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Install LineageOS on
Sony Xperia M

nicki

Warning: The provided instructions are for LineageOS 14.1. These will only work if you follow every section and step precisely.
Do not continue after something fails!

Basic requirements

Read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems due to any missed steps!
Make sure your computer has adb and fastboot. Setup instructions can be found here.
Enable USB debugging on your device.
Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality.
Warning: Make sure that you can send and receive SMS and place and receive calls (also via WiFi and LTE, if available), otherwise it won’t work on LineageOS either! Additionally, some devices require that VoLTE/VoWiFi be utilized once on stock to provision IMS.
LineageOS is provided as-is with no warranty. While we attempt to verify everything works you are installing this at your own risk!

Unlocking the bootloader

Note: The steps below only need to be run once per device.

Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your device! This also includes your DRM keys, which are stored in the Trim Area partition (also called TA). Before proceeding, ensure the data you would like to retain is backed up to your PC and/or your Google account, or equivalent. Please note that OEM backup solutions like Samsung and Motorola backup may not be accessible from LineageOS once installed. If you wish to backup the TA partition first, you can find tutorials related to your device on the internet.

On the device, dial *#*#7378423#*#* (*#*#SERVICE#*#*) to launch the service menu.
Go to service info > configuration and check rooting status - you can only continue if it says Bootloader unlock allowed: Yes.
Go to System Settings > About Phone and record the first IMEI number, which is necessary to get an unlock code from Sony in a later step.
Connect the device to your PC via USB.
On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
```
adb -d reboot bootloader
```
You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:
- With the device powered off, hold Volume Up and connect the USB cable. The notification light should turn blue.
Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:
```
fastboot devices
```
Tip: If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root.
Follow the instructions on Sony’s official unlocking website to generate an unlock code for your bootloader.
Use your code to unlock the bootloader of your device:
```
fastboot oem unlock <your_unlock_code>
```
Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue.

Installing a custom recovery using `fastboot`

Download a custom recovery - you can download TWRP. Simply download the latest recovery file, named something like twrp-x.x.x-x-nicki.img.
Connect your device to your PC via USB.
On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
```
adb -d reboot bootloader
```
You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:
- With the device powered off, hold Volume Up and connect the USB cable. The notification light should turn blue.
Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:
```
fastboot devices
```
Tip: If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root.
Temporarily flash TWRP to boot:
```
fastboot flash boot twrp-x.x.x-x-nicki.img
```
Tip: The file may not be named identically to what stands in this command, so adjust accordingly. Remember to adjust the filename in the following commands as well.
Reboot to the TWRP recovery:
```
fastboot reboot
```

Push the TWRP image to your device:

adb -d push twrp-x.x.x-x-nicki.img /sdcard

Enter shell on the device:
```
adb -d shell
```

Flash TWRP to recovery permanently:

dd if=/sdcard/twrp-x.x.x-x-nicki.img of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/FOTAKernel

Exit the adb -d shell:
```
exit
```

Installing LineageOS from recovery

Build a LineageOS installation package.
If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
- With the device powered off, boot the device and press Volume Up when the notification light is pink.
Now tap Wipe.
Now tap Format Data and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage.
Return to the previous menu and tap Advanced Wipe, then select the Cache and System partitions and then Swipe to Wipe.
Sideload the LineageOS .zip package:
- On the device, select “Advanced”, “ADB Sideload”, then swipe to begin sideload.
- On the host machine, sideload the package using: adb -d sideload filename.zip.
  Tip: Normally, adb will report Total xfer: 1.00x, but in some cases, even if the process succeeds the output will stop at 47% and report adb: failed to read command: Success. In some cases it will report adb: failed to read command: No error or adb: failed to read command: Undefined error: 0 which is also fine.

Installing Add-Ons

Note: If you don’t want to install any add-on (such as Google Apps), you can skip this whole section!

Warning: If you want to install Google Apps add-on package (use the arm architecture), you can download it from here. This add-on needs to be installed before booting into LineageOS for the first time!

Repeat the sideload steps above for all desired packages in sequence.

All set!

Once you have installed everything successfully, you can now reboot your device into the OS for the first time!

Run adb -d reboot.

Note: The first boot usually takes no longer than 15 minutes, depending on the device. If it takes longer, you may have missed a step, otherwise feel free to get assistance.

Warning: Depending on which recovery you use, you may be prompted to install additional apps and services. We strongly advise you to opt out of installing these, as they may cause your device to bootloop, as well as attempt to access or corrupt your data.

Get assistance

After you’ve double checked that you followed the steps precisely, didn’t skip any and still have questions or got stuck, feel free to ask on our subreddit or in #LineageOS on Libera.Chat.

Install LineageOS on Sony Xperia M