19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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Create your own FTF firmware files usingXperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide]by XB on 16/08/2014

in Featured Content, Firmware, Tips & Tricks

We recently reported on a fantastic new tool called XperiFirm, which allows youto browse and install the latest firmware files for any Sony Xperia device. We have had a number of people getin touch asking us how they can use those files to flash that firmware onto their handset using FlashTool.Therefore, we have created a tutorial below, which walks through the process in baby steps.

The combination of XperiFirm and FlashTool makes for a powerful and complete recovery solution for SonyXperia owners. The great thing is that the process is very simple and it has never been easier for Xperia users totake matters into their own hands when trying out new firmware updates. Check out the guide below, whichshows you how to create your own FTF firmware files.

GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR OWN FTF FIRMWARE FILES USING XPERIFIRMAND FLASHTOOL

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19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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XperiFirm steps

First step is to download XperiFirm. Follow the instructions in that link to install.

Once installed you will see the program below. Navigate to your handset on the left pane. You can then choosethe firmware for your region/carrier in the middle pane. The pane on the right side will show you whichfirmware is available for that region. Click on it to download the file.

Once clicked, you are asked to confirm whether you want to download the firmware. Click “Download” toproceed. Choose any folder as a location and then the download will commence.

Once complete, you will see the message “Downloaded successfully!”

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You will find a number of files prefaced “FILE” in the download location. Please take note of this location asyou will need it for the next FlashTool steps.

NOTE: If your list of files includes “fwinfo.xml” as highlighted below then manually delete itbefore continuing to the FlashTool steps. You MUST delete this file otherwise your FTF firmwarefile will corrupt.

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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FlashTool steps

Download and install FlashTool. Once you launch the program, you should see something similar to below.

Click Tools > Bundles > FILESET Decrypt

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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You will see the box below. Where it says “Source Folder”, click the three dots to locate the folder where your“FILE” files are. They should then appear as per the screen below under the “Available files” pane.

You then need to highlight all of these files and click the right arrow to move across to “Files to convert”. Hit“Convert”.

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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Once you do this, FlashTool will start decrypting your files. This can take a few minutes so please be patientbefore moving to the next step.

Once the above step is finished, you will see a pop­up similar to the screen below.

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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Tap the “Device” box which will bring up some pop­up boxes allowing you to automatically select whichfirmware the handset is for. You can then type in the region under the “Branding” box along with the buildnumber in the “Version” box.

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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Now select and move all of the files on the left side (apart from the .ta files) to the “Firmware content” pane onthe right. As you can see in the picture below, do not include the .ta files. Click “Create”.

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FlashTool will now start creating the bundle.

Once you see “Bundle creation finished” your job is done. Close FlashTool.

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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Congrats, your newly created FTF firmware file will be located in the FlashTool firmware folder. This is in“C:\Flashtool\firmwares” for a default installation.

You can then use FlashTool to flash this FTF to your handset. Check out our previous guide on this – theprinciple is the same, just use your FTF file, instead of the one provided in the guide.

Tagged as: Featured Content, Firmware, Flashtool, Tips and Tricks, XperiFirm

19/9/2015 Create your own FTF firmware files using XperiFirm and FlashTool [Guide] | Xperia Blog

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36 Comments Xperia Blog Login1

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• Reply •

brocnical • a year ago

The two developers should work together here and make XperiFirm an official part of FlashTool sothat this is done automatically.

27

Andreas Makris • a year ago> brocnical

is done already, Iagucool gave Androxyde his code to intregrate into flashtool:

Recommend 2

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• Reply •

is done already, Iagucool gave Androxyde his code to intregrate into flashtool: http://forum.xda­developers.co...

14

• Reply •

brocnical • a year ago> Andreas Makris

AWESOME! 4

• Reply •

Shaik Farooq • 6 months ago> brocnical

im on 5.0.2 and its very buggy....Waiting for 5.1..!!

