[GUIDE] How to package and flash stock roms with Flashtool

[kingvortex]

Flashtool is an extremely useful tool maintained by Androxyde that allows you to download and flash stock roms to your device and more.

I thought it would be a good idea to create a guide showing how to use some of the most useful features of this great tool. It will be focused on the Xperia Z as that's the device I own, but will also apply to other devices compatible with Flashtool. I will add more sections to the guide as I get time to do so.

Contents:

1. Install Flashmode and Fastboot drivers.
2. Download any firmware customisation and create an FTF.
3. Flash stock firmware in FTF format to your device.
4. More coming soon....

Requirements:

Windows PC
Flashtool driver package by DooMLoRD.
Flashtool by Androxyde.


Part 1.
Install Flashtool drivers:

1. Run the installer. You will see this screen.

Press "Next" to continue.

2. Select Flashmode and Fastboot drivers. These drivers are common drivers for all compatible devices. Also scroll down the list and select Xperia Z drivers (or the relevant drivers for your device). This installs the ADB drivers for your device.

Press "Install".

The drivers will now install.

Note: If you're on Windows 8, then try this if you have trouble installing the drivers - Resolving driver installation issues on Windows 8 (thanks to fards)

Part 2.
How to create an FTF of any firmware customisation version:

Flashtool now integrates the excellent XperiFirm by Iagucool for downloading firmware. This guide has been updated to reflect that.

For the purposes of this guide, I downloaded the Customized NCB firmware version 10.6.A.0.454 for the C6603.

1. Start Flashtool and wait until it finishes syncing devices.

2. Click on the XperiFirm icon (highlighted red in image).

If this is the first time you've done this, Flashtool will download XperiFirm.

3. Find Xperia Z (or whichever device you like) on the list and click on it.

Select your device variant from the list that expands and click "Check all".

4. Find the firmware version you want in the list, click on it, then click the firmware version you want to download in the list on the right.

Press "Download" in the window that appears.

5. XperiFirm will download and unpack 5 files.

6. When XperiFirm has finished downloading and unpacking the files, press OK and close XperiFirm.

7. Flashtool will automatically create the bundle and will display when it's finished. You can now close Flashtool.

Part 3.
How to Flash an FTF using Flashtool:

Your bootloader does not need to be unlocked and you do not need root to flash roms in FTF format with Flashtool.

1. Place the FTF you have in C:\Users\your username\.flashtool\firmwares if it isnt there already (if you followed this guide to create an FTF it will be in the correct place already).

2. Start Flashtool and wait until it finishes syncing devices.

3. Click on the lightning bolt icon, select Flashmode and press OK.

4. Choose the firmware you wish to flash from the list on the left (highlighted red). If you want to keep data and installed apps etc, then uncheck everything in the Wipe section (highlighted green). Conversely, if you want a clean install, check everything in the Wipe section. Make sure nothing is checked in the Exclude section (highlighted blue). Note that if you're flashing over a custom rom or downgrading, then wiping all data is required.

When everything is as it should be, press Flash (highlighted yellow).

5. Flashtool will prepare files for flashing.

6. This screen will appear:

Power OFF your device. Connect your USB cable to your PC, then while holding Volume DOWN, connect the other end of the USB cable to your device.

Flashtool will now flash the firmware. When the flashing process starts, you can release the Volume down key.

DO NOT disconnect your device at this point, until it says it's safe to do so. When Flashtool says it has finished, disconnect your device and power it on. You have successfully flashed stock firmware to your device.

Disclaimer:

This guide is provided in good faith and the steps as provided work fine for me. However, I will not accept any responsibility for data loss or possible damage to your device. Following this guide is done at your own risk.

Credits:
DooMLoRD for the Flashtool driver package.
Androxyde for Flashtool.
Iagucool for the XperiFirm firmware downloader used by Flashtool.
If I've forgotten anyone please let me know and I'll add them.

 

[androidfreak70]

Hey @kingvortex bro!
Nice guide. And now I don't have to write a full instructions about how to flash ftf for every newbie need it here

TapaTalked from my Xperia™ Z (C660²) running Ultimate PureXZ Ultra!

 

[kingvortex]

Thanks.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[androidfreak70]

Del.

 

[Rajeev]

Nice and very useful guide for the new comers. Keep up the good work..

 

[thedark1979]

Thank you for great job.

When I create ftf (backup my ROM), the apps I download from Google play and data backup also? Or just ROM?

