[Guide/tutorial] Sony Xperia Tablet Z LTE or Wifi Any version to Android 8.

1 Oreo
[Guide/tutorial] Sony Xperia Tablet Z SGP321 LTE/4G (pollux) or Wifi (pollux-windy)
Any version to Android 8.1 Oreo/LineageOS 15.1

This detailed step-by-step guide helps you transform your Sony Xperia Tablet Z to a
powerful one with Android 8.1 Oreo.

To make sure you are with a Xperia Tablet Z 4G / Pollux / SGP321 (SGP351 for USA,
SO-03E for Japan) :
On the tablet, go to Menu -> Settings -> About tablet. Check that the "model
number" is correct : SGP321 (Europe).
Same for the Wifi/Pollux_windy version.

### You must be logged as a Microsoft Windows administrator to run console commands
below.
### When you lose control of your Xperia tablet Z, hold Power + Volume+ until tab
restarts.

CHANGELOG -------------------
v8. Moved to Official LineageOS 15.1 available to bring you Android 8.1 Oreo
v7.2. Refresh OpenGapps download link
v7.1. Refresh pack v2 (TWRP 3.2.3-0) and tutorial
v7. recovery TWRP 3.2.2-0 and new FOTAKernel installation
v6. Google Play certification, recovery TWRP 3.2.1-0, new pack for easier install
v5.5. Overclock
v5. Updated tutorial to latest ROMs and utils
v4. Upgraded tutorial
v3. Moved to Android 7.1
v2. Tutorial updated for permanent recovery, Black kernel, pack has no more missing
fastboot files, drivers included, F2FS optimizations
v1. Initial release

1) DOWNLOAD FILES

- My pack : http://bit.ly/djibe-xperia-tabletz-v2
(contains Xperia drivers + fastboot.exe + TWRP 3.2.3-0 recovery for both
LTE/4G/Pollux version and Wifi/Pollux_windy + root (addonsu.zip) + deviceID.apk
app)

+ ROM LineageOS 15.1 : https://download.lineageos.org/pollux

Version for Wifi-only tablet Z : https://download.lineageos.org/pollux_windy
WARNING. Download correct version, Pollux for your 4G/LTE model, Pollux_windy
for your Wifi-only model

+ OpenGApps ARM 8.1 Pico version : https://opengapps.org/?

arch=arm&api=8.1&variant=pico

+ a microSD card. Copy ROM, AddonSU, GApps and deviceID.apk on microSD card and
insert it in tablet.
+ Charge phone to 100 %.

NB. Use a USB2 port to connect tablet to PC.

2) INSTALL DRIVERS

On the keyboard of PC, use "Windows key + R" combo.

In the command prompt that opens, type: [CODE]shutdown -r -t 0 -o[/CODE]
This opens a Windows menu :
Go to Troubleshooting -> Advanced Options -> Settings -> Restart
Upon restart, press on keyboard : key 7 (Disables drivers signature verification)

After boot,
Start Flashtool Xperia Driver Pack 1.8,
check the Fastboot drivers, ADB and Xperia Z tablet drivers, start the installation
and confirm the
forcing the driver installation. It ends by saying that everything was installed.

Restart Windows.

2bis, FOR WARRANTY PURPOSE) Backup bootloader

- Root. Follow Bin4ry root : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?

t=1886460
Download : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886460

- Then Backup TA. https://github.com/DevShaft/Backup-TA

Unzip it in C:\
Make sure partition is saved.

3) IMEI NUMBER

On the tablet, go to Menu -> Settings -> About tablet -> Status -> Information on
the IMEI code
Note the IMEI.

4) GENERATE BOOTLOADER UNLOCK CODE

From your PC, go to : http://developer.sonymobile.com/unlockbootloader/

Select Xperia Tablet Z on the webpage.
Enter your email and complete the captcha to generate unlock key.
In your mail, go to the Sony mail (Probably in your spam folder ;-) ).
Click on "Click here to proceed".
Enter your IMEI and click Next.
Note the unlock code (beginning and end of page paragraph C.)

