Help me root Z5C. - Xperia Z5 Compact Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello. So basically my friend has a xperia Z5 Compact phone and he wants to get magisk 19.1 on it. I am new to the phone and do not know how to root it etc. so I need help on getting TWRP and magisk on it. The bootloader is already unlocked because I tried to get TWRP on it but it ended in frozen boot screen. I have since flashed the phone and now need help to actually do something with it.

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Hope you have made a backup of the phone's TA partition prior to unlocking its bootloader. Anyway, once it is already unlocked, put it in fastboot mode (hold the volume up button whilst connecting it to the computer, util the led remains lit in blue color), either copy or move the TWRP image file (twrp.img from now on) to the directory where the fastboot tool is present, then enter the command (attention: it's case sensitive):
Code:
fastboot flash FOTAKernel twrp.img
Now, to enter TWRP, disconnect it from the computer and hold both the power and the volume down buttons. When the phone vibrates (as if it was being booted up), release the power button; when the screen lights up, release the volume down button. TWRP should come up.
By the way, in my Z5C phone I use the stable Magisk 19.3 version, along with the MagiskHide Props Config, Busybox for Android NDK, and Systemless Hosts (this one is found in Magisk Manager settings) modules. This way my phone passes both Safetynet tests, and it shows as certified by Play Store.

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casouzaj said:
Hope you have made a backup of the phone's TA partition prior to unlocking its bootloader. Anyway, once it is already unlocked, put it in fastboot mode (hold the volume up button whilst connecting it to the computer, util the led remains lit in blue color), either copy or move the TWRP image file (twrp.img from now on) to the directory where the fastboot tool is present, then enter the command (attention: it's case sensitive):
Code:
fastboot flash FOTAKernel twrp.img
Now, to enter TWRP, disconnect it from the computer and hold both the power and the volume down buttons. When the phone vibrates (as if it was being booted up), release the power button; when the screen lights up, release the volume down button. TWRP should come up.
By the way, in my Z5C phone I use the stable Magisk 19.3 version, along with the MagiskHide Props Config, Busybox for Android NDK, and Systemless Hosts (this one is found in Magisk Manager settings) modules. This way my phone passes both Safetynet tests, and it shows as certified by Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright Im going to try that in the next few days.

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casouzaj said:
Hope you have made a backup of the phone's TA partition prior to unlocking its bootloader. Anyway, once it is already unlocked, put it in fastboot mode (hold the volume up button whilst connecting it to the computer, util the led remains lit in blue color), either copy or move the TWRP image file (twrp.img from now on) to the directory where the fastboot tool is present, then enter the command (attention: it's case sensitive):
Code:
fastboot flash FOTAKernel twrp.img
Now, to enter TWRP, disconnect it from the computer and hold both the power and the volume down buttons. When the phone vibrates (as if it was being booted up), release the power button; when the screen lights up, release the volume down button. TWRP should come up.
By the way, in my Z5C phone I use the stable Magisk 19.3 version, along with the MagiskHide Props Config, Busybox for Android NDK, and Systemless Hosts (this one is found in Magisk Manager settings) modules. This way my phone passes both Safetynet tests, and it shows as certified by Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me why you told to flash the twrp to FOTKernel and not to recovery?
At the moment I am on Android 5.1.1 (Kernel 3.10.49 , Build-Number 32.0.A.6.200). I followed this guide here to backup my TA-Partition and my bootloader is unlocked.
But when I came to the step to flash the boot.img and the twrp the E5823 does not start anymore.
Any idea?
Greetings by Idijt

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I_did_it_just_tmrrow said:
Hope you have made a backup of the phone's TA partition prior to unlocking its bootloader. Anyway, once it is already unlocked, put it in fastboot mode (hold the volume up button whilst connecting it to the computer, util the led remains lit in blue color), either copy or move the TWRP image file (twrp.img from now on) to the directory where the fastboot tool is present, then enter the command (attention: it's case sensitive):
Can you tell me why you told to flash the twrp to FOTKernel and not to recovery?
At the moment I am on Android 5.1.1 (Kernel 3.10.49 , Build-Number 32.0.A.6.200). I followed this guide here to backup my TA-Partition and my bootloader is unlocked.
But when I came to the step to flash the boot.img and the twrp the E5823 does not start anymore.
Any idea?
Greetings by Idijt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which files, exactly, from which threads, have you flashed, to which respective partitions?
Sent from my Xperia Z5 Compact using XDA Labs

