Flashing phones using the FlashTool program. Firmware for Sony Xperia smartphone using Flashtool Flashtool firmware installation

This instruction will help you update your device or return to previous version software.

First steps

1. Make sure your smartphone Sony Xperia fully charged (preferably).

2. Make sure you are using the USB cable that came in the box (the original one).

3. Download and install Flashtool:

After installing the program, a shortcut should appear on your desktop. If this does not happen, look for Flashtool in the root directory of your computer - usually this is C:/Flashtool

4. Install drivers from the Flashtool folder - C:/Flashtool/drivers/ Flashtool-drivers.exe

If you have problems installing drivers on your Windows 10, 8.1 or 8- follow.

5. Download the firmware for your Sony smartphone Xperia format .ftf(firmware can be found on the Internet or on the 4PDA website) and put it in a folder From:/Flashtool/firmwares/

Since version Flashtool 0.9.18.5 The firmware file must be placed in a folder
C:/Users/Username/.flashtool/firmwares/

Firmware process

1. Launch Flashtool.

2. After launching the program, click on the lightning icon. In the window that appears, select and click on "OK"

3. On the left side of the window, select firmware. In point Wipe check the boxes "DATA", "CACHE" And "APPSLOG". Click "Flash"

4. In a new window you will see graphic instructions for your actions: turn off the phone and hold down the volume button DOWN, to plug USB cable to the computer. Next will be the firmware process.

5. We are waiting for a message about successful firmware " Flashing finished«.

6. Disconnect the smartphone from the computer. After flashing the firmware, turning on the smartphone for the first time will last about 2-3 minutes. Don't panic and wait for the OS to load.

Attention!

All your personal data - music, photos and videos located on internal memory smartphone will be deleted, including call log, contacts, SMS, etc.

Note from anonymous guest - In addition to the article

I would like to report on the work done. "PotsiEnt" - xperia M2 dual (2302), vaccination - official firmware Orthodox kit-kat (4.4.4), operating table - win7 x64. "Shoals" that I encountered:

1) when installing drivers from flashtool\drivers, pay attention to the following - first, in the file properties, in compatibility, specify compatibility with Vista and run as administrator;

2) when installing drivers selectively, black magic appears and nothing works, I checked all the boxes - it took off (Window screams at every driver, they say, it’s counterfeit, we select “install this driver anyway”);

3) in flashtool, when you have selected the firmware, check all the checkboxes in the wipe section on the right (they are not there by default), do not check them in other places. (if you do not complete this step, you will get an endless download, “it won’t take off”);

4) the topic contains the phrase “the first download takes a very long time.” To clarify, if the download takes more than 10 minutes, it means something went wrong;

5) if something goes wrong, you need to press the off button with something sharp (I mean a pointed match), which is next to the SIM card slots (under the lid) and start all over again.

As a result of the operation, I have a wonderful smart phone with an excellent system, everything is shining and working. With one hand I import contacts with the SIM, with the other I happily wipe away my tears.

Note from Strikeresh - If it gives an error “this bundle is not valid”

So that's it. Hey guys. It's 2018, I bought a new Z2) updated to Android 6, but yes, as some said, the sound volume was not enough. Before this I specially checked, on the 4th it’s really much louder and everything is fine. And somehow the battery was draining suspiciously...
Decided to roll back, shoveled a bunch of things
I did everything strictly according to the instructions. It couldn't be stricter.
Yes, there was an error: - ERROR - root: this bundle is not valid
We ignore her
I didn't succeed the first time. Lol
when I connected it to the laptop, Windows started to install some driver, but the program reported a failure
But I didn't chicken out and tried everything again
It worked. The loading bar has started. At 90 percent, it stopped abruptly and did not move. My soul went to hell) but fortunately, after thinking for a minute or two, everything ended successfully, and the cherished words about “Flashing finished” appeared in front of me. The phone has just started up, yes, you need to wait, surfing on the beautiful blue waves, this is normal. In the end, everything turned out better than ever.
Don’t be afraid to try, and thanks to the site owners for everything. Guys, from the heart!

Everything you do, you do at your own peril and risk! We are not responsible for your “crooked hands”! If for some reason you damage your device, only YOU will be to blame!

