[Xperia Z1 Compact General] o-l-a-v:
D5503 Downloads

Unzip .7z with 7-zip​

Official ROMs (.ftf for FlashTool)

If you wish to flash official firmware without using Sony's software, the easiest way in doing so is through obtaining latest firmware with XperiFirm, then make a .ftf-file with FlashTool.​

​

WHY?

- It's easy, fast.

- You can easily change region.

- You can flash older firmwares, SONY's software will only give you the latest.

- You can flash .ftf while offline.

- You can easily create a pre rooted ZIP using PRFCreator​

HOW to download stock FW and make .ftf

1.0 | Download and set up XperiFirm, FlashTool.

2.0 | Start Xperifirm. Choose your phone and your cda. Download the firmware to desktop. Choose "unpack automatically".

3.0 | Start FlashTool.

3.1 | Select Tools -> Bundles -> Create

3.2 | Find the folder where you downloaded the firmware. Choose it.

3.3 | The fields "Device", "Branding", and "Version" is simply for the naming of the ftf. I usually fill these out.

3.4 | "No final verification" - I never check this one.

3.3 | Add all elements from the left list to the right.

3.4 | After this click "Create".

3.5 | When done, the ftf is located under ".../FlashTool/Firmwares".

Here is a youtube video guide​

HOW to flash .ftf

Flashtool Guide for n00bies by Crowds​

HOW to make pre-rooted .zip of any .ftf

1.0 | Download the firmware you want to PreRoot (.ftf). Download latest PRFCreator, SuperSU and NUT Dual Recovery

flashable

for Z1c

2.0 | Open PRFCreator.

2.1 | "FTF File" -> Load the firmware you want to Pre-Root. Has to be a FTF-file.

2.2 | "SuperSU Zip" -> Load the SuperSU Zip you downloaded from step 1.0

2.3 | "Recovery Zip" -> Load the flashable recovery you downloaded in step 1.0. "ZR-lockeddualrecoveryXXXXXX.flashable.zip".

2.4 | "Extra Zip" -> Here you don't need to add anything. This is only if you want to add more stuff to flash together with your Pre-Rooted firmware.

2.5 | "Include" -> My advice: Include all (Kernel, FOTAKernel, Modem, LTALabel. "Sign ZIP" is not needed, I never use it.

2.6 | Press "Create". The firmware will be made, and placed in the same folder as PRFCreator.exe. It will be named "flashable.zip".

3.0 | Flash it on your already rooted phone, which also already got a custom recovery installed (TWRP/CWM/PhilZ).​

HOW to flash pre-rooted.zip

You must already have root, and you must have [NUT]s dual recovery installed, or similar. Use a 3rd party recovery (TWRP/CWM/PhilZ) to flash the ROM.

It will work on both locked and unlocked bootloaders​

Stock Kernels (ftf)

- Stock kernels .ftf, includes kernel.sin, loader.sin and rpm.sin.

- Used for older rooting methods, where flashing an old kernel was necessary in order to make the exploit work

https://mega.co.nz/#F!blwyWaJY!g-u5_7QZhQdt_OSalhD9AA

Firmware sources

14.6.A.0.368 (5.1.1) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...rchives/open-source-archive-for-14-6-a-0-368/

14.5.A.0.270 (5.0.2) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...rchives/open-source-archive-for-14-5-a-0-270/

14.5.A.0.242 (5.0.2) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...rchives/open-source-archive-for-14-5-a-0-242/

14.4.A.0.157 (4.4.4) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...s/open-source-archive-for-build-14-4-a-0-157/

14.4.A.0.133 (4.4.4) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...s/open-source-archive-for-build-14-4-a-0-133/

14.4.A.0.108 (4.4.4) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...s/open-source-archive-for-build-14-4-a-0-108/

14.3.A.0.757 & 761 (4.4.2) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...s/open-source-archive-for-build-14-3-a-0-757/

14.3.A.0.681 (4.4.2) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...s/open-source-archive-for-build-14-3-a-0-681/

14.2.A.1.114 (4.3.2) → http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...s/open-source-archive-for-build-14-2-a-1-114/​

.ftf Mirrors:

4pda.ru | android-hilfe.de​

AOSP / Vanilla Android

AOSP from Sony | Latest News from Sony

Lollipop (5.0.x)

Sources: Github | XDA Thread

FXP AOSP 5.0.x: Download | XDA Thread​

KitKat (4.4.x)

FXP AOSP 4.4.4: http://fxpblog.co/aosp/aosp-4-4/​

Unofficial AOSP builds and ports

Lollipop (5.0.x)

krabappel2548 → http://xdaforums.com/sony-xperia-z1...m-aosp-5-0-beta-v2-0-lollipop-xperia-t2942725

GethPrime → http://xdaforums.com/sony-xperia-z1-compact/development/android-l-amami-2014-11-13-t2939089​

3rd party Firmware / ROMs

Official support for Amami

"Amami" CM wiki site | CM12.1 Changelog | CM12 Changelog | CM11 Changelog

Snapshots | Snapshots Mirror (MEGA) | Nightlies​

CM12 downloads | CM11 Downloads | Changelog​

Release | Nightlies​

ROMs (goo.im)​

Candy5 (Lollipop) | Candy5 Downloads | CandyKat (KitKat) | CandyKat Downloads | Changelog​

Nightly​

Release | Nightly | Mokee 5.0 changelogs | Mokee 4.4 changelogs​

Nightly​

ROMs | ROMs (aospal.com) | Alphas (aospal.com)​

ROMs​

Stable | Weekly​

Unofficial ROMs by GothDroid (OmarEinea)

