How to flash Xperia Z2/Z3 Lollipop 23.1.A.0.690 ftf using Flashtool Manually ?

Sony rolled Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update on Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet globally yesterday and many users from different regions around the world are now confirming it. So far only Xperia Z3 series and Xperia Z2 series have got Lollipop update.

Yesterday we explained how to download Lollipop firmware using XperiFirm tool, if you haven’t got it yet and today we will let you know how to flash manually Lollipop firmware ftf on your Xperia device.

How to flash Xperia Z2 Lollipop 23.1.A.0.690 ftf?

XperiFirm Tool is used to download Lollipop (or any ordinary firmware) firmware bundle and then creating “firmware ftf” using Flashtool (steps mentioned in this tutorial, use XperiFirm tool if you haven’t got firmware update yet via PC Companion or OTA or you just need ftf file).

How to download Lollipop firmware via XperiFirm Tool and creating ftf using Flashtool?

Now we will use Flashtool to flash manually firmware ftf.

Facts to know:

  • Flashing firmware ftf file on your Xperia device doesn’t void warranty.
  • Flashing ftf file doesn’t require unlocking bootloader of your Xperia device.
  • No root needed.

Pre-requisites:

  • Xperia device.
  • USB cable.
  • PC.
  • Firmware ftf file.

You should do?

  • Take a backup of all your data via PC Companion.

NOTE: We will explain the tutorial taking Xperia Z2 and flashing 23.1.A.0.690 ftf on it. Steps are similar for every Xperia handset on any firmware.

Step 1 – Download Flashtool

Download Flashtool version 0.9.18.5 (or the latest available) from here.

After downloading above Flashtool, install it.

On opening it, it may ask you to move files stored in F:\Flashtool\firmwares to F:\Users\PC NAME\.flashTool\firmware (Do move the ftf stored if asked to do so).

Wait then till it syncs the devices list (if it don’t syncs because you are not connected to internet, then leave it. It is not mandatory to do sync).

Create ftf via FlashTool

How to use Xperia Flashtool to update Lollipop

Step 2 – Download Firmware Ftf file

For D6502 INDIA region

Download D6502_23.1.A.0.690_INDIA_GIZMOBOLT.ftf

Step 3 – Put your above download firmware ftf in “F:\Users\PC NAME\.flashTool\firmware” folder

Additional Step :- Install Drivers

Install Drivers from the folder named “Flashtool Drivers” in the location where Flashtool is installed OR just install PC Companion on your PC and connect your device with it and then remove it.

Step 4 – Open FlashTool

Now Open Flashtool. See the “Black Lightning Thunder icon” at the top left corner. Click on it.

How to flash Xperia Z2 Lollipop firmware

Step 5 – Choose Flashmode from Bootmode chooser

Now choose flashmode from given two options.

Xperia Z2 Lollipop firmware flashing manually

Step 6 – You will now automatically see your download firmware ftf file in the “firmware” section (left hand side) of Flashtool window. Select your firmware.

Step 7 – Wipe data if you wish

See the right hand side of window under the “Wipe” tag, all three options are checked if, will delete all user data.

How to flash 23.1.A.0.690 firmware on Xperia Z2 using Flashtool

So if you don’t want to delete all user user data and don’t want a factory reset then you should uncheck them.

Flash Lollipop 23.1.A.0.690 ftf on Xperia Z2

Wiping full data is recommended, though (if you have backup).

Do it: Click on “Flash” button.

Step 8 – Preparing files for flashing

After clicking on “Flash” Button in above step, now FlashTool will prepare firmware ftf selected for flashing.

How to update Xperia Z2 on Android Lollipop

Step 9 – Connecting phone in FlashMode.

Important: Now enable USB Debugging on your phone and enable unknown sources option in your Xperia device and switch it off.

When prompted the notification of connecting your phone, connect it in flashmode (as chosen above)

How to do ? Press Volume down button and then insert usb in phone, you will see red and green light blink once, it means phone is connected in flashmode now.

How to connect Xperia Z2 in flashmode

As soon as phone is detected by Flashtool, flashing beings and wait till it is finished.

WARNING: Do not cancel the process in between once flashing has started or it will result in boot loop or device not booting up at all.

Update Xperia Z2 on 23.1.A.0.690 using Flashtool

Disconnect phone as soon as flashing is finished.

