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Install LineageOS on
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

z3c

Warning: The provided instructions are for LineageOS 18.1. 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.
Make sure that your model is actually listed in the “Supported models” section here (exact match required!)
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!

Warning: Before following these instructions please ensure that the device is on firmware version 23.5.A.1.291. To discern this, you can run the command adb shell getprop ro.build.display.id on the stock ROM. If the device is not on the specified version, please follow the instructions below to install it.

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.
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 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.

Special Requirements

Note: Flashtool version 0.9.19.9 or later is required.

Download and install Flashtool on your machine
- If you’re are a Windows user of any version, open a file explorer and navigate to C:\Flashtool\drivers folder, then install the drivers found within
- Additionally, if you are a Windows 8.1 (x64) user you will need a patch found here
Reboot your machine
On the device, navigate to the Settings app, in the System menu, under the About this device listing, and take note of your model number & carrier
Open Flashtool
Click the symbol to download and open XperiFirm (round button on the right) to download the latest firmware for your device
In XPeriFirm, select your device and an appropriate firmware on the middle column with the version 23.5.A.1.291. Then click on the firmware on the right side below Available Firmware and download it
After the download finished, close XperiFirm. Flashtool now automatically recognizes the downloaded files and prepares the image to be flashed
Now click on the lightning symbol (flash device), select Flashmode and click on OK
Select the firmware file you just downloaded above
Check all the boxes under the “Wipe” menu
Click “Flash”
Tip: It may take a few minutes for the flashing progress indicator to pop up.
Turn off your phone
Hold the volume-down button and keep holding while connecting the device to your PC
Once the flashing process has started, release the volume rocker as soon as possible
Warning: Ensure the USB cable doesn’t come unplugged during the flashing process!
When the flash finishes, boot up the device and once booted, please proceed with the instructions

Installing a custom recovery using `fastboot`

Download Lineage Recovery. Simply download the latest recovery file, named recovery.img.
Important: Other recoveries may not work for installation or updates. We strongly recommend to use the one linked above!
Connect your device to your PC via USB if it isn’t already.
If your device isn’t already in fastboot mode, on the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
```
adb 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
```
If you don’t get any output or an error:
- on Windows: make sure the device appears in the device manager without a triangle. Try other drivers until the command above works!
- on Linux or macOS: If you see no permissions fastboot try running fastboot as root. When the output is empty, check your USB cable and port!
Tip: Some devices have buggy USB support while in bootloader mode, if you see fastboot hanging with no output when using commands such as fastboot getvar ..., fastboot boot ..., fastboot flash ... you may want to try a different USB port (preferably a USB Type-A 2.0 one) or a USB hub.
Flash recovery onto your device:
```
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
```
Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation. Do not reboot into the existing OS, since it will overwrite the recovery you just installed!
- With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power. Keep holding both buttons until the device vibrates, then release.
  
  Note: If you can’t power down the device, try long-pressing the key-combination (if any was used in the instructions above) until the device reboots and follow the instructions above
Note: If your recovery does not show the LineageOS logo , you accidentally booted into the wrong recovery. Please start at the top of this section!

Installing LineageOS from recovery

Download the LineageOS installation package that you would like to install or build the package yourself.
- (Optionally): If you want to install an application package add-on such as Google Apps (use the arm architecture), please read and follow the instructions on Google Apps page
If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
- With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power. Keep holding both buttons until the device vibrates, then release.
Now tap Factory Reset, then Format data / factory reset and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage, as well as format your cache partition (if you have one).
Return to the main menu.
Sideload the LineageOS .zip package but do not reboot before you read/followed the rest of the instructions!
- On the device, select “Apply Update”, then “Apply from ADB” to begin sideload.
- On the host machine, sideload the package using: adb 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 the Google Apps add-on on your device, you must follow this step before booting into LineageOS for the first time!

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

Note: Add-ons aren’t signed with LineageOS’s official key, and therefore when they are sideloaded, Lineage Recovery will present a screen that says Signature verification failed, this is expected, please click Continue.

All set!

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

Click the back arrow in the top left of the screen, then “Reboot system now”.

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.

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 Z3 Compact