Sony XPERIA SP is very powerfull device. On first look, it has same functions as Sony XPERIA T etc. But there are some new features - Glove mode, color notification bar or very good construction. Below you can find the latest firmware for the phone and also three tutorials/manuals - how to unlock the bootloader, how to relock the bootloader and how to backup the original firmware customization.
First of all one important thing - before you start to do anything with your phone, do the backup of your personal data. It is only for your safety in case that something goes wrong or any mistake happens. In that case you can use the backup to restore the data and try to do everything once again. Each tutorial has been done many times to verify its propriety, so just read carefully all instructions and continue step by step. For each of Sony (Ericsson) XPERIA smartphones we will provide a manual consisting of 4, 5 or 6 „HOW TO“ chapters. Our tutorials will be of course updated every time when Sony Mobile publishes anything new, affecting any of our topics. All important files have been stored on my own download server, so there should be no problem with downloading. The major part of every file has been created by myself and every file has been tested on the corresponding phone. In this guideline related to the Sony XPERIA SP you can find some photos and videos showing how to proceed, but the most important thing are the below written manuals. All referenced files are determined for Sony XPERIA SP C5303. So, what can you expect in terms of mentioned manuals / tutorials?
First of all one important thing - before you start to do anything with your phone, do the backup of your personal data. It is only for your safety in case that something goes wrong or any mistake happens. In that case you can use the backup to restore the data and try to do everything once again. Each tutorial has been done many times to verify its propriety, so just read carefully all instructions and continue step by step. For each of Sony (Ericsson) XPERIA smartphones we will provide a manual consisting of 4, 5 or 6 „HOW TO“ chapters. Our tutorials will be of course updated every time when Sony Mobile publishes anything new, affecting any of our topics. All important files have been stored on my own download server, so there should be no problem with downloading. The major part of every file has been created by myself and every file has been tested on the corresponding phone. In this guideline related to the Sony XPERIA SP you can find some photos and videos showing how to proceed, but the most important thing are the below written manuals. All referenced files are determined for Sony XPERIA SP C5303. So, what can you expect in terms of mentioned manuals / tutorials?
It is following 5 guidelines showing HOW TO:
1. how to install the newest Android 4.3 for your phone (for Sony XPERIA SP C5303 it is currently the 12.1.A.1.201 firmware)
2. how to install the newest Android 4.1.2 for your phone (for Sony XPERIA SP C5303 it is currently the 12.0.A.2.254 firmware)
3. how to backup your original firmware customization (it is important in case you must send your phone to service)
4. how to unlock the bootloader (in case you want to install the custom kernels with recovery menu and much more)
5. how to relock the bootloader (in case you want to go back to stock (original) ROM or you must send your phone to service)
And now let’s do all 5 actions step by step
1. how to install the newest Android 4.3 for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
a) first of all, check your firmware version (if you already have the newest one, you do not need this tutorial)
b) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
c) download also latest Android 4.3 (mirrors Google Drive or Mega) for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
d) paste the ftf file downloaded in step c) to folder „Firmware“ included in the XPERIA Flashtool
e) open the XPERIA Flashtool, click on flash and choose downloaded firmware, than click ok. Important - if you do not want to delete any data of your phone, just uncheck flashing userdata.sin file. All data will remain in your phone, but sometimes it can cause additional troubles. So it is better (and I recommend that) to do the backup of your personal data, than proceed with clean instalation and then restore your personal data.
f) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button
g) after few minutes all is done and your phone gets the new firmware
2. how to install the newest Android 4.1.2 for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
a) first of all, check your firmware version (if you already have the newest one, you do not need this tutorial)
b) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
c) download also latest Android 4.1.2 (mirror) for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
d) paste the ftf file downloaded in step c) to folder „Firmware“ included in the XPERIA Flashtool
e) open the XPERIA Flashtool, click on flash and choose downloaded firmware, than click ok. Important - if you do not want to delete any data of your phone, just uncheck flashing userdata.sin file. All data will remain in your phone, but sometimes it can cause additional troubles. So it is better (and I recommend that) to do the backup of your personal data, than proceed with clean instalation and then restore your personal data.
f) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button
g) after few minutes all is done and your phone gets the new firmware
3. how to backup your original firmware customization
a) if you do not want to lose warranty of your phone, first thing you have to do is to backup your original customization
b) download Sony Update Service (SUS) and reinstall firmware of your phone (backup your data first)
c) after that, go to SUS folder in Program Files and search for folder db/some Number/blob_fs, there you find 3 files, which names start FILE
d) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
e) paste the three files, which names start FILE, from blob_fs folder to folder „Firmware“ included in the XPERIA Flashtool
f) open the Flashtool, click on Advanced, choose decrypt files and put all three files from blob_fs folder to the right columm g) click ok and after approx. one minute a pop up Window will appear via Flashtool
h) mark all files and transfer them to the right column, than fill in a box in the right upper corner (fill in what you want, it is just for you)
i) now click ok and Flashtool will create backup of your original firmware customization, that you can anytime flash to your phone
4. how to unlock your bootloader
a) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
b) start Flashtool and click on BLU button on the top
c) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button
d) click on get unlock key button, it will switch you to Sony Mobile website, here complete all boxes
e) copy IMEI form Flashtool to Sony Mobile site, than you will get unlock code to your mailbox
f) copy unlock key to Flashtool window and than click unlock
g) connect phone with holding volume up button when Flashtool shows pop up window
h) wait to unlock finish
5. how to relock your bootloader
a) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
b) start Flashtool and click on BLU button on the top
c) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button d) just click on relock button and your bootloader is locked for now
ROOT & INSTALL CWM 6 GUIDE
Step by Step Guide to Install CWM on Xperia SP 4.3 firmware:
1)After downloading CWM kernel zip (Its not the actual name of file, just a reference name), place it in internal or external SD Card of your smartphone
2)Rename the downloaded file to boot.elf
3)Paste this file inside the folder where you have installed Minimal ADB and Fastboot
4)Now turn off your smartphone completely
5)Plug in mobile’s USB in cable in PC port only
6)Hold Volume up button and plug in USB cable in mobile’s port
7)LED will turn blue (If it does not remain blue for long, then read Optional part in bootloader unlocking method explained above
8)Once you are successfully in fastboot mode, then you can continue
9)Now type Fastboot flash boot boot.elf and press EnterUntitled
Required Downloads:
CWM 6 for Xperia SP
SuperSU (1.93)
10)It will flash boot.elf file on your device
11)Now unplug the device and boot it up
12)As soon as you see purple colored LED, start pressing volume up button repeatedly, until you are in CWM mode
13)There are two ways to navigate in this CWM recovery
14)You can navigate with volume buttons and make a selection with power button
15)Another way of navigating is by swiping your finger on empty area in recovery
16)Swipe up to move up, swipe down tp move down, swipe right to make a selection and swipe left to go back
17)After installation is complete, go back to main menu and reboot your smartphone
18)Congrats! You have successfully installed CWM custom recovery on your smartphone
Step by Step Guide to Root Xperia SP 4.3 firmware:
19)Copy the downloaded SuperSU zip in phone’s SD Card
20)Now boot into CWM
21)Navigate to install zip from SD Card
22)Now navigate to the folder where you have put the downloaded SuperSU file
23)Select the file and confirm its installation
24)Once the installation is complete, reboot your device
25)That’s it! Now your Xperia SP is rooted and CWM installed on 4.3 266 firmware
1. how to install the newest Android 4.3 for your phone (for Sony XPERIA SP C5303 it is currently the 12.1.A.1.201 firmware)
2. how to install the newest Android 4.1.2 for your phone (for Sony XPERIA SP C5303 it is currently the 12.0.A.2.254 firmware)
3. how to backup your original firmware customization (it is important in case you must send your phone to service)
4. how to unlock the bootloader (in case you want to install the custom kernels with recovery menu and much more)
5. how to relock the bootloader (in case you want to go back to stock (original) ROM or you must send your phone to service)
And now let’s do all 5 actions step by step
1. how to install the newest Android 4.3 for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
a) first of all, check your firmware version (if you already have the newest one, you do not need this tutorial)
b) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
c) download also latest Android 4.3 (mirrors Google Drive or Mega) for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
d) paste the ftf file downloaded in step c) to folder „Firmware“ included in the XPERIA Flashtool
e) open the XPERIA Flashtool, click on flash and choose downloaded firmware, than click ok. Important - if you do not want to delete any data of your phone, just uncheck flashing userdata.sin file. All data will remain in your phone, but sometimes it can cause additional troubles. So it is better (and I recommend that) to do the backup of your personal data, than proceed with clean instalation and then restore your personal data.
f) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button
g) after few minutes all is done and your phone gets the new firmware
a) first of all, check your firmware version (if you already have the newest one, you do not need this tutorial)
b) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
c) download also latest Android 4.1.2 (mirror) for Sony XPERIA SP C5303
d) paste the ftf file downloaded in step c) to folder „Firmware“ included in the XPERIA Flashtool
e) open the XPERIA Flashtool, click on flash and choose downloaded firmware, than click ok. Important - if you do not want to delete any data of your phone, just uncheck flashing userdata.sin file. All data will remain in your phone, but sometimes it can cause additional troubles. So it is better (and I recommend that) to do the backup of your personal data, than proceed with clean instalation and then restore your personal data.
f) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button
g) after few minutes all is done and your phone gets the new firmware
a) if you do not want to lose warranty of your phone, first thing you have to do is to backup your original customization
b) download Sony Update Service (SUS) and reinstall firmware of your phone (backup your data first)
c) after that, go to SUS folder in Program Files and search for folder db/some Number/blob_fs, there you find 3 files, which names start FILE
d) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
e) paste the three files, which names start FILE, from blob_fs folder to folder „Firmware“ included in the XPERIA Flashtool
f) open the Flashtool, click on Advanced, choose decrypt files and put all three files from blob_fs folder to the right columm g) click ok and after approx. one minute a pop up Window will appear via Flashtool
h) mark all files and transfer them to the right column, than fill in a box in the right upper corner (fill in what you want, it is just for you)
i) now click ok and Flashtool will create backup of your original firmware customization, that you can anytime flash to your phone
a) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
b) start Flashtool and click on BLU button on the top
c) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button
d) click on get unlock key button, it will switch you to Sony Mobile website, here complete all boxes
e) copy IMEI form Flashtool to Sony Mobile site, than you will get unlock code to your mailbox
f) copy unlock key to Flashtool window and than click unlock
g) connect phone with holding volume up button when Flashtool shows pop up window
h) wait to unlock finish
a) download and install latest Flashtool from here (mirrors Google Drive or Mega)
b) start Flashtool and click on BLU button on the top
c) turn off your phone and when Flashtool shows pop up window, connect phone to PC with holding volume down button d) just click on relock button and your bootloader is locked for now
ROOT & INSTALL CWM 6 GUIDE
Step by Step Guide to Install CWM on Xperia SP 4.3 firmware:
1)After downloading CWM kernel zip (Its not the actual name of file, just a reference name), place it in internal or external SD Card of your smartphone
2)Rename the downloaded file to boot.elf
3)Paste this file inside the folder where you have installed Minimal ADB and Fastboot
4)Now turn off your smartphone completely
5)Plug in mobile’s USB in cable in PC port only
6)Hold Volume up button and plug in USB cable in mobile’s port
7)LED will turn blue (If it does not remain blue for long, then read Optional part in bootloader unlocking method explained above
8)Once you are successfully in fastboot mode, then you can continue
9)Now type Fastboot flash boot boot.elf and press EnterUntitled
Required Downloads:
CWM 6 for Xperia SP
SuperSU (1.93)
11)Now unplug the device and boot it up
12)As soon as you see purple colored LED, start pressing volume up button repeatedly, until you are in CWM mode
13)There are two ways to navigate in this CWM recovery
14)You can navigate with volume buttons and make a selection with power button
15)Another way of navigating is by swiping your finger on empty area in recovery
16)Swipe up to move up, swipe down tp move down, swipe right to make a selection and swipe left to go back
17)After installation is complete, go back to main menu and reboot your smartphone
18)Congrats! You have successfully installed CWM custom recovery on your smartphone
Step by Step Guide to Root Xperia SP 4.3 firmware:
19)Copy the downloaded SuperSU zip in phone’s SD Card
20)Now boot into CWM
21)Navigate to install zip from SD Card
22)Now navigate to the folder where you have put the downloaded SuperSU file
23)Select the file and confirm its installation
24)Once the installation is complete, reboot your device
25)That’s it! Now your Xperia SP is rooted and CWM installed on 4.3 266 firmware