Anyways easy peasy, this is how I did it. Ok here goes the steps...
**Disclaimer**
(No phones were abused in the flashing and rooting of this firmware)
Step 1 : Make sure you have C6903 14.1.G.1.534 firmware version on your Sony Xperia Z1 smartphone. If you have some other version then refer to my flashing guide here to flash it to the 14.1.G.1.534 version. [ When selecting your .534 version FTF to flash, make sure the OTA updates are available in those regions. For me, I used the Singtel C6903 14.1.G.1.534 FTF. You can also use the UK FTF as there is a .237 OTA for that version as well.]
Step 2 : We need to root the .534 firmware.Get your Kingo Android ROOT software from here, then install it and run it. It will download some device driver software from the internet and install some stuff, not need to worry just let it run. Connect your phone via USB to the PC/Laptop (make sure the USB debugging option is turned on in the phone before you connect to computer via USB cable). Once your phone is connected, a big shiny orange ROOT button in Kingo ROOT will appear, just click that and let it run for a bit. It will reboot your phone a couple times. When it says your phone is rooted means everything is A-OK, you have root for the .534 firmware. Yay!!! Remember to remove your phone from the USB at this stage.
This extra step if you do not know how to enable USB debugging : [On Android 4.2 and higher, the Developer options screen is hidden by default. To make it available, go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number seven times. Return to the previous screen to find {Developer options} Tap on this and make sure that the 'Enable Debugging over USB' is ticked.]
Step 3 : We need to upgrade SuperSU 1.65 to PRO version to enable the Survival Mode for OTA updates. You can buy it from the google play store for 2+ bucks or.... After you install the PRO version, reboot your Z1 phone and click on SuperSU, the option to enable Survival mode should now be available.
Step 4 : We now have C6903 14.1.G.1.534 firmware with root and SuperSU Pro survival mode turned on. Time to connect via Wifi or 4G and phone will alert you to download the 14.1.G.2.257 firmware update via OTA. Surprisingly this update is only 80MB+. Download it quickly and phone will reboot.
If you check your apps, SuperSU will still be there and you will still have root access! Congrats you are now one of the few ELITE Sony Xperia Z1 users with 14.1.G.2.257 firmware running with ROOT. Imagine the possibilities...
UPDATE : Please check out my latest post on updating and rooting the new 14.3.A.0.757 firmware
How to root your Sony Xperia Z1 with C6903 14.3.A.0.757 firmware
Missed mentioning I have C6902 variant here so downloaded the ftf for 6902. Also had rooted the device using KINGO before upgrading to SuperSu Pro, everything went well till downloading the OTA update for .257 however the phone doesn't allow to install it, Have tried thrice post rebooting the phone, but unable to install the OTA downloaded .257 update. I am still in .534 ftf with root access and enabling Survival, super su, system and re-authentication access doesn't help.
ReplyDeletemaybe you need to do a hard reset after you flash the .534 ftf file to clear everything. Also under settings-security, make sure the unknown sources is ticked. I am not sure why your phone is unable to update the OTA. I am using Singtel FTF and from XDA forum the UK FTF is also ok.
DeleteIn order for your phone to update OTA you must NOT have a custom recovery installed.
DeleteIf you follow the above steps without installing a custom recovery you'll be fine
Thanks for the tutorial. The upgrade was a total success.
ReplyDeleteThe system is updated to 14.1.G.2.257 with ROOT access retained. By the way, the model that I have is C6902 Taiwan version. Thanks again.
Glad to hear back from you Jason! :D So looks like this method works with C6902 just as well. I do hope someone does a proper root for the next upgrade to android 4.4.
Deletei don't know why to be upgrade by OTA. when i root my fone .543 and upgrade SuperSU 1.65 to PRO. i can use flashtool and upgrade .257 ? can you helm me, thanks alot.
Deletewell if you use flashtool to upgrade to .257 it will flash the whole 800MB+ which will wipe out your root. Using OTA to update to .257, only 80MB+ is downloaded and this update certain files on the phone which does not remove the .534 root. So far only method to keep root is via online OTA updates. Even using PC companion will wipe out your root.
DeleteTrue, PC companion will wipe out the root, I have experienced that and that's why I found this tutorial to downgrade and root then upgrade.
DeleteAnd I really hope that the same method can be applied to android 4.4 too.
OTA is not working for me :( http://th07.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2013/314/7/c/tmp_screenshot_2013_11_10_15_01_151752925381_by_sadthewolf-d6tqf4q.png
ReplyDeleteany fix?
Read more: http://thebluewater.blogspot.com/2013/10/sony-xperia-z1-how-to-flash-new.html#ixzz2kHMh5KX9
Are you using the stock firmware from sony? OTA updates from sony are downloaded via the default software updater which does not have that android icon as in your picture. Try flashing the stock firmware and rooting, then turn on your wifi for the OTA update.
DeleteSo i got one small problem any chance you could help me ? when i downgrade to .543 i still cant root it i tried kingo and vroot non seem to work. Any chance you would know what im doing wrong ? Thanks
ReplyDeletehave you tried using other version of .543 firmware? Like the UK version? Maybe you can do factory reset after downgrade and try to root again. I used the Singapore/Singtel version of firmware.
