Sony’s Xperia Z1 Compact D550

Sony has released an update to Android 5.0.4 Lollipop for their Xperia Z1 compact.  This update carries build number 14.5.A.0.242 5.0.2.

If you have updated your Xperia Z1 Compact, you may have realized that you have lost root access.  In this post, we are going to show you how to regain root access on an Xperia Z1 D5503 with 14.5.A.0.242 5.0.2 firmware.  We will also show you how you can install custom recovery on this device.

Before we begin, we would like to caution you that these methods we are going to describe below are only for the Xperia Z1 Compact D5503.  Using them with any other device could brick the device.

Prepare your phone:

1. Make sure that you charge your phone so it has a little more than 60 percent of its battery life. This is to prevent it from running out of power before the flashing process completes.
2. Back up the following:
   • Contacts
   • Call logs
   • SMS messages
   • Media – copy files manually to a PC/laptop
3. Enable your phones USB debugging mode by going to Settings>Developer Options>USB debugging. If you don’t see Developer Options, that means it is not yet activated.  To activate go  to About Device and look for the Build Number.  Tap the build number seven times then go back to Settings.
4. Install and setup Sony Flashtool. Open Flashtool>Drivers>Flashtool-drivers.exe.  Install the following drivers:
   • Flashtool
   • Fastboot
   • Xperia Z1 Compact

If you don’t see Flashtool drivers in Flashmode, skip this step and instead install Sony PC Companion

5. Have an original OEM data cable to make the connection between your phone and a PC or laptop.
6. Unlock your phone’s bootloader
7. Set up ADB and Fastboot drivers in your computer.

Note: The methods needed to flash custom recoveries, roms and to root your phone can result in bricking your device.  Rooting your device will also void the warranty and it will no longer be eligible for free device services from manufacturers or warranty providers.  Be responsible and keep these in mind before you decide to proceed on your own responsibility.  In case a mishap occurs, we or the device manufacturers should never be held responsible.

Root Xperia Z1 Compact D5503 14.5.A.0.242 Firmware

1. Install Custom Recovery

1. Download Root+Recovery+BusyBox Zip here.  Copy the downloaded file to your phone’s internal storage.
2. Download CM11 ROM for Xperia Z1 Compact here. Extract boot.img then place it anywhere on the PC.
3. Copy boot.img to Fastboot folder or Minimal ADB Installation Folder.
4. Turn off your phone.
5. Holding the volume up button, use the USB cable to connect your phone to your PC.
6. If you’ve connected your phone properly to your computer, the LED should turn blue.  A blue or yellow LED means that your phone is in fastboot mode. Your phone will also stop charging. If the LED light does not change or your phone does not stop charging, your fastboot drivers have not been installed correctly.  Re-install them and start over.
7. Open fastboot folder where you placed the boot.img in step 3.
8. Holding down the shift button on your keyboard, right-click with your mouse anywhere on the screen.
9. Click “Open Command Window Here”
10. Type “fastboot devices” in the command window and then press Enter
11. If you see only one device with a random serial number, you can continue on to the next step. If there is more than one device, uninstall any Android Emulators you have on your PC and disconnect any other devices. Also uninstall PC Companion.
12. Type fastboot flash boot boot.img and then press Enter.
13. Flashing should begin and will finish in a few seconds.
14. Type fastboot reboot and then press Enter.
15. While phone reboots use the volume buttons or power button to boot into custom recovery.
16. From recovery, select install and install the package you copied in step1.
17. Select recovery you want to install during flashing.
18. After recovery is installed, reboot your device.  Move on to the next step.

2. Root Xperia Z1 Compact .242 Firmware

1. Download SuperSU flashable zip.  Place it on your phone’s SD memory.
2. Turn phone off.
3. Turn phone on.  While it is turning on, press the volume and power buttons.  This will enable you to enter recovery mode.
4. In recovery, tap install and find the folder you placed the SuperSU zip in.
5. Click Install and SuperSU app will be installed. Phone will also be rooted automatically
6. Go back to main menu and reboot device.

Your Xperia Z1 Compact should now be rooted and have custom recovery.

Share your experience in the comments box below.

JR