Step – 10 Disconnect phone

Now reboot your phone. First reboot after the update will take some time.

Flash 23.1.A.0.690 ftf on Xperia Z2

You must have Android 5.0.2 Lollipop 23.1.A.0.690 firmware installed on your Xperia Z2 now.

Xperia Z2 Lollipop update INDIA

Try the above mentioned steps carefully, let us know if you are stuck anywhere. Drop your comments below.

Install Xperia Z2 What’s New, Movie Creator, Sony Podcast, Simple Home apps on Xperia devices

Xperia Z2’s many KitKat features and apps have been ported to other Xperia smartphones running android 4.3+ today viz. Xperia Z2 Smart call handling feature port, Xperia Z2 Camera apps Addons port – Creative Effects, AR Effect 2.0.4 , Background Defocus 1.1.7, TimeShift Video port and Xperia Z2 KitKat Media apps viz. Movies 6.1.A.0.4 and Walkman 8.1.A.0.4 app port on rooted Xperia smartphones and Xperia Z2 Phone Answering Machine port.

Now a few more Xperia Z2 KitKat apps like What’s New, Movie Creator 1.1.A.0.1 version, Sony Podcast 1.1.A.0.0 version, Simple Home 1.0 version have been ported to Xperia devices booth rooted as well as unrooted devices by XDA Dev Levered. Unrooted Xperia Smartphone users running android 4.3+ can now install atleast below mentioned 4 Xperia Z2 KitKat apps.

Download Xperia Z2 KitKat apps

Below mentioned 4 files work on both rooted as well as unrooted devices. Install like a normal apk.

Download Xperia Z2 What’s New app

Download SonyEntrance.apk 

Access “What’s New” app from the app drawer like you launch Google Now.

Xperia Z2 What's New app

Download Xperia Z2 Movie Creator app

Movie Creator 1.1.A.0.1 version

Download Movie Creator.apk

Go to Album app, select any movie and then you will see below an option to edit movies like you can trim them or slow any portion of it.

Xperia Z2 Movie Creator 1.1.A.0.1 version

Download Xperia Z2 Simple Home Launcher

Simple Home 1.0 version

Download SimpleHome.apk

Now you can access to Xperia Home launcher, Simple Home is such a launcher.

Xperia Z2 Simple Home 1.0 version

Xperia Z2 Simple Home Launcher

Xperia Simple Home Launcher

Download Xperia Z2 Sony Podcast app

Sony Podcast 1.1.A.0.0 version

Download SomcPodcast.apk

You can access this app from new Movies 6.1.A.0.4 app only.

#For Rooted users

If any of above is not installing or giving FC, flash the below mentioned files.

Download Media Apps Lib v2.zip

As soon as more Xperia Z2 KitKat apps and features are ported we will post them here, stay tuned till then 🙂 They worked fine on non-rooted Xperia Z1, Xperia SP, Z, you can also try on Xperia ZR, ZL, Z Ultra, L, M, C etc. Great work by Levered once again 🙂

Do let us know if above apps worked on your handset especially nonrooted users. Drop your comments below.

Install Xperia Z2 Phone Answering Machine port on Xperia Smartphones

We have seen so many Xperia Z2 features and apps getting ported till now like Xperia Z2 Smart call handling feature port, Xperia Z2 Camera apps Addons port – Creative Effects, AR Effect 2.0.4 , Background Defocus 1.1.7, TimeShift Video port and Xperia Z2 KitKat Media apps viz. Movies 6.1.A.0.4 and Walkman 8.1.A.0.4 app port on rooted Xperia smartphones but now comes the most interesting one of all i.e. Xperia Z2 Phone Answering Machine port.

XDA dev Levered has made this Xperia Z2 Phone Answering Machine port and it is working fine on Xperia SP, though will work on other rooted Xperia Smartphones also. Let’s see how you can install this port. It works only for devices featuring android 4.3 or above.

To install Xperia Z2 Phone Answering Machine port, your device must be rooted. Download the below mentioned file.

Download Phone Z2.zip

Extract it and push SemcPhone.apk in System/App folder and then navigate to System/etc folder and extract the all content of etc folder of above downloaded zip folder in in System/etc.

Xperia Z2 Phone Answering Machine port

Make a backup of everything you add and replace or you may end up getting bootloop if done anything wrong. Check the official thread by Developer on XDA for any doubt. All credits to Levered for his hard work 🙂

Try it fellas and let us know if it worked on your device or not. Drop your comments below.

