[How To] Xperia Z1 gets Android 4.4 KitKat Update with RevolutionRom AOSP ROM

The same team who brought out AOSP KitKat beta build for ultra, have struck again and this time on the lucky Sony Xperia Z1. That’s right, now AOSP KitKat is available on your Xperia Z1.

Thanks to Google for releasing the AOSP sources for KitKat, even though there is no word about official updates, RevolutionRom team has released KitKat builds for various Xperia high end devices and Xperia Z1 being one of them.

As of yet, the known bugs list include:

• Bluetooth
• Video Playback
• RIL (Calling)
• and mobile data.

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.

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 device. You have been warned!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN..

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

BACK UP 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

INSTALL SONY XPERIA Z1 DRIVERS

You must have proper and working driver installed on your windows computer to be able to successfully KitKat on your Xperia Z1. Download and Install the Xperia Drivers from the link below. Be sure to re-start your computer after installing these drivers.

► XPERIA Z1 DRIVERS DOWNLOAD

CHARGE YOUR DEVICE

If your android device powers off due to lack of battery while the process is underway, it could damage the device.

So, make sure your device is adequately charged — at least 50% battery of the device.

EXAMPLE VIDEO

If you haven’t used a custom recovery, either CWM or TWRP, before, to install a .zip file of a ROM on anything else, then we suggest you first watch a video of that, given right below, to get familiar with the process.

Just fyi, the video below shows installing a .zip file (of recovery) on Galaxy S3, but it doesn’t matter as the process remains exactly same. So, once you are finished with video, jump to downloads and step-by-step guide below.

XPERIA Z ULTRA REVOLUTION ROM KITKAT INSTALLATION GUIDE

DOWNLOADS

Download the files given below.

• RevolutionRom boot.img: DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: boot.img
• RevolutionRom system.img: DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: system.img
• Google Apps: DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: pa_gapps-ODEX.zip
• SuperSU Root file: DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip
• Fastboot and adb files: DOWNLOAD LINK
  File name: Fastboot and ADB files.zip

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Make sure you have backed up your phone adequately (including important data stored on internal memory). Also create a nandroid backup using your recovery for additional safety.

NOTE: To be able to flash files using Fastboot, you first need to unlock bootloader on your Xperia Z Ultra.

FLASH BOOT.IMG AND SYSTEM.IMG

1. Unzip/Extract Fastboot and ADB files.zip (using 7-zip free software, preferably) to a separate folder on your computer
2. Transfer/Copy the boot.img and system.img files that you downloaded above to the folder where you extracted the contents of Fastboot and ADB files.zip
3. Connect your phone in fastboot mode
   1. Switch off your phone
   2. Hold the Volume UP key on your phone and connect it to PC using a USB cable
   3. The LED notification light on your phone should turn blue. If it doesn’t — do the above step again
      
4. Now open a command window inside the folder where you transferred the files in Step 2. For that, first open the folder, then press “Shift + Right click” on any empty white space inside the folder and select “Open command window here” option from the context menu
   
5. Now flash the ‘system.img‘ file on your phone from the command window. Type/Paste the command given below in your command window and hit enter. This may take some time so be patient!

   fastboot flash system system.img

6. Once the system.img file is flashed successfully, flash the ‘boot.img‘ file. Type/Paste the command given below in your command window and hit enter.
   

   fastboot flash boot boot.img

7. Disconnect your phone from computer once boot image is flashed successfully
   └ Your phone will automatically reboot after disconnecting from computer with Android 4.4 installed. But it will not have Google services (like Play store) and root installed by default. You’ll have to flash them through recovery.

FLASH GAPPS AND SUPERSU FOR ROOT

1. Transfer the Gapps file (pa_gapps_ODEX.zip) and SuperSU file (UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip) that you downloaded from the downloads section above to your phone. And remember the location where you transferred the files.
2. Reboot your phone into recovery mode. For this:
   • Switch off your Xperia Z first
   • Switch it back on and the time when you see your phone’s LED notification light turn purple or pink, start pressing Volume Up button a few times
     └ Once in recovery, use Volume buttons to navigate up and down between options in recovery and Power button to select an options
3. Install the pa_gapps-ODEX.zip file first. For this:
   • Select Install zip » Choose zip from sdcard (or external sdcard, you know where your files are) » browse to the location where you saved/transferred the file and select the pa_gapps-ODEX.zip » select Yes on next screen to confirm installation of the file
     
4. Now flash the UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip file in a similar way as you flashed the Gapps file in the step above.
5. Once done flashing both the files, reboot your phone by going back to the main menu of recovery and select ‘Reboot system now‘

That’s all. Your phone will now reboot into RevolutionRom Android version 4.4 KitKat with Gapps and Root installed.

Feedback Us!

It was easy to install KitKat, right? Let us know how it tastes 😉

Your suggestions are most welcomed!

Via XDA (krabappel2548)