Android 4.4 KitKat Update for Sony Xperia Z1 Arrives Via SlimKat ROM too

Known Bugs/Issues

[As of December 28, 2013.]

• Flashlight does not work.

Let’s see how to install the latest SlimKat ROM on your Xperia Z1.

WARNING!

Warranty may be void of your device if you follow the procedures given on this page.

You only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

XPERIA Z1 SLIMKAT ROM INSTALLATION

Before you begin with guide instructions below, make sure your android device is adequately charged — at least 50% battery of the device.

You must do this pre-installation stuff before attempting to install the ROM on your Xperia Z1 in order to avoid any complications later, and have a smooth and successful process.

 STEP 0: CHECK DEVICE MODEL NO.

To make sure your device is eligible with this, you must first confirm its model no. in ‘About device’ option under Settings. Another way to confirm model no. is by looking for it on the packaging box of your device. It must be C6902/L39h/C6903/C6906!

Do not use the procedures discussed here on any other Xperia Z1 variant or any other devices of Xperia or any other company. You have been warned!

 STEP 1: BACKUP YOUR DEVICE

Back up important data and stuff before you start playing around here as there are chances you might lose your apps and app-data (app settings, game progress, etc.), and in rare case, files on the internal memory, too.

For help on Backup and Restore, check out our exclusive page on that linked right below.

► ANDROID BACK UP AND RESTORE GUIDE: APPS AND TIPS

 STEP 2: INSTALL LATEST DRIVER

You must have proper and working driver installed on your windows computer to be able to successfully flash kernel on your Xperia Z1. In case you’re not sure, follow the link below for a definitive guide for installing driver for your Xperia Z1 on your computer.

► XPERIA Z1 DRIVERS DOWNLOAD

STEP 3: UNLOCK BOOTLOADER

 Skip this step if you have already unlocked the bootloader.

You must first unlock the bootloader on your Xperia Z1 before proceeding with the guide below. Without unlocking the bootloader you won’t be able to use fastboot commands to flash the kernel on your device. Check the link below for help on unlocking the bootloader.

► XPERIA BOOTLOADER UNLOCKING GUIDE

Yes, the above guide is for Xperia Arc, Play, Neo and Pro but the procedure of unlocking the device is same for all Xperia devices.

 STEP 4: INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

 DOWNLOADS

Download the file given below and transfer it to a separate folder on your phone and remember the location.

 ROM FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: Slim-honami-4.4.2.beta.2.1.7-UNOFFICIAL.zip (243 MB)

For latest version of the ROM, check the original page →

 GAPPS FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: 
Slim_minimal_gapps.4.4.2.beta.1.x.zip (54.63 MB)

FASTBOOT FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: adb_fastboot_tutorialbot.zip (11 MB)

Before you proceed, make sure that you’ve transferred the ROM and Gapps files you downloaded above to a separate folder on your device.

 GUIDE FOR CWM RECOVERY USERS

  Example video: If you haven’t used CWM recovery before to install a .zip file of a ROM or anything else, then we suggest you first watch a video of that to get familiar with the process. Click here to watch the video
Reminder: Make sure you have backed up your phone adequately (including important data stored on internal memory).

1. Extract the ‘fastboot file’  and  ‘ROM file’  to a seperate folder on your computer. Navigate to where you have extracted the ROM file and copy the boot.img to the folder where you have extracted the fastboot file’.
2. Boot into fastboot mode and flash the kernel (boot.img). For this:
   • Power off your device. Press and hold Volume Up  button and connect your USB cable. The LED will turn blue (as shown in the below image). If not perform this step again.
     
3. After entering the fastboot mode navigate to where you have extracted the fastboot file and hold SHIFT key on your keyboard and RIGHT CLICK and select “Open command window here” (as shown in the below image).
   
4. Now flash the boot.img from the command prompt. Type/Paste the below command inside the command prompt:

   fastboot flash boot boot.img

   Do not exit the command prompt yet.

5. Now, Enter Recovery mode. Read the whole step carefulyl before trying it out.
   • After you have flashed the boot.img, reboot your device to recovery mode from fastboot directly by typing/pasting the below command inside the same command prompt:fastboot rebootNow your device will reboot.

     fastboot reboot

     Now your device will reboot.

   • (Important!) When you see the SONY logo, unplug the USB cable and a “Purple LED” light will glow for 3 seconds, in this period press Volume Up button 2-3 times to reboot into recovery mode.
6. Create a Nandroid Backup from recovery. It’s optional but very important to do, so that in case something goes wrong you can restore to current status easily. For this:
   • Go to Backup And Restore »Backup.
7. Perform a full clean-up of the device. (FYI, this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress, so make sure you’ve appropriate backups.) For this:
   • Select Wipe data/Factory reset, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm factory reset (screenshot).
   • Select Wipe Cache Partition, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm wiping cache.
   • Select Advanced menu and select Wipe Dalvik Cache, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm wiping dalvik cache.
8. First Install the ROM file:
   • Select Install zip » Choose zip from sdcard (or external sdcard, you know where your files are) » browse to the location where you saved the file
     
9. Install the Gapps file in the same way you flashed the ROM file.
10. Reboot your device. For this, go back to the main menu of recovery and select reboot system now.

That’s all. Your phone will now reboot and it will take some time as it’ll be phone’s first boot after installing Android 4.4.2, be extremely excited for this!

Note: In case your device gets bootloop (stuck at logo while rebooting), just do a factory reset (step 6) and you will be fine.

FEEDBACK US!

It was easy to install  Android 4.4.2 KitKat, right? Let us know how it tastes to you.

Your suggestions and queries, if any, are most welcomed!