Install Xperia Z2 Camera apps port – Creative Effects, AR Effect 2.0.4 , Background Defocus 1.1.7

Xperia Z2 has been announced officially and just a few days after its launch we saw Xperia Z2 System Dump from 17.1.A.0.289 firmware Android 4.4.2 KitKat getting leaked and at the very same moment developers started porting apps from Xperia Z2 System Dump to other Xperia smartphones. We have already seen Xperia Z2 Smart call handling feature getting ported on Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and for some users it worked on other handsets like Xperia SP and Xperia Z also.

Just now XDA dev xperiaz2 has made Xperia Z2 Social Camera apps Addons port for many Xperia smartphones. It includes apps viz. Creative Effects, AR Effect 2.0.4 , Background Defocus 1.1.7. Some works on rooted handsets and some work on non rooted handsets so you need to have CWM to install below port. If ROM is deodexed it would be great.

How to Install Install Xperia Z2 Camera apps Addons

To install given below mentioned apps, you must have Xperia Social Camera app on your device. It can be installed on devices like Xperia Z, Z1, Z Ultra,V,TX, SP, M, L, ZR etc.

Back up your default apps in case you are replacing any with the modded ones.

#For Non-Rooted Handsets

Background Defocus 1.1.7 – At present Background Defocus 1.1.6 app is available on Xperia Z1S and a slight higher version is seen on Xperia Z2.

Download xperiaz2bgdefocusunroot.apk

#For Rooted Handsets

Flash below mentioned file in CWM recovery.

Download XperiaZ2SmartSocialCamera.zip

Move apk to System/App , set permissions rw-r-r, reboot.

Download Background Defocus 1.1.7

Download backgrounddefocusxz2.apk

Download Download Background Defocus 1.1.11 [ NEW VERSION ]

Download newbgdefocus.apk

Download Creative Effects

Flash via CWM recovery or manually move apk to System/App , set permissions rw-r-r, reboot.

Download XperiaZ2CreativeEffect.zip

Download Creative Effects [ NEW VERSION ]

Push in system/app

Download ArtFilterCamera.apk

Download AR Effect 2.0.4

Move apk to System/App , set permissions rw-r-r, reboot.

Download areffectxperiaz2.apk

Download AR Effect  2.0.7 [ NEW VERSION ]

Move apk to System/App , set permissions rw-r-r, reboot.

Download newarffect.apk

Flash AR Effect libraries via CWM recovery.

Download XperiaZ2AREffectLibs.zip

Xperia Z2 Camera apps port

Download TimesShift Video

Below app is giving FC sometimes, so try it at your own risk as per XDA dev Levered.

Download TimeShiftCamera_test.apk

We hope to see Timeshift Video app and 4K camera ported to Xperia Z1 and other compatible devices very soon.  All credits goes to developer for his hard work on these ports 🙂

If you are getting force close error on any apps, mention it below. Try the above apps and do let us know if they worked on your handset, mention the name of handset also. Drop your comments below.

Install Xperia Z2 Smart call handling port on Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact

A few moments ago we shared Xperia Z2 System Dump from Android 4.4.2 KitKat 17.1.A.0.289 firmware and the development process has begun already. XDA Dev RyokoN has ported Xperia Z2 Smart call handling feature on Xperia Z1 and it works fine. Your Xperia Z1 needs to have root in order to install this port.

Xperia Z2 Smart call handling features lets users answer the calls without touching the screen, to answer the calls bring the phone near to ear, to reject the calls just shake the device and silent the phone by just placing it face-down. Check the Xperia Z2 Smart call handling port installation steps from below.

How to install Xperia Z2 Smart call handling port

Note :- Confirmed working on Xperia Z1, Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 Compact.

Download below mentioned both files.

Download Intelli_signed.zip – Flashable Zip

Download Gesture.2.apk – Installable App

  • Flash the Intelli_signed.zip file on your device in recovery.
  • Install the Gesture.2.apk.
  • Open the Gesture app and enable it.

Xperia Z2 Smart call handling port

It’s done now you are ready to use Xperia Z2 Smart call handling port on your Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z1 Compact.

Let us know if the above Xperia Z2 Smart call handling port worked on your Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z1 Compact. Drop your comments below.