DeleteSingtel firmware still can not root, no developer option.
DeleteJust try :
C6903 14.1.G.1.534 Global 1277-2880_R4A
C6903 14.1.G.1.534 Central Europe1276-4314_R2A
C6903 14.1.G.1.534 SingTel 1276-7941_R6A
all those 3 FTF not working.
Tks
Indonesia
haha oic for developer option -- On Android 4.2 and higher, the Developer options screen is hidden by default. To make it available, go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number seven times. Return to the previous screen to find Developer options. Make sure you -> Enable debugging over USB in the developer options
DeleteHi there its me again. When i flash my xperia z1 with .543 do i have to have everything in wipe: clicked ?? because i didnt when i was downgrading maybe thats why the root didnt work ?
Deletethat is a possibility, just backup all your data first then click everything to be wiped. I didn't wipe my phone and it was still rootable but could be the problem in your case. Let us know what happens, hope you can finally get your phone rooted.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteKingo Android root could not start for Malware program! Then I had to restart my phone 2 times before Kingo could Root it. DONE!
ReplyDeleteWith .257 OTA!
Thanks a LOT!
coool
ReplyDeleteHow can I unroot Z1?
ReplyDeletejust reflash the normal firmware and it will automatically be unrooted.
DeleteGreat guide, it totally worked. One more qns, how to I install CWM after rooting the Z1?
ReplyDeletenot sure about that, you would have to go to XDA forum and ask the CWM team. In my opinion once I get root, dont need CWM anymore. Flashtool is enough to manually install other stuffs if needed.
DeleteHi. ROOT on my .543 works fine. I purchased supersu PRO, made a tick by Survival Mode and...And no way to upgrade to .257 with OTA. - Installation Failed. Does anybody can suggest anything else?
ReplyDeletehave you tried to factory reset after installing .543? It could be some leftover stuff thats blocking your OTA installation.
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the guide..
but i have 1 problem here..the message log stop at "preparing files for flashing" and nothing happen and suddenly my phone (Xperia Z1) reboot by itself..did i missed something or i need to download a correct .543 file? hope you can help! cheers - from Johor.
i got this too...
Deletewhen u actually get that.. just unplug phone, turn off the deveice and hold the volume down and reconnect your deveice and it will automatically start!
cheers m8
hey guys.....
ReplyDeletei am new to the xperia z1 and i was having some issues....
firstly.. i used flastool to downgrade to C6903 14.1.G.1.534 SingTel.ftf
for some strange reason it wouldnt download from xda site so i got it from here:
http://storagecow.eu/index.php?dir=Xda/Xperia%20Devices/Xperia%20Z1/Stock%20FTF/C6903%20Branded/&sort=date&order=desc
(make sure to skip add and then download)
after downgrading using flashtool...
i rooted using VROOT !!
when i had used KINGO..... the phone wud constantly pulse vibrate!!
my xperia came stock with 14.1.G.2.257 firmware and kingo nor vroot nor 360 would root device. it would always fail hence the reason for downgrade.
after downgrading and rooting via vroot.
i googled and downloaded superuser su pro v1.80 patched.
after install, click on SuperSU, the option to enable Survival mode should now be available
in order to get the update via OTA.. i factory reset my device
then went back to superuser to make sure survival mode was enabled
then i connected to wifi, checked for updatee, got the notification and wolla
im now rooted on laster firmaware with superuser su pro installed..
now u can go ahead and re-addaccounts and resnych all data
If u wanted as well.. u can also install titanium backup and back up all ur apps before wiping device! im sorry i didnt !!!
Hi everyone,i've already downgrade to .534 and rooted but when check the ota its show android 4.3 now and not .257 firmware.Is there anyway to update from .534 to .257 only using flashtool(without losing root)?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you will lose root unless you unlock your bootloader, But that will void the warranty on the phone in case you need to warranty it in the future.
DeleteWhen I downgraded to .534 I got the message "Unfortunately Camera Common has stopped working". The camera can't be opened either.
ReplyDeleteShould I still root and is there any fix for this?
yeah you can still root, just do a reset of the phone should clear up the problem. If not then just make sure the option to wipe everything is enabled in flashtool
DeleteThank you for the guide provided. Installed several 534 ftf's, but all ended up with no 'service provider' menu. Finally the following made me happy:
ReplyDelete- Downloaded C6903_14.1.G.1.534_EE_UK_1276-2219_R9A.ftf
- Shutdown the phone
- Started flashtool 0.9.13.0
- Connected the phone in flash mode and flashed this ftf with all wipe options (+/- 5 mins)
- Rebooted phone
- Enabled developer debug option
- Disabled sleep mode phone
- Enable WIFI
- Ignored update request from system
- Perform Kingo root
- Rebooted phone
- Root access OK
- Installed SuperSU pro
- Enabled survival mode
- Perform update to 14.2.A.0.290 over OTA
- Automated rebooted automatically and
- Green Android menu started to run (+/- 5 mins)
- Automatically reboot
- Android 4.3 with 4.2.A.0.290 and root access OK
If u check properly, it is not rooted properly unless you have unlocked your bootloader beforehand.
Deletei like your work,
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