• Reply •

Disqus_tin • 6 months ago> Shaik Farooq

Just curious about the two .ta files (cust­reset.ta and fota­reset.ta).Do they have any relation with rebranding the phone? In a previous article aboutdebranding, both files exist in the FTF.In my case, I got my phone branded Vodafone ES, I downloaded Baltic Lollipop versionusing XperiFirm, and followed this guide exactly, to flash it to my Z2. Everything wentsmoothly.

• Reply •

dr • a year ago

Does this allow you to modify for example the generic UK z2 firmware by removing any specific bloatapps you choose (ones that you could normally only disable) then recompile it into a new firmware toflash? Excuse my ignorance if this is an obvious question

10

• Reply •

Andreas Makris • a year ago

Flashtool beta is already released and combines all features into one tool and gives you mostly a one­click experience to download and create ftf: http://forum.xda­developers.co...

4

• Reply •

JRMoore • a year ago

Why shouldn't .ta files be included? What happens if you flash those files? 2

brocnical • a year ago> JRMoore

That is one of the great mysteries of the universe that no­one cares to explain in detail. Someguides say not to include them and others say to include everything.

I usually just include all files and it has made no difference to me, but I have heard it hassomething vaguely to do with SIM­locked phones. I really think the community needs toexplain this better and standardise on one standard way ­­ personally, I think it would be betterto just include everything and have the "exclude TA" box ticked in FlashTool by default if it issuch a big problem.

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• Reply •

such a big problem. 6

• Reply •

Andreas Makris • a year ago> JRMoore

That is just old bullshit, flashtool automatically filters out the TA files which could harm yourdevice. You can just include it into the FTF, no worry there. If you force flash a simlock.ta onyour phone your phone may end not accepting any simcards. But flashtool won't let you dothat normally, you really need to force this to happen ;­) TA files are small scripts which change informations in the TrimArea of your phone. It cancontain alsmost anything, from simlock, imei etc. to unlockcode. In the case of "re­locking" after unlock one usually "just" deletes your specific unlockcode fromthe TrimArea, where it was stored by the adb oem unlock command. So you see, TrimArea is the most important part of your Sony phone, so don't mess with it andlet flashtool just do. Everythin that flashtool does automatically (even include ta files in FTF) iscompeltely safe, we tested and bricked a few devices to ensure that :D

Regards 4

• Reply •

brocnical • a year ago> Andreas Makris

Thanks for that. I think I will just keep including all files then 1

• Reply •

Apollo89 • a year ago> Andreas Makris

NOT TRUE! Although Flashtool automatically excludes simlock.ta, it does NOTexclude files like cust­reset.ta. If you include this file in your FTF and you don't excludeit when flashing, a part of the Trim Area ("the most important part of your Sony phone")gets ERASED!

By the way, Androxyde (the creator of Flashtool) himself advised me to exclude .TAfiles when creating an FTF, because Sony's official tools (Sony PC Companion/SonyUpdate Service/Sony Bridge for Mac) don't flash these files either!

Andreas Makris • a year ago> Apollo89

Sorry to disappoint you. I am right. Thats what i wrote: Flashtool automaticallydecides which files to use and which not. To include Cust­Reset.ta does notharm your device in any manner. It is absolutely no problem to include all thesefiles because flashtool WILL NOT flash them automatically. I don't know whyyou think that, but it is just wrong what you say.If you include the cust­reset.ta you will get the option box (Resetcustomization), which by the way is NOT selected by default. So you can justinclude it. THAT is exactly the same behaviour as in Emma/Seus/PCC. Pleaseget your facts straight before posting wrong stuff. You would be able to test thisyourself by just starting flashtool ... So what i wrote is still good: Just include any files in your FTF, to include them does NOT cause anyproblems, it just includes the files and flashtool will NOT flash them

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• Reply •

problems, it just includes the files and flashtool will NOT flash themautomatically. To NOT include the files is an advice we gave a long time agowhen we still just flashed everything bundled, but this times are long over.An yes i know who Androxyde is, but you seem not to know who i am (Bin4ry ismy Nickname btw) ;­)

