[Z2,Z3] Root and recovery stock 5.1.1 264 ROM no data loss - proper easy way

[5ageman]

Rooting and romming Sony devices is a little harder than most android devices, some things work a little different. The scattered info doesn't make this any easier either. I had to find this out the hard way, softbricked my Xperia in the process, but I finally did it. I see that there still are people that wish to root stock 5.1.1 and that there are no unified proper instructions to do this so here is my process and guide. Good luck.

There are many ways to do this, but it includes flashing your Xperia to earlier firmware then rooting and installing the recovery and then flashing back the newest firmware, so I made this little guide to make things easier for Sony newcomers. This process should be compatible with Z1, Z2 and Z3(c) - but ofcourse its made for Z2, for Z1 and Z3 download recovery files for your model respectively.

You won't loose any of your data on your stock ROM if you do this correctly.

You'll need a Windows PC, 7, 8.1, 10. (Mac and Linux are also supported)

1. Root your Z with Kingroot.apk v4.6 and v4.8 work flawlessly. Just download and install as normal apk and hit the big blue button. You have to have internet connection for this to work. It will root your Z automatically after cca. 2m.

Kingroot app is basically a super su app from a different developer. Congrats, you now have root.

2. To install a recovery do not use any flashing apps by TWRP or similar, it wont work. We will use XDZR.

XZDR is Xperia Z Dual Recovery, its basically Philz recovery and TWRP recovery flashed together. You enter Philz holding vol up and TWRP holding vol down when powering up your xperia. * Search for NUT's dual recovery for more info.

Download the recovery from here:
http://nut.xperia-files.com/path/XZDualRecovery

(Download the correct .zip for your Xperia model).

3. Download the. zip to your PC.

4. Connect your phone via USB after you have enabled USB debugging on your xperia. If you have correct Sony drivers installed your PC will recognize your device and a dialog will pop up on your phone (about allowing USB debugging from this PC). Allow the access.

5. Unpack the zip you downloaded to a random folder on your PC. Here run the install.bat if you're on a Win PC. Bat will run and here you just choose the first option, type 1 and follow the on screen instructions, keep an eye on your phone, it will pop up a couple of yes - no dialogs. Allow the access and ADB access and wait, it will be fast.

When you reboot you will see a green LED light up while SONY splash is shown, this is when you hold up or down for one of the two recoveries.

Down is for TWRP and up is for Philz.

6. Download superSU from here:
https://download.chainfire.eu/696/SuperSU/

Boot to system again and now you can unroot your phone trough Kingroot app (general settings) and then reboot to recovery again and flash the file from this link, you will get the super su app and super su binaries and this way you're fully rooted and will have dual recovery for your full flashing pleasure.

* Remember that you first need to unroot and uninstall Kingroot app and then flash Super su, otherwise you risk a bootloop or just not functional root access.

* Do not flash newer TWRP or any recovery or youll loose your recovery.

* I am not responsible if something goes wrong with your device.


And thats it, you have your data intact, stock 5.1.1 ROM, fully functional root access with super su and two recoveries, intact BL and DRM keys and you can flash almost anything that supports LB (locked bootloader).

 

[cha0zine]

Hey.

I have a few questions.

Does installing recovery void the warranty? Can the XZDualRecovery be uninstalled easily? Can I still update to Marshmallow via official update when it comes out when I have recovery installed on my phone?

Thanks!

 

[5ageman]

Hey.

I have a few questions.

Does installing recovery void the warranty? Can the XZDualRecovery be uninstalled easily? Can I still update to Marshmallow via official update when it comes out when I have recovery installed on my phone?

Thanks!

I think that Sony does void warranty if you do an "unauthorized software changes" and changing software in any other way than trough OTA is unauthorized by Sony, so yes. But you can completely restore your device to factory state by flashing an official FTF image trough flashtool and restore Sonys recovery and basically get your warranty back.

If you follow the above steps installation of XZDR is quite easy and fast.

You will be able to update to official MM by flashing MM FTF image trough flashtool and restore your phone to "official" software state. But with XZD recovery you will be able to flash leaked MM from beta program even sooner and easier.

This guide does not unlock your BL and does nothing irreversible to your phone * providing you do everything correctly.

 

[cha0zine]

Thanks for answering! Much appreciated!

 

[jeebarbas]

can you back up the drm keys through this method?

 

[5ageman]

can you back up the drm keys through this method?

Rooting with this method wont unlock your boot loader so there is no need for that, your DRM keys wont be touched.

 

[jeebarbas]

Rooting with this method wont unlock your boot loader so there is no need for that, your DRM keys wont be touched.

Thank you for replying. sorry, im such a noob but after flashing su and subinaries do i need to update the su binaries or i could jsut leave it as it is?

 

[5ageman]

Thank you for replying. sorry, im such a noob but after flashing su and subinaries do i need to update the su binaries or i could jsut leave it as it is?

You can leave it as is, you will have full root functionality. Of course you can also update binaries to have up to date bug fixes and security patches, update trough normal method works fine.

 

[talkativetaurus]

@5ageman Hi. Thanks for the tutorial. I m a noob in this rooting stuff. Last night i rooted my phone Xperia Z2 5.1.1 using kingroot bcos i was scared of rooting with some other steps and bricking my phone. But then i realized that xposed wont install unless i have custom recovery. But i m quiet confused with few things related to root even after reading so many posts. So just need to know what exactly recovery is. Like when i restart my phone and then press vol up or down key what will exactly happen? Is this something like safe mode and some other mode in laptops??