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casouzaj said:
Which files, exactly, from which threads, have you flashed, to which respective partitions?
Sent from my Xperia Z5 Compact using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THX for reply.
I do the steps:
-How To Backup TA Partiton
So I flashed the "E5823_32.0.A.6.200_R4B_Australia Generic_1298-7260.ftf" from here , from this thread.
-Backing Up TA Partiton
This step was a success . So I was able to run the script from the iovyroot_v0.4.zip , from this thread.
-Unlocking The Bootloader
I do this and I got the unlockcode from sony but when I run:
Code:
fastboot oem device-info
I got an error. He did not know this cmd. But when I do this, I got "Bootloader unlocked -> Yes"
*#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu.
Tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.
-Rooting The Device
And this step my journey ends. I can flash a twrp, for example this one.
I do this with:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery the-name-of-the-twrp.img
With no errors. The howto from here told that I should flash the boot.img from here before flashng the twrp but when I do this I am not able to boot into anything else then the fastboot (vol+ and plugin the cable) anymore.I try the boot.img from Z5C_AndroPlusKernel_v31.zip and from Z5C_AndroPlusKernel_v43.zip but both giving me the same result as mentioned before.
Perhaps my problem is that I am still on 5.1.1. At the moment I try to find a compatible E5823 ftf-File to latest stock-rom (should be 7.0.1?)
Greetings by Idijt
EDIT:
The result when I just try to boot a twrp recovery:
Code:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>fastboot boot C:\Users\idijt\Downloads\twrp-3.0.2-0-E5823-20160417.img
downloading 'boot.img'...
OKAY [ 0.392s]
booting...
FAILED (remote: dtb not found)
finished. total time: 0.459s

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I_did_it_just_tmrrow said:
THX for reply.
I do the steps:
-How To Backup TA Partiton
So I flashed the "E5823_32.0.A.6.200_R4B_Australia Generic_1298-7260.ftf" from here , from this thread.
-Backing Up TA Partiton
This step was a success . So I was able to run the script from the iovyroot_v0.4.zip , from this thread.
-Unlocking The Bootloader
I do this and I got the unlockcode from sony but when I run:
I got an error. He did not know this cmd. But when I do this, I got "Bootloader unlocked -> Yes"
*#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu.
Tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.
-Rooting The Device
And this step my journey ends. I can flash a twrp, for example this one.
I do this with: With no errors. The howto from here told that I should flash the boot.img from here before flashng the twrp but when I do this I am not able to boot into anything else then the fastboot (vol+ and plugin the cable) anymore.I try the boot.img from Z5C_AndroPlusKernel_v31.zip and from Z5C_AndroPlusKernel_v43.zip but both giving me the same result as mentioned before.
Perhaps my problem is that I am still on 5.1.1. At the moment I try to find a compatible E5823 ftf-File to latest stock-rom (should be 7.0.1?)
Greetings by Idijt
EDIT:
The result when I just try to boot a twrp recovery:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your computer, run Flashtool and click on the XF icon (the last one in the line of icons on the top part). XperiFirm will be downloaded and run. On it, under : Smartphone 2015'', click on 'Xpetia Z5 Compact' and on the specific model. Now clock on 'Check All'. Select a ROM bearing 'Customized' in its name and with version 32.4.A.1.54, which is Android 7.1.1). The list of available files appear on the right. Click on the most updated one and on 'Download'. Wait until the ROM is downloaded and unpacked. When the progress bar gets blank and says 'Downloaded successfully', click on 'Close'. Then, click on the X in the XperiFirm window to kill it. Flashtool will resume its work, which will culminate with the creation of the ftf file in the right directory.
To flash the ROM, click on the bolt icon, in Flashtool , select 'Flashmode', click on the little arrow at the left of the model name. The same for the specific model and for the ROM name. Finally, click on the ROM to be flashed. Mark all the boxes in the upper 'Wipe' section and click on 'Flash'. While it is preparing the files, turn the phone off. When an animated window requesting connection comes up, hold the phone's volume down button whilst connecting it to the computer. Release the button when the animated window goes away. Wait for the process to completely finish. Disconnect the phone from the computer
The ftf is located in C:/Users/your_username/.flashTool/firmwares. Copy it to anywhere you wish and change the copy's extension to zip.. Double click on it and extract 'kernel.sin'. In Flashtool, click on Tools > Sin Editor, and click on the tree dots on the right. Navigate to the location of the kernel.sin file, select it and click on 'Extract data'. File kernel.elf has been created.
Do you know rootkernel? (https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...t-automatic-repack-stock-kernel-dm-t3301605). Copy the kernel.elf and the phone's TA.img to the rootkernel directory. In a terminal window in that directory, enter:
flash_dk TA.img DK.ftf
Copy the DK.ftf file to .flashTool/firmwares directory. Flash it in flashmode, just like you did when you flashed the ROM.
Back to the terminal window, enter:
rootkernel kernel.elf new-boot.img
In the script which runs, answer yes to disable Sony RIC' and to DRM fix. Answer no to things like dm-verity, busybox and TWRP. Copy new-boot.img to the phone.
In the rootkernel thread there's an attachment called DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip. Download it and copy it to the phone.
The TWRP I use is this one: https://forum.xda-developres.com/z5-compact/general/twrp-twrp-3-3-0-z5-compact-t3929320, which I fastboot'ed to the FOTAKernel partition.
In TWRP (with the phone off, hold both power and vol-, remember?), click on 'Install' and on the flash img button. Select the new-boot.img file and the boot partition. Click on the flash zip button, select the Magisk v19.3 file and install it. Install
DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip as well.
This is getting too extense. As you progress, I will write other stuff.
Sent from my Xperia Z5 Compact using XDA Labs

