Install /e/OS on a Sony Xperia Z3 - “z3”

The instructions in this guide will assist you to install /e/OS on your z3. Please read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems later.

It is important that you know that downgrading Smartphones on OS versions greater than the /e/OS OS version you plan to install, can cause instability or at worst brick some devices. We recommend that you check your current OS version, before attempting the installation.

It is advisable to flash your device only if you know what you are doing and are ok taking the associated risk. All /e/OS builds are provided as best effort, without any guarantee. The /e/OS project and its project members deny any and all responsibility about the consequences of using /e/OS software and or /e/OS services.

Requirements

  • If required take a backup of all important data from your phone on an external storage device before proceeding.
  • Do not take a backup on the same device as some of these actions will format the device and delete the backup.
  • Ensure your phone is charged more than 50%
  • Check that adb and fastboot are enabled on your PC. If not you can find the setup instructions here
  • Download all the files and images mentioned in the download section below before starting the installation

  • Make sure you have a working data cable to connect your device to the PC. There are cables which are only for charging and do not transfer data.

  • Enable USB debugging on your device. You can find the instructions here
  • Make sure that your model is listed in the Smartphone Selector. Check the model supported. Where available, information on the model supported should show as a pop-up when you hover the cursor on the Device name. The model number supported should be the exact same.
  • Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality.
Warning: Make sure that you can send and receive SMS and place and receive calls (also via WiFi and LTE, if available), otherwise it will not work on /e/OS as well. Additionally, some devices require that VoLTE/VoWiFi be utilized once on stock to provision IMS.

Please share your experience , suggest tips or changes to this install guide documentation by visiting the Xperia Z3 specific topic on our community forum.

To report issues in /e/OS please refer this guide

Downloads for z3

To understand the difference between /e/OS builds check this guide

Special Requirements

Warning: Before following these instructions please ensure that the device is on firmware version 23.5.A.1.291. To discern this, you can run the command adb shell getprop ro.build.display.id on the stock ROM after following the steps under the Requirements header above. If the device is not on the specified version, please follow the instructions below to install it.
Caution: Flashtool version 0.9.19.9 or later is required.
  1. Download and install Flashtool on your machine
    • If you’re are a Windows user of any version, open a file explorer and navigate to C:\Flashtool\drivers folder, then install the drivers found within
    • Additionally, if you are a Windows 8.1 (x64) user you will need a patch found here
  2. Reboot your machine
  3. On the device, navigate to the Settings app, in the System menu, under the About this device listing, and take note of your model number & carrier
  4. Open Flashtool
  5. Click the symbol to download and open XperiFirm (round button on the right) to download the latest firmware for your device
  6. In XPeriFirm, select your device and an appropriate firmware on the middle column with the version 23.5.A.1.291. Then click on the firmware on the right side below Available Firmware and download it
  7. After the download finished, close XperiFirm. Flashtool now automatically recognizes the downloaded files and prepares the image to be flashed
  8. Now click on the lightning symbol (flash device), select Flashmode and click on OK
  9. Select the firmware file you just downloaded above
  10. Check all the boxes under the “Wipe” menu
  11. Click “Flash” ..It may take a few minutes for the flashing progress indicator to pop up
  12. Turn off your phone.
  13. Hold the volume-down button and keep holding while connecting the device to your PC
  14. Once the flashing process has started, release the volume rocker as soon as possible
  15. When the flash finishes, boot up the device and once booted, please proceed with the instructions
Warning: Ensure the USB cable doesn’t come unplugged during the flashing process!

Unlocking the bootloader

Tip: The steps given below only need to be run once per device.
Warning: Some vendors/manufacturers prevent the bootloader from being unlocked. Depending on where your device was acquired you may or may not be able to unlock the bootloader. To verify if your device is compatible please check the devices list.
Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your device! This also includes your DRM keys, which are stored in the Trim Area partition (also called TA). Before proceeding, ensure the data you would like to retain is backed up to your PC and/or your Google account, or equivalent. Please note that OEM backup solutions like Samsung and Motorola backup may not be accessible from /e/OS once installed. If you wish to backup the TA partition first, you can find tutorials related to your device on the internet.
  1. On the device, dial *#*#7378423#*#* (*#*#SERVICE#*#*) to launch the service menu.
  2. Go to service info > configuration and check rooting status - you can only continue if it says Bootloader unlock allowed: Yes.
  3. Connect the device to your PC via USB.