 

[5ageman]

@5ageman Hi. Thanks for the tutorial. I m a noob in this rooting stuff. Last night i rooted my phone Xperia Z2 5.1.1 using kingroot bcos i was scared of rooting with some other steps and bricking my phone. But then i realized that xposed wont install unless i have custom recovery. But i m quiet confused with few things related to root even after reading so many posts. So just need to know what exactly recovery is. Like when i restart my phone and then press vol up or down key what will exactly happen? Is this something like safe mode and some other mode in laptops??

Recovery is actually closest to BIOS in PC terms although its much more. Xperia Z2 has no recovery by default, you'll need to flash it manually. See step 2. And only then you can eter recovery. By pressing vol down when the green LED lights up you will enter TWRP a custom recovery made by Team Win Recovery Project. Nothing will happen if you do nothig, you wont accidentaly wipe or brick your Z2. If unsure what to do next just tap the reboot button and then system to reboot to system as nothing happened. Go step by step, no hurry.

 

[talkativetaurus]

@5ageman thanks alot for ur answer. Now my doubt is clear.
But i have few more questions related to ur tut.

1- i have already rebooted my phone a number of times after rooting it. Like for some other purpose and not for recovery or super su. So will the tut work for me as i read somewhere that one need not restart the phone after rooting using kingroot and install recovery directly. Or if it was for some other device i dont remember.

2 - According to the end of step 5 and step 6, does that mean that i have to download super su from chainfire while i m still in recovery mode? And once agn in the system after uninstalling kingroot and rebooting in recovery do i have to install SuperSU in the recovery mode? If yes then how?

3- last question. Entering recovery is just vol down button or power + vol down both.

Once again sorry for such basic questions but i m completely new in the world of rooting plus i want to make sure i know what i m doing.

Thanks for ur patience. Appreciate.

 

[5ageman]

@5ageman thanks alot for ur answer. Now my doubt is clear.
But i have few more questions related to ur tut.

1- i have already rebooted my phone a number of times after rooting it. Like for some other purpose and not for recovery or super su. So will the tut work for me as i read somewhere that one need not restart the phone after rooting using kingroot and install recovery directly. Or if it was for some other device i dont remember.

2 - According to the end of step 5 and step 6, does that mean that i have to download super su from chainfire while i m still in recovery mode? And once agn in the system after uninstalling kingroot and rebooting in recovery do i have to install SuperSU in the recovery mode? If yes then how?

3- last question. Entering recovery is just vol down button or power + vol down both.

Once again sorry for such basic questions but i m completely new in the world of rooting plus i want to make sure i know what i m doing.

Thanks for ur patience. Appreciate.

1. You cannot install recovery directly from the system on Z2 like on other phones, Z2 has no recovery partition. This can only be done with unlocked bootloader. Just make sure you have a working root access with Kingroot and USB debugging enabled when you connect your Z2 to a PC.

2. Download superSU from chainfire while still in system, then reboot to recovery and flash it trough recovery. It's a flashable zip. Before booting to recovery unroot your phone trough Kingroot app. SuperSU zip will flash su binaries and the app to system partition automatically and will root your phone again. Rooting trough Kingroot is done only to flash the recovery, then its deleted.

3. After you successfully install tge recovery when you power on your Z2 it will vibrate and flash green LED on sony bios logo. Then you hold down vol down key until led flashes purple. Afterward it will boot to recovery.

 

[talkativetaurus]

1. You cannot install recovery directly from the system on Z2 like on other phones, Z2 has no recovery partition. This can only be done with unlocked bootloader. Just make sure you have a working root access with Kingroot and USB debugging enabled when you connect your Z2 to a PC.

2. Download superSU from chainfire while still in system, then reboot to recovery and flash it trough recovery. It's a flashable zip. Before booting to recovery unroot your phone trough Kingroot app. SuperSU zip will flash su binaries and the app to system partition automatically and will root your phone again. Rooting trough Kingroot is done only to flash the recovery, then its deleted.

3. After you successfully install tge recovery when you power on your Z2 it will vibrate and flash green LED on sony bios logo. Then you hold down vol down key until led flashes purple. Afterward it will boot to recovery.

@5ageman Thanks for ur reply. but i have few more things to say..

1- no i didnt mean in the system. What i read was that when u root with kingroot u r nt suppose to reboot until u install recovery. Otherwise it might cos prbs and nt install SuperSU.

2- What does flashable exactly mean. Is it nt just installing? I dload the superSU from chainfire while in the system and install in the recovery, right? Where will i find the zip to install it? (sorry... Had to ask)

3- i think i got that...i ll knw that exactly when i try it...lol

 

[5ageman]

@5ageman Thanks for ur reply. but i have few more things to say..

1- no i didnt mean in the system. What i read was that when u root with kingroot u r nt suppose to reboot until u install recovery. Otherwise it might cos prbs and nt install SuperSU.

2- What does flashable exactly mean. Is it nt just installing? I dload the superSU from chainfire while in the system and install in the recovery, right? Where will i find the zip to install it? (sorry... Had to ask)

3- i think i got that...i ll knw that exactly when i try it...lol

1. You wont face any issues if you reboot, but you dont have to. Just plug your phone to PC while your phone is in android. Yes you download in system and then install - flash in recovery by tapping "install" and then you navigate to supersu.zip and select it and then swipe to flash it. The supersu.zip will be there where you download it, most likely on internal storage in download folder.

2. Flashable means its installed trough recovery - its flashed as opposed to being installed normally in android system.

 

[nemanja899]

So is it safe to root my Z2 with this? I have 15.1.1 264 stock rom, is this safe?

 

[5ageman]

So is it safe to root my Z2 with this? I have 15.1.1 264 stock rom, is this safe?

If you follow the guide correctly and know basic android rooting and romming then yes its safe, I rooted my Z2 the same exact way. 5.1.1 264