Regards 4

• Reply •

Apollo89 • a year ago> Andreas Makris

Okay, so apparently things have changed and with the new versions ofFlashtool it is safe to include these files (thank you for pointing that out!), butthis was certainly not the case with the older Flashtool versions (I'd say lessthan one year ago). A more extensive changelog would be useful, so that wecan keep abreast of these kind of changes ;­)

• Reply •

Andreas Makris • a year ago> Apollo89

Well i have to semi­correct me after re­checking the sourcecode! For non­known ta files what i said does not apply at the moment. So all .ta files whichare not "known" till now are getting flashed. (We should change that ASAP). Butjust for your info ;­) Will make sure that it does change before any "critical" newTA files appear on the horizon :D

1

• Reply •

Christian Buntrock • a year ago> Andreas Makris

Hi Andreas, is this already fixed? Can you tell me which class contains thisstuff where it should be fixed? Thanks!

• Reply •

Deepak Sharma • a year ago> JRMoore

same question from my side :Di prefer including all files and i flash without ticking any option in exclude no problems till now fingers crossed X

1

• Reply •

mrjraider • a year ago

This is the exact guide I made here: http://forum.xda­developers.co...

Thanks for the credits (not) 2

• Reply •

XperiaBlog • a year agoMod > mrjraider

Erm... no. We have never seen your guide before. 9

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• Reply •

mrjraider • a year ago> XperiaBlog

I dont buy it.. But hey this is an unofficial blog ;) 2

• Reply •

Flavio Lemos • a year ago

Hey guys i woke up and grabbed my tablet z and is showing an new update that can only be donethrow computer. Anyone? The thing is that is showing version 230 and im already did this update andis showing again. WTF! Some bug???

best regards,

1

• Reply •

Dick Perry • a year ago> Flavio Lemos

Its most likely some bug fixes to it. I just did it to my Xperia Z phone and i haven't noticed anydifference. And it wont matter since there is a new firmware on its way soon so i soon havenew bugs.. :­)

• Reply •

Rafa • 20 days ago

I have a problem, when i create FTF file of lollipop for Xperia Z1 Compact D5503 14.5.A.0.270 GenericLAM, i can see in the flash menu, that doesn't contain loader.sin and some other files but in thedecripted files i saw that the files exists but not exist in the FTF, i can flash or not my devices?

• Reply •

Mick Hood • 5 months ago

Can't believe I've only just found this. Awesome work!!

• Reply •

Nine • 5 months ago

i'm on 5.0.2 and it's devouring my battery life and very buggy and lagging once in a while.phhhhft..

• Reply •

cipherme • 5 months ago

I still cannot create the one being created is having only base kernel and other files and ftf size maxesout to 25mb..plz help

• Reply •

VitaminaC • 7 months ago

Excellent tool. One question, under "Latest Release" they show several "RDs" like 10.5.1A.0.283R4D, R2D, and son on, what do those mean?

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• Reply •

• Reply •

Xperia Fans • 7 months ago

Cannot detect, why?

• Reply •

devx fred • 4 months ago> Xperia Fans

actaully there is another folder in that folder ,you have to select that

• Reply •

bax • 8 months ago

working ???

• Reply •

warthang • 9 months ago

how shall i download android 4.3 ftf file for xperia z c6602 for india??

• Reply •

Gaelex • a year ago

Not working for older Xperia like the Xperia PRO, no firmware found, no download possible.

• Reply •

brocnical • a year ago> Gaelex

Look harder. Xperia Pro files are there. 1

• Reply •

Androidos • a year ago

Ha, I always wondered, how to make own ftf file, without need to upgrade phone, or improve... Now Ican do it every moment, when I need it. Great job guys.

• Reply •

Theo • a year ago

Can't download the FLASHTOOL!!

Deepak Sharma • a year ago> Theo

download from herehttps://docs.google.com/file/d...or herehttp://thepiratebay.se/torrent...or herehttp://thepiratebay.se/torrent...

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http://thepiratebay.se/torrent...

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