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casouzaj said:
In your computer, ........
In TWRP (with the phone off, hold both power and vol-, remember?), click on 'Install' and on the flash img button. Select the new-boot.img file and the boot partition. Click on the flash zip button, select the Magisk v19.3 file and install it. Install
DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip as well.
This is getting too extense. As you progress, I will write other stuff.
Sent from my Xperia Z5 Compact using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thx for this guide!
I came now to the point to start twrp. The only thing I did not was installing Magisk. Then I hit reboot to system. Sadly at the moment it just stuck in the first white Sony-Logo screen.
The only chance to came out of this is to press all buttons in the same time.
My target is to have twrp and Berni's LineageOS build.
Do you have some last tips for me, I fell very close
EDIT:
I flashed Magisk v19.3 and it wokred... Yes, as you told me :/
Can I simply flash Berni LineageOS now and did I need to flash the new-boot.img, the DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip and Magisk always after flashing a new rom?

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I_did_it_just_tmrrow said:
Wow, thx for this guide!
I came now to the point to start twrp. The only thing I did not was installing Magisk. Then I hit reboot to system. Sadly at the moment it just stuck in the first white Sony-Logo screen.
The only chance to came out of this is to press all buttons in the same time.
My target is to have twrp and Berni's LineageOS build.
Do you have some last tips for me, I fell very close
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At any state the phone is in, in order to turn it off, hold both the power and the volume up buttons, until it vibrates thrice.
Then, enter TWRP by holding both the power and the volume down buttons. When the phone vibrates (as if it was being turned on), release the power button. When the screen lights up, release the volume down button. Then, under TWRP, install the new-boot.img, the Magusk-V19.3.zip and the DRM-Fix.zip.
Sent from my Xperia Z5 Compact using XDA Labs
---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------
Regarding Berni's LineageOS builds, I'm running his 14.1 firmware. It has some issues. I don't go back to the stock ROM because I would have to wipe my data in the process, and, at the moment, it's not an option for me. The big advantage of the stock ROM is that you can have all your DRM keys active, although the bootloader is unlocked. The big disadvantage is to have outdated security updates. Berni's 15.1 build has more bugs than the 14.1 one,, and with his 16.0 build, the phone doesn't even boot up.
By the way, the new-boot.img file doesn't fit any of the LineageOS builds. It's the kernel which holds the pointers to the DRM keys you flashed (DK.ftf). It is to the be used either with stock firmwares or ROMs based on it only. An indication is that the stock boot image is some 14+MB long, whereas LineageOS' boot images lenght is some 9MB only.
Sent from my Xperia Z5 Compact using XDA Labs