Can be changed using the SP program Flash Tool. It is suitable for Sony devices on Android based. Modern telephone has many different functions. And it's not just calls and SMS messages. With such devices you can go online, chat, watch videos, find out news, and use navigators. Very often operating systems are released with updated options, a more convenient interface, and new features. If you want to try them, it will be useful to know how to flash your phone using Flashtool. For this you will need a computer.

The firmware needs to be changed if it doesn't work. The device slows down, freezes, turns off without the user’s knowledge, or resets settings on its own, does not open system or installed applications. Of course, problems may be related to hardware failure of the gadget. But before you take it to a repair service or buy a new one, try downloading a new OS.

Incorrect firmware using flashtool can end badly for the device. Firmware download via third party programs sometimes leads to errors. The same problems arise if you install custom software. These are unofficial programs that are created by users themselves. So go to new system, if you are absolutely sure that it works. If the device is under warranty, neither the manufacturer nor the seller will be responsible for incorrect downloading of the program.

SP is not compatible with some types of smartphones. It works perfectly with the entire Xperia line. Even with older models. But it is absolutely not suitable for Samsung devices - they need the ODIN program to change the OS.

Before flashing your phone using Flashtool, do the following:


Before downloading the Firmware, you need to configure your phone:


Further actions depend on the software version.

Firmware via “classic” FlashTool

Here's how to install the firmware via FlashTool:

  1. Launch the program.
  2. In the “Options” menu, select the port (COM Port) to which you previously connected the phone.
  3. The “Download Agent” line will automatically indicate the path to the file with the .bin extension.
  4. Click the “Scatter-loading” button and select the txt file in the directory where the firmware is located. It is usually called "[Device Model]_Android_scatter_emmc.txt".
  5. Turn off your phone. Remove and insert the battery.
  6. Connect it to your computer using a USB cable.
  7. The Firmware download should start automatically.
  8. If this does not happen, disconnect the device from the PC, remove and install the battery again and try installing the new OS again.
  9. Turn on your phone. The system will not boot immediately.

FlashTool 0.9.x

  1. Unpack the archive containing the firmware (there should be a file in .FTF format) into the /flashtool/firmwares folder. That is, in the root directory of this program.
  2. Launch it.
  3. Click on the button with the lightning icon.
  4. Mark the “Flashmode” item with a marker and confirm the action.
  5. The “Sourse Folder” field must indicate the path to the Firmware. If it is not there, click on the ellipses icon and find the directory with the FTF file manually.
  6. On the left there will be a list of software versions. Select the firmware you need.
  7. Click on the Flash button below.
  8. Tool will begin preparing for downloading. The information window will say “Preparing files for flashing”.
  9. After a few minutes, the “Waiting for Flashmode” notification will pop up.
  10. Turn off your phone.
  11. Press and hold the Volume Down button.
  12. Without releasing it, connect the device to the PC.
  13. Flash Tool will automatically download the Firmware. When the process is completed, the message “Flashing finished” will appear.

Firmware should be rearranged only as a last resort. Since this may cause various problems and errors. There is a risk that after an unsuccessful installation, the phone cannot be restored.

Do not disconnect the device from the PC during loading, do not interrupt it. If Flash Tool does not install the firmware, it may be a driver or operating system version issue. Try using different software.

Creating an FTF file

Firmware files can be turned into an FTF image. This method is for Xperia models. To get software for your device, you need XperiaFirm and Flash Tool 0.9.x.

  1. Find it on the Internet, download and run it.
  2. Select your gadget model from the list on the left.
  3. Click on the "Check All" button at the top. A list of firmware for all countries and operators will be displayed.
  4. Click on the Firmware build number you need.
  5. Versions will appear on the right. Click on one of them.
  6. A “Downloader” window will open with information about the software. Remember or write it down. In particular, the lines “Market” and “Release”. This will come in handy later.
  7. Check the box “Unpack automatically”.
  8. Click "Download".
  9. Specify the directory where you want to save the files.

Now you need to act through FlashTool.

  1. Launch the program.
  2. If an error appears, delete everything from the Firmwares folder and try again.
  3. Go to Tool - Bundles - Create.
  4. In the “Select source folder” field, click on the button with the ellipsis.
  5. Specify the path to the folder with the firmware. Its files will appear in the list on the left.
  6. Double-click on the line next to the word “Device”. Select your gadget model.
  7. Now you will need the build data you recorded earlier. In the “Branding” field enter the value from “Market”, in the “Version” field - the value from “Release”.
  8. In the Folder list, select all the files and click on the right arrow icon. They should appear in the “Firmware content” section.
  9. Click on “Create” and wait for the process to complete.
  10. The FTF file will be placed in the Firmwares folder.