 

[kingvortex]

Thank you for great job.

When I create ftf (backup my ROM), the apps I download from Google play and data backup also? Or just ROM?

This guide creates a FTF from files downloaded from Sony's servers. It doesn't backup your rom or data.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[thedark1979]

This guide creates a FTF from files downloaded from Sony's servers. It doesn't backup your rom or data.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

Thank you. But how I can backup my ROM and apps and data with this tools? Not from CWM recovery ?

 

[kingvortex]

You can't, as far as I'm aware. If you need help backing up your data, please open a thread in the Q&A section. Thanks.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[androidfreak70]

Thank you. But how I can backup my ROM and apps and data with this tools? Not from CWM recovery ?

It's off topic but I'll answer you to not post off topic things here and other threads.
For apps backup download titanium backup or ultimate backup from Play store. You can backup your ROM from recovery only.
Those apps need root.
For how to root search around here.
Don't ask about that again here. Do that in a new thread if you still have issues.

TapaTalked from my Xperia™ Z (C660²) running Ultimate PureXZ Ultra!

 

[imboy25]

I have downloaded the firmware from another pc using xperifirm but when i am creating an ftf, i cannot edit the device name. this prevents me from proceeding with the ftf creation. can you tell me how to fix it?

 

[kingvortex]

I have downloaded the firmware from another pc using xperifirm but when i am creating an ftf, i cannot edit the device name. this prevents me from proceeding with the ftf creation. can you tell me how to fix it?

Double click in the field.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[imboy25]

Double click in the field.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

Oh my goodness! :silly:

 

[kingvortex]

Oh my goodness! :silly:

Yeah, that's actually easy to miss to be fair. I'm not sure why it's that way. There must be a good reason.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[djsubterrain]

Can anyone help me?

I'm trying to install AOKP on my work colleague's C6630 (Xperia Z) which is from O2 in the UK, the bootloader allowed says No and I've tried the flashtool and the process shown in this thread, none of the root methods in the flashtool are working and the FlashMode doesn't respond when I attempt to install the generic UK rom, shows a quick red led, then a quick green led, then nothing (Windows does show a driver problem even though I've installed the fastboot .

I can carry out ADB or flashboot commands by going into those modes but nothing that will let me root or install a custom recovery partition.

I'm stuck and can't get any further, even though a lot of the guides here say you should still be able to get root while the bootloader is locked.

 

[SkoopMan]

I have xperia z 4.4.2 bootloader unlocked and rooted.. and I have pacman rom..
I downloaded the ftf of 4.4.4 how can i flash it?

 

[kingvortex]

Can anyone help me?

I'm trying to install AOKP on my work colleague's C6630 (Xperia Z) which is from O2 in the UK, the bootloader allowed says No

You cannot flash AOSP/AOKP/PAC etc or any rom that needs a custom kernel when you have a locked bootloader. There's no way to unlock your friend's bootloader, unfortunately.

I have xperia z 4.4.2 bootloader unlocked and rooted.. and I have pacman rom..
I downloaded the ftf of 4.4.4 how can i flash it?

Follow the guide that's in the first post.

Sent from my C6603

 

[djsubterrain]

You cannot flash AOSP/AOKP/PAC etc or any rom that needs a custom kernel when you have a locked bootloader. There's no way to unlock your friend's bootloader, unfortunately.
Sent from my C6603

Should it be possible to root though so he could use xposed frameworks to get some sort of custom experience? I did try every single method in the flashtool for rooting but none of them worked.

 

[kingvortex]

Should it be possible to root though so he could use xposed frameworks to get some sort of custom experience? I did try every single method in the flashtool for rooting but none of them worked.

Yes, you can root without unlocking the bootloader.

On 4.4.2 or below, use towelroot. On 4.4.4, it's slightly more complicated. Guide here.

Sent from my C6603

 

[djsubterrain]

Yes, you can root without unlocking the bootloader.

On 4.4.2 or below, use towelroot. On 4.4.4, it's slightly more complicated. Guide here.

Sent from my C6603

Thanks so much, finally got root. Do you know if the dualrecovery allows you to install any custom roms or will it only work for flashing tools, etc?

Having problems trying to find the correct XZdualrecovery for this phone too, it's the Xperia Z (C6603), although I can't seem to find this on the http://nut.xperia-files.com/ site, anyone know which one is for the C6603?