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I too am trying to root my Z5 Compact E5823
Could you help me clarify a few things, I followed another Z5 compact guide for MM and wasn't able to get SU installed without the bootloop I have my Z5 compact E5823 working after flashing 32.0.A.6.200_Australia_Generic firmware. I came across this thread and you gave such good instructions I thought I'd try Magisk which seems to be the standard now. I only got the Z5 compact to replace a broken Z3 compact, I needed a compact phone with ANT+ and the Z5 compact is the most advanced of the Sony's that offer it I never was able to get my Z3 rooted, I want to be able to rid the phone of bloatware I'm not sure the ANT+ works with Lineage so I'm stuck with Stock, at least if I get TWRP installed I can maybe experiment too.
As part of the guide I followed ( I can't post link because I joined just to ask for help, but it's titled "Sony Z5 Compact: Root without losing TA partition (DRM features) on Marshmallow") the part for the TA partition was as follows:
"Copy your TA partition backup to the rootkernel folder.
Open up a command prompt to the rootkernel folder and type in the following:
flash_dk TA-####.img restore-drm-keys.ftf
In Flashtool, click on the lightning bolt icon
Select flashmode
Select "DeviceKey" and click Flash
Hold "volume DOWN" and plug in USB cable.
Unplug and restart phone when instructed (read the activity log)"
do I have to repeat your instructions to:
flash_dk TA.img DK.ftf
Copy the DK.ftf file to .flashTool/firmwares directory. Flash it in flashmode, just like you did when you flashed the ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
should I still answer these this way?
Back to the terminal window, enter:
rootkernel kernel.elf new-boot.img
In the script which runs, answer yes to disable Sony RIC' and to DRM fix. Answer no to things like dm-verity, busybox and TWRP. Copy new-boot.img to the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't find the DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip, is it necessary? Where on the phone do I copy it?
In the rootkernel thread there's an attachment called DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip. Download it and copy it to the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mis-spelled the link but I found the thread. Are you using "20190514-TWRP-3.3.0-suzuran-recovery.img" or the newer one "20190517-TWRP-3.3.1-suzuran-recovery.img"
I do this with the code you have above?
fastboot flash FOTAKernel twrp.img
The TWRP I use is this one: which I fastboot'ed to the FOTAKernel partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is Magisk v19.3 still the one to use? When in TWRP can I install new-boot.img , and then Magisk v19.3, right after or do I need to reboot.
In TWRP (with the phone off, hold both power and vol-, remember?), click on 'Install' and on the flash img button. Select the new-boot.img file and the boot partition. Click on the flash zip button, select the Magisk v19.3 file and install it. Install
DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip as wells
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One last thing as you mentioned above
By the way, in my Z5C phone I use the stable Magisk 19.3 version, along with the MagiskHide Props Config, Busybox for Android NDK, and Systemless Hosts (this one is found in Magisk Manager settings) modules. This way my phone passes both Safetynet tests, and it shows as certified by Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are these all installed through Magisk Manager settings, or installed separately?
I hope all this isn't asking too much.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
P.S. ( I am also getting the NFC firmware failed error when first booting after flashing firmware, I tried about 4 times different things, LL, MM, and Nougat. I was able to install Boot.img when SU wasn't in the rootkernel folder but the after booting to TWRP the bootloop happened.)

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gnostisus said:
Could you help me clarify a few things, I followed another Z5 compact guide for MM and wasn't able to get SU installed without the bootloop I have my Z5 compact E5823 working after flashing 32.0.A.6.200_Australia_Generic firmware. I came across this thread and you gave such good instructions I thought I'd try Magisk which seems to be the standard now. I only got the Z5 compact to replace a broken Z3 compact, I needed a compact phone with ANT+ and the Z5 compact is the most advanced of the Sony's that offer it I never was able to get my Z3 rooted, I want to be able to rid the phone of bloatware I'm not sure the ANT+ works with Lineage so I'm stuck with Stock, at least if I get TWRP installed I can maybe experiment too.
As part of the guide I followed ( I can't post link because I joined just to ask for help, but it's titled "Sony Z5 Compact: Root without losing TA partition (DRM features) on Marshmallow") the part for the TA partition was as follows:
"Copy your TA partition backup to the rootkernel folder.
Open up a command prompt to the rootkernel folder and type in the following:
flash_dk TA-####.img restore-drm-keys.ftf
In Flashtool, click on the lightning bolt icon
Select flashmode
Select "DeviceKey" and click Flash
Hold "volume DOWN" and plug in USB cable.
Unplug and restart phone when instructed (read the activity log)"
do I have to repeat your instructions to:
should I still answer these this way?
I can't find the DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip, is it necessary? Where on the phone do I copy it?
In the rootkernel thread there's an attachment called DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip. Download it and copy it to the phone.
You mis-spelled the link but I found the thread. Are you using "20190514-TWRP-3.3.0-suzuran-recovery.img" or the newer one "20190517-TWRP-3.3.1-suzuran-recovery.img"
I do this with the code you have above?
fastboot flash FOTAKernel twrp.img
You mis-spelled the link but I found the thread. Are you using "20190514-TWRP-3.3.0-suzuran-recovery.img" or the newer one "20190517-TWRP-3.3.1-suzuran-recovery.img"
I do this with the code you have above?
fastboot flash FOTAKernel twrp.img
The TWRP I use is this one: which I fastboot'ed to the FOTAKernel partition.
is Magisk v19.3 still the one to use? When in TWRP can I install new-boot.img , and then Magisk v19.3, right after or do I need to reboot.
One last thing as you mentioned above
Are these all installed through Magisk Manager settings, or installed separately?
I hope all this isn't asking too much.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
P.S. ( I am also getting the NFC firmware failed error when first booting after flashing firmware, I tried about 4 times different things, LL, MM, and Nougat. I was able to install Boot.img when SU wasn't in the rootkernel folder but the after booting to TWRP the bootloop happened.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Magisk modules are installed by the Magisk Manager app. Tap on the menu button (the 3 bars at the top left) and select 'Download'. Tap on the search button and type in at least part of the module's name, and tap on 'Install'. The only module that is installed differently is the systemless hosts one. Tap on 'Menu > Settings > Systemless hosts'. After all the modules you wanted get installed, reboot your phone.
By the way, in my Z5C phone I'm currently running the latest stable Magisk v20.4. In its Menu > Settings part, I turn on the 'Magisk Hide' key.
Regarding flashing the Dk.ftf file, I do it whenever I flash a full ftf, because I guess the alternative partition it is flashed to gets overwritten.
Sent from my Sony E5823 using XDA Labs