Carbon Changelog | Download for Amami​

OMNI 5 Changelog | OMNI 4.4 Changelog | Download for Amami​

Other

DstrikerZ1 Kai ROM

Custom stock ROMs - flashable with custom recovery. By munjeni @ xda

-D5503_14.3.A.0.681_Generic - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2690437

-D5503_14.2.A.1.114_Generic - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2671363

Z1 ROM ports by OmarEinea: OMNI, MoKee, AOKP, Carbon, XenonHD, Paranoid & BeanStalk

Multiboot for Amami - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2710781​

More custom firmwares at: 4pda.ru | android-hilfe.de​

Custom kernels

For stock ROMs

Unofficial DooMKernel by OmarEinea → http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2743227​

For custom ROMs

GreatDevs Kernel by OmarEinea → http://xdaforums.com/sony-xperia-z1-compact/orig-development/kernel-greatdevs-kitkat-v1-t2923670

Unofficial Pimped Kernel by OmarEinea → http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2767685

Pimped Kernel by Androiguide.fr → http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=51271621

Don't forget to install the app for controlling the Pimped Kernel!​

Custom recovery

For stock firmware

XZDualRecovery by [NUT]:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2261606

http://nut.xperia-files.com/​

For custom firmware (AOSP/CM)

Xperia Recovery Manager by championswimmer

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2539686 [THREAD]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.championswimmer.twrpxperia [DOWNLOAD]

PhilZ Recovery for FOTA partition by championswimmer

http://xdaforums.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/recovery-philz-touch-fotakernel-images-t2826333 [THREAD]

http://files.championswimmer.in/?developer=championswimmer&folder=recovery/philz [DOWNLOAD]

CMSimple recovery for FOTA partition by championswimmer

http://xdaforums.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/recovery-simple-cm-recovery-2012-xperias-t2917253 [THREAD]

http://files.championswimmer.in/?developer=championswimmer&folder=./recovery/cm [DOWNLOAD]

TWRP for FOTA partition by funiewski

http://xdaforums.com/sony-xperia-z1-compact/general/fota-twrp-recovery-amami-t2909719/

CWM Touch by munjeni

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2655751​

Enable/disable ART from recovery (ONLY 4.4.x kitkat)

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=51682367 by husen4u

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=51818315 by hnkotnis
​

GAPPS

The Gapps Central

Official Slim Gapps - 5.1/5.0/4.4

→ http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2792842

BasketBuild Gapps

→ BasketBuild.com/GAPPS

GAPPS used by CyanogenMod

→ Wiki

→ itvends.com/gapps

→ Goo.im
​

Drivers (Windows)

FlashTool Xperia Driver Pack by DooMLoRD​

Programs (Windows)

FlashTool by Androxyde @ xda + FlashTool Drivers

XperiFirm by lagyCool @ xda

PRFCreator - Easily create pre-rooted stock Sony firmware. By zxz0O0

Backup TA by DevShaft

15 seconds ADB Installer by Snoop05 @ xda

Updatechecker Xperia Devices by Macmol @ xda

Easy Root Tool for various Xperia Devices

Android SDK platform: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

APK Organize: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1948426 <-> By pesiran @ xda

Droid Manager: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1772338 <-> By OmarBizreh @ xda

Desktop Rom Flasher: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2383148 <-> By filmaker @ xda

MyPhoneExplorer: http://www.fjsoft.at/en/

Rickys Rom Kitchen / Android Everything Tool: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2200660 <-> By ricky310711 @ xda

Universal Android AIO Flasher Tool$: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=28719715 <-> By fonehacker @ xda​

Apps

APKs only?

Google - APKMirror.com

Sony - http://d-h.st/users/Ben Ling?s=file_name&d=ASC

Sony specific

Cyber-Shot SONY Smart Social Camera port http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2613633 <-> By Rizal Lovins @ xda

[CM11] Xperia Z2 Sirius Smart Social Camera http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=52248351 <-> Ported by xperiaz2 @ xda

Xperia Recovery Manager https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.championswimmer.twrpxperia

System Tools: One purpose

AdAway: https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=org.adaway

App Manager: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.droidware.uninstallmaster <-> Pro Version

Clean Master: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cleanmaster.mguard

Greenify: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oasisfeng.greenify <-> Donation Package

Root Browser: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.root.browserfree (Included in "ROM Toolbox")

SuperSU: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu <-> Pro Version

Super Backup: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts

System Tools: Multi purpose

All-In-One Toolbox: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=imoblife.toolbox.full <-> Pro Version

Rom Toolbox Lite: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.liberty.toolbox <-> Pro Version

Titanium Backup: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup <-> Pro Version

CCleaner: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.piriform.ccleaner

Launchers

Nova Launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher <-> Pro Version

Network / WIFI

inSSIDer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.metageek

InstaWIFI: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.jessechen.instawifi

Speedtest: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.zwanoo.android.speedtest

WebSharing: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2462683 <-> By tliebeck @ xda

Social (Email, VOIP, SMS etc)

CloudMagic: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cloudmagic.mail <-> By ashwinsadeep @ xda

Usefull

Pocket Converter: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pocketconverter

TrackID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sonyericsson.trackid

Music Players (Offline)

GoneMad Music Player https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gonemad.gmmp <-> Pro Version

Shuttle Music Player: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=another.music.player

NexMusic: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.locomain.nexplay

Google Play Music: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music

Rocket Music Player: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrtstudio.AnotherMusicPlayer

Others

Google Keyboard: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin > Latest .APK if not supported in google play​