With the Flash Tool you can reflash Sony smartphones without any extra effort. But if you install Firmware incorrectly, failures and errors may occur. Therefore, this must be done carefully, following the instructions.

FlashTool program is powerful tool, designed for flashing smartphones running on the MediaTek chipset. With this application you can install more on your device new version operating system, or completely replace it with a custom one (modified by third-party developers).

However, this whole process is accompanied by a certain risk, and one wrong action can lead to your smartphone turning into a useless “brick”. To prevent this from happening, please read this article carefully. From it you will learn how to flash via FlashTool correctly and not risk your phone needlessly.

Determining the processor model

As mentioned earlier, FlashTool only works with MediaTek-based devices. In view of this feature, it is important to make sure that your smartphone is equipped with a processor from this manufacturer, otherwise the firmware program may not interact with it correctly. This, in turn, is fraught with serious consequences.

To determine the processor model, you will need special application- CPU-Z. It can be downloaded for free from Play Market, so this process should not cause you any difficulties. After you download and install the program, do the following:

  1. Launch CPU-Z on your smartphone.
  2. Wait a few minutes while the program collects information about the device.
  3. Go to the SOC tab and pay attention to the very top line. This is where your processor model will be displayed.

If the line mentioned above says MediaTek, then your smartphone is suitable for working with the program. But still, before flashing via FlashTool, you need to do a few more important actions. They will be discussed below.

Preparation

It is important to know that flashing your smartphone's firmware will cause it to return to its factory settings. In other words, all information stored on the device will be deleted and cannot be restored. To prevent this from becoming a problem for you, do the following:

  • Save all contacts from your phone book. They can be transferred to your computer using special programs or synchronize with your Google account.
  • Copy all important photos, documents and videos to your computer.
  • Check if there is any content left in the SMS important information(passwords from payment systems, bank codes, etc.). If there is one, then it is better to rewrite it.
  • Check the calendar for significant dates.
  • If you have any left setup files some rare programs, you can copy them to your computer before flashing them through FlashTool.

Don't neglect these simple tips, because they will help you save time and nerves. It is better to go through all the points several times, and only after that proceed with the firmware.

Setting up the operating system

Before that, how to flash Android via FlashTool, you need to set some operating system settings. The fact is that Windows does not perceive smartphone drivers very adequately, so it is necessary to cancel the check digital signatures. This is done like this:

  1. Run command line(Administrator).
  2. Write the command gpedit.msc for a 32-bit OS or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\gpedit.msc for a 64-bit OS. Press Enter.
  3. The “Editor” will open in front of you group policy" Here you need to select “User Configuration”, then “Administrative Templates”, and then “System”.
  4. Now click “Install Driver”, and then select “Digital Signature”.
  5. In the window that opens, select “Disable”.
  6. Click "Ok" and confirm the changes made.

Now operating system will not “swear” at the smartphone driver, and the firmware program will be able to work normally.

Installing smartphone drivers

At this stage, you need to download and install a driver for your device that will allow it to interact normally with the computer. You should look for it in the following places:

  • First of all, you need to look for the driver on the website of the manufacturer of your device. This way you can be sure that you won't get a computer virus.
  • Sometimes the driver can be found on the disk that comes with some phone models. If so, then you need to insert the CD into your computer drive and follow the prompts.
  • If the above two methods do not suit you, you can search for the driver on thematic forums. Keep in mind, that in this way you risk the security of not only your phone, but also your computer. Therefore, be sure to check all downloaded files for viruses before installing them.

Once you find the driver, you should download and install it. This is done by double-clicking on the archive and should not cause any difficulties. But sometimes problems still arise, so such cases should be given special attention.

Problems installing drivers

It often happens that the driver does not want to be installed in any way. In fact, there is nothing wrong with this, and the problem can be solved quite simply. Namely:

  1. Disconnect the data cable from your computer and phone.
  2. Turn off your smartphone and remove the battery. You do not need to remove the memory card and SIM card.
  3. Open Device Manager on your PC.
  4. Place the driver files in any location convenient for you.
  5. Without inserting the battery, connect your phone to your computer and get ready.
  6. Just for a few seconds, a new device will appear in the manager. You need to have time to right-click on it and select the “Update driver” line.
  7. Now just specify the path to the driver files and wait for the installation process to complete.

