect phone to PC.
6. The LED should remain blue, which means that phone is in fastboot mode.
7. Now copy boot.img to Fastboot folder or Minimal ADB and Fastboot installation folder.
8. Open that folder, hold shift button on keyboard and right-click on mouse.
9. Click on Open Command Window Here.
10. Type fastboot devices and press Enter.
11. 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.
12. Now type fastboot flash boot boot.img and press Enter.
13. Type fastboot reboot and press Enter.
14. While phone is booting up, press Volume up/down/power to enter recovery mode.
15. Go to Mount and uncheck System.
16. Wipe Dalvik Cache from Advanced.
17. In the recovery mode, select Install and navigate to the folder where ROM zip is placed.
18. Install the ROM zip.
19. Install Gapps zip the same way and reboot the phone.
20. Performing factory reset and wiping Dalvik cache after installing ROM is highly recommended!
21. The phone will boot up to home screen in 5 minutes.
22. 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.
23. That’s all!

Got any question? Ask me in the comments below 🙂