  4. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:

     adb reboot bootloader
  5. Follow the instructions on Sony’s official unlocking website to unlock your bootloader.

  6. Use your code to unlock the bootloader of your device:

    fastboot oem unlock <your_unlock_code>

  7. Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue (Settings->About Phone->Build version, and then you can go to Settings->Developer opptions to enable USB debugging).

Installing a custom recovery using fastboot

  1. Before proceeding ensure you have downloaded the custom recovery from the link given in the Download section above

  2. Connect your device to your PC via USB.

  3. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type: 
     adb reboot bootloader

    You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:

    • With the device powered off
    • hold Volume Up and connect the USB cable. The notification light should turn blue.
  4. Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing: 
    fastboot devices
    Tip: If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root
    Tip: Some devices have buggy USB support while in bootloader mode. If fastboot hangs with no output when using commands such as fastboot getvar .. , fastboot boot …, fastboot flash … try a different USB port (preferably a USB Type-A 2.0 one) or a USB hub

  5. Flash a recovery image onto your device by typing

     fastboot flash recovery recoveryfilename.img

    Replace the recoveryfilename with the name of the recovery image you downloaded in the previous section

  6. Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation:
    • With the device powered off
    • hold Volume Down + Power Keep holding both buttons until the device vibrates, then release.

Steps to install /e/OS from recovery

Tip: Use the volume keys to navigate and power key to select
Tip: Use the volume up key to choose the arrow at the top to go back to main screen
Tip: If your PC is unable to detect your device with adb in the /e/OS recovery main screen tap Advanced » Enable adb

Format the device

On /e/OS Recovery main screen:

  1. Select Factory reset
  2. Select Format data / Factory reset option
  3. Next screen will display a warning that this action cannot be undone
  4. Select Format data to proceed or Cancel if you want to go back

  5. If you selected Format data, the format process will complete

    Tip: You will see text in small font on the lower left side of the screen mentioning format progress

    The small font text would be similar to this

     Wiping data
 Formatting/data
 Formatting/cache
 Data wipe complete
  6. Display will now return to the Factory Reset screen

Install /e/OS

In /e/OS recovery main screen:

  1. Select Apply Update and in next screen Apply update from adb

  2. In the next screen, the device is now in sideload mode

    Note at this point the Cancel option is highlighted that does not mean you have canceled the action. The device is in adb sideload mode.

  3. On your PC type begin adb sideload. Type the below command in a console

    adb sideload downloaded_file_name.zip

    Replace downloaded_file_name.zip with the name of the /e/OS file you downloaded in the previous section

  4. Press enter key on the keyboard to start the sideloading The screen will show the progress percentage…This might pause at 47%
  5. Give it some time
  6. The PC console will now display Total xfer: 1.00x
  7. The phone screen will now display some text with a message similar to

    Script succeeded result was [1.000000]

    This means that the install was successful.

Reboot the device

In /e/OS recovery main screen:

  1. Select Reboot system now

    The reboot process may take 5 - 10 minutes

Success: Congratulations !! Your phone should now be booting into /e/OS !!
To find some troubleshooting tips… click here

adb

  • Getting a Total xFer ':' 0.01x message - Try to upload the /e/OS to internal storage and retry to install
  • adb ':' sideload connection failed ':' insufficient permissions for device error - Try to execute the commands adb kill-server and adb start-server and retry
  • Running adb shell twrp install /sdcard/</e/OS zip package> raise non-existent directory error - Try to check solution here
  • Getting an insufficient permissions error - Try the solution given here
  • When running "adb devices" in bash a device is shown as "unauthorized" - Try the solution given here

TWRP

  • Errors while running TWRP version 3.4.x.x or above - Try downloading and using a previous TWRP version.. below 3.4.x.x
  • In TWRP if this error shows up failed to mount /preload - Try in TWRP wipe screen in advanced menu select preload and swipe to wipe
  • /cache/recovery/xxx -> no such file or directory error while flashing a ROM - On PC run adb shell in the console now create a folder called recovery for e.g. here the devicecode name is violet "violet :/cache# mkdir recovery"

Connectivity

  • Trying to troubleshoot mobile connectivity issues - Read this guide



Please share your experience , suggest tips or changes to this install guide documentation by visiting the Xperia Z3 specific topic on our community forum.

To report issues in /e/OS please refer this guide

This documentation “Install /e/OS on a Sony Xperia Z3 - “z3”” is a derivative of “install LineageOS on z3” by The LineageOS Project, used under CC BY.