If you did not manage to update the phone driver in time and the device disappeared from the manager, you need to repeat the entire procedure again, starting from step 5.

Firmware search

Now it's time to find and download the firmware that you will install on your smartphone. Here you have two options: use official software or custom one. In the first case, just go to the website of the phone manufacturer and find Last update for your model. But if you decide to use custom firmware, then you should follow a few simple rules:

  • Make sure that the selected firmware is suitable for your smartphone model. Failure to comply with this condition is fraught with serious problems, including turning the phone into a “dead” piece of plastic.
  • Download files only from reputable sites and forums. In this case, even if some problem arises, you can count on the help of software developers.
  • Carefully study the firmware reviews left by other users. It’s better not to take risks if there are many negative ones among them.
  • Make sure that the smartphone firmware installed on you is older than the one you are going to download.

Remember, by following these simple rules, you will protect your phone from unnecessary damage.

Creating a Backup

Most users do not experience any problems during the flashing process and the entire process goes smoothly. But it’s still better to prepare in advance for unforeseen situations, because no one is immune from them. To do this, you need to create a backup copy of your smartphone's system files before flashing it via FlashTool. For this:

  1. Connect your phone to your computer.
  2. Select the reading speed.
  3. Specify the NOR read type.
  4. Go to the Read back tab and click Add. Create a file backup copy, giving it any name. After that, click Save.
  5. A window will appear in front of you in which you should specify the size of the data to be read in the Length field. First, try entering the value 0x01000000, and if that doesn’t work, then 0x02000000.
  6. Unplug your phone from the cable and turn it off. Take out the battery, insert it back, and then reconnect the smartphone to the data cable (without turning it on).
  7. Press and immediately release the power button on your smartphone.

If you did everything correctly, the backup process will begin. Be sure to wait for it to finish.

Device firmware

If you have thought about everything and prepared, then you have no choice but to flash through FlashTool. The instructions for this procedure are actually not that complicated, and they look like this:

  1. Launch FalshTool and click Scatter-loading.
  2. Specify the path to the file MTxxxx_Android_scatter_emmc.txt (instead of “xxxx” there will be numbers corresponding to the processor model of your device). Click "Open".
  3. Be sure to check the DA DL All With Check Sum checkbox. Otherwise, you risk “killing” your smartphone.
  4. Click the Firmware-Upgrade button and connect the switched off phone.
  5. Multi-colored loading bars will appear at the bottom of the program's main menu.
  6. As soon as the firmware process is completed, a green circle will appear on the screen, indicating a successful operation.

Now you can disconnect your smartphone from the data cable and use it. Keep in mind that turning on your phone for the first time sometimes takes quite a long time, so don't worry if this happens to you.

By the way, if you don’t know, through FlashTool, then you can use the same instructions. It is equally valid for all Android devices.

Firmware for Chinese phones

How to flash a Chinese phone using FlashTool? This can also be done, but this procedure is somewhat different from the standard one; it will be discussed separately. Here it is important to know the following:

  • Never click the Memory Test button in FlashTool. For some reason Chinese phones do not respond adequately to this operation, and it may happen that the firmware is erased beyond recovery.
  • Carefully study the information about the firmware on the site from which you download it. It is possible that there are bugs in it that can cause you serious problems.
  • Do not try to install firmware from another device on your smartphone. So you risk ruining it, and it’s not a fact that you will be able to return the phone to working condition.

Also, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to contact your nearest service center. Chinese smartphones very specific, so let specialists deal with them.

Actions after flashing

After flashing your phone is completed, you need to perform a few more simple steps:

  • Don't forget to set the current time and date.
  • Link your device to your Google account. This is especially useful if you have synced your phone book with it.
  • It will be better if you format the memory card. They can stay on it system files from the previous firmware, which do nothing useful, but only take up free space.

That's basically it. Now you can enjoy the new firmware, which will undoubtedly make your smartphone work in a new way.

This instruction is primarily intended for owners of Xperia X, Xperia Z5, Xperia XZ and other smartphones who, for some reason, were unable to update their devices to Android 7.0 Nougat via PC Companion or over the air. This happens if the purchased device was originally intended for a specific mobile operator. Then you can wait for the update for many months until the operator’s service deigns to distribute the update to “its” clients.