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Berni's LineageOS
I managed to get everything working and set up. Unfortunately I couldn't get the ANT+ working, it is disabled or buggy above LL, I tried the ANT+ Enabler app with no luck, the app claims to work on LineageOS so I want to give that a try but you wrote above
casouzaj said:
]Regarding Berni's LineageOS builds, I'm running his 14.1 firmware.
By the way, the new-boot.img file doesn't fit any of the LineageOS builds. It's the kernel which holds the pointers to the DRM keys you flashed (DK.ftf). It is to the be used either with stock firmwares or ROMs based on it only. An indication is that the stock boot image is some 14+MB long, whereas LineageOS' boot images lenght is some 9MB only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So would I be able to flash from TWRP In a similar manner and what files would I need, or do I have to flash the Berni's LineageOS firmware with flashtool and install a different TWRP build to install Magisk? Otherwise I'm stuck with stock 5.1.1 which I had tried to get rooted with no luck.
Thanks for the reply.

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gnostisus said:
I managed to get everything working and set up. Unfortunately I couldn't get the ANT+ working, it is disabled or buggy above LL, I tried the ANT+ Enabler app with no luck, the app claims to work on LineageOS so I want to give that a try but you wrote above
So would I be able to flash from TWRP In a similar manner and what files would I need, or do I have to flash the Berni's LineageOS firmware with flashtool and install a different TWRP build to install Magisk? Otherwise I'm stuck with stock 5.1.1 which I had tried to get rooted with no luck.
Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never used ANT+. I can't help you with that.
Berni's builds (like practicality all custom ROMs) are flashable zips. Install them from TWRP. .If you need the Google stuff, install a Gapps package, also from TWRP (I use to get the most updated mini one from opengappsI.com). Wipe all your data and caches. To get root access, install Magisk (the stable v20.4, I guess).
Good luck!
Sent from my Sony E5823 using XDA Labs

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quick question about Berni's build
casouzaj said:
Berni's builds (like practicality all custom ROMs) are flashable zips. Install them from TWRP..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I have to do is put the Berni's build zip file on my phone and In TWRP click on 'Install' and on the flash img button. Select the zip file. There's nothing I need to do to prepare the phone first?
Wipe all your data and caches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I do this?
I guess most important do I need to install the DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip or anything else other than Magisk again?
Thanks again

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gnostisus said:
All I have to do is put the Berni's build zip file on my phone and In TWRP click on 'Install' and on the flash img button. Select the zip file. There's nothing I need to do to prepare the phone first?
How do I do this?
I guess most important do I need to install the DRM-Fix_System_Mode.zip or anything else other than Magisk again?
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can either copy the zip files to your phone (or SD card), select the storage where the files are located and tap on ' Install', or keep them on your PC and, in TWRP tap on 'Advanced > add sidelioad', slide the bar, connect your phone to your PC, launch a command window, navigate to the folder where the files are located and enter:
add sideload filename.zip
Wait until the sideload process is finished (TWRP returns to the normal adb interface).
To clear your data, tap on the 'Wipe' softbutton and slide the bottom bar to factory reset.
Sent from my Sony E5823 using XDA Labs