Secondly, the instructions will be needed by those people who, for some reason, did not like Android 7.0 Nougat, its design, functionality, or so on. Using FlashTool you can easily roll back to old firmware based on Android 6.0.2 Marshmallow.

WARNING!

When you start flashing your Xperia smartphone or tablet via FlashTool, remember that responsibility for all actions taken lies solely with YOU. Understand the issue thoroughly before installing the firmware.

If, as a result of imprudent actions, instead of an updated Xperia device you receive a brick, then you should not blame the site. All responsibility lies entirely with YOU.

When installing firmware via FlashTool, the warranty is not lost and does not affect service in any way.

How to flash a Sony Xperia device with new firmware. Simple step-by-step instructions for installing firmware via FlashTool

First you need to prepare the device:

  1. Enable USB debugging. Go to Settings > Options for developers (if there is no option, go to the “About phone” section and click on the “Build number” item several times), find the line “USB debugging” and check the box.
  2. Go to Settings > Security and enable Unknown Sources mode.
  3. Your Xperia device must have all the drivers required specifically for your model installed. It is best to simply install the PC Companion program on your computer and synchronize them with each other.

Where to get Xperia firmware for installation via FlashTool

There are two options:

First. You can download from a special page on the website; it contains the vast majority of ready-made firmware images for Xperia devices in .ftf format. It is in this form that the firmware is installed via FlashTool.

Full list of Xperia firmwares

Second. Download the firmware yourself using the XperiaFirm utility, and then convert the downloaded files into an ftf image for subsequent flashing.

Obtaining firmware via XperiFirm

This is just a super application, the developers of which we shake hands with.

  1. Download latest version of XperiFirm on Xda Developers.
  2. The program does not require installation; it opens as a self-extracting package. After launch, the main menu appears, on the left side you can see a list of Sony Xperia device models (1). At the top, click on the “Check All” button so that the application detects the latest firmware versions for various countries, including carriers. Click on the “Latest Release” column (2) and you will see the latest firmware at the top of the list. Select the firmware of interest in the Operator column, for example Customized_RU or Customized_UA (these will be unlocked versions of firmware for the regions of Russia and Ukraine). Take operator firmware There is no point, updates arrive on them with a long delay or do not arrive at all. After selecting the desired assembly, clicking on it, you will see suggested versions of assemblies in the far right column (3), click on the one you need.
  3. After this, a window will appear, click on the “Download” button in it (after checking the “Unpack automatically” box).
  4. Next, select a folder to download files.
  5. After this, the download of all firmware files will begin. At the end of the process, a special notification window will appear. Write down the values ​​of the “Market” and “Release” lines that were displayed when loading the firmware, this data will then be used when generating the firmware files in the .ftf image.

  6. Then go to the folder that was selected for downloading and check whether it contains necessary files. Example: screenshot below.

Creating an FTF image of Xperia firmware using FlashTool

  1. You need to download and install Flashtool (0.9.23.0) (follow the link).
  2. After installation, launch the program. To do this, go to its installation folder in “C:\Flashtool” and click on the FlashTool.exe file. If an error occurs, clear the contents of the “C:\Flashtool\firmwares” folder.
  3. After opening FlashTool, go to the Tools > Bundles > Create tab, as shown in the screenshot.
  4. In the new window, click on the small button with 3 dots in the “Select source folder” line and select the folder with the previously downloaded firmware.

  5. You will see that all files are uploaded to the “folder list” field. Next, double-click on the hidden line “Devices” and select your Xperia device model.

  6. In the “Branding” and “Version” lines, insert the values ​​that you needed to remember earlier when downloading the firmware.

  7. Select ALL files (don't forget to check) in the “folder list” field and click on the right arrow button. This will transfer all files to the "Firmware content" field. Next, click the “Create” button and the firmware compilation process will begin.

  8. After completing the procedure for creating an FTF firmware image, a special inscription will appear (see screenshot). The finished firmware in .ftf format should appear in the folder “C:\Users\Nickname of your computer\.flashTool\firmwares\”.


Installing firmware on Xperia devices using FlashTool

So, you already have ready-made firmware in FTF format, which you downloaded ready-made or created yourself. All that remains is to install it on your Xperia device.