5) CONNECT TAB IN FASTBOOT MODE

Tablet powered off, hold "Volume up" while you plug the tablet in USB.
The blue light appears next to microSD cable, the drivers install in Windows.

6) UNLOCK BOOTLOADER

In Windows, select the "flash" folder you unziped earlier.

Then make a combo "SHIFT + right click" on that folder -> Chose "Open command
window here" in the menu.
Type: [CODE]fastboot -i 0x0fce getvar Version[/CODE]
### If a line is displayed without errors, drivers are correctly installed.
### If #### <waiting for device> persists, try this minimal ADB and fastboot
instead : http://www.chip.de/downloads/Minimal-ADB-and-Fastboot_62500183.html

Paste the following line (written at the end of the page issued by Sony) :
[CODE]fastboot oem unlock 0xYOURUNLOCKKEY[/CODE]
confirm with Enter. After 2 seconds, it is displayed OKAY.
Bootloader is unlocked !

7) FLASH TWRP RECOVERY 3.2

Still in fastboot, type in console : [CODE]fastboot flash boot twrp-3.2.3-0-

pollux.img[/CODE] (or twrp-3.2.3-0-pollux_windy for Wifi model). Confirm with
Enter.
Wait, then once the confirmed success,
type : [CODE]fastboot reboot[/CODE] (confirm with Enter).
AND while it restarts, repeatedly click Volume+ AND Volume- buttons to access the
recovery (can take a while).

8) BACKUP CURRENT ROM

You are now in TWRP recovery, swype to unlock changes.

Go to Backup, select all partitions.
In Storage, select microSD Card then OK.
Then swype to start backup (Well, hums, it failed on my tablet ;-) ).
Click the TWRP icon to return to home.

Go Wipe -> Wipe Advanced -> Select Dalvik, System, Cache, Data and swipe to
confirm.

### If errors are displayed in red "failed to mount data (invalid argument)" appear
(as I had),
### go to Wipe -> Data Format, type yes and click OK.

9) FORMAT IN F2FS

INFO : F2FS is the fastest filesystem for read and write partitions on flash
memories. Compared to EXT4, gain is from 15 to 280 %.
No need to format the /System partition because it is Read only and EXT4 is still
faster.

Still in Advanced Wipe menu,

select the /Cache partition and tap Repair or Change File System -> Change File
System and select F2FS.
Confirm with a Swipe to Change.
Do it again for the /Data partition.

10) INSTALL ROM, AND GAPPS

Still under TWRP home menu.

Go to Install -> select lineage*.zip.
### If no files is visible, click Storage -> select microSD Card.
Add more zip -> addonsu*.zip file.
### Don't flash OpenGapps right now !

Swype to confirm flash.

Wait while Install Zips 2 of 2 are flashed.
At the end, select Wipe Dalvik and cache and then Reboot system.

Wait for the long first boot.

11) ENABLE ROOT and install Gapps
Once Android is configured, go to Settings -> About, tap 7 times on build info.
Go to Settings -> Developer Options -> root access. Select applications and ADB.

Now reboot to TWRP recovery again and go to Install -> Select Opengapps*.zip ->
Flash to Wipe.
Then wipe cache/dalvik and reboot tab.

12) RECALIBRATE BATTERY

On the Play Store, download Battery Calibration (Nema). Follow the instructions.
For faster GPS fix, use GPS Status and Toolbox.

13) OBTAIN GOOGLE MOBILE SERVICES (GMS) CERTIFICATION

Google now restricts Google Play and Google apps access to certificated devices.
Since you have a custom ROM, you are banned.
We now need to subscribe for the Google Play Certification.

Download the DeviceID app from the Play Store :

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evozi.deviceid&hl=fr
In Android, go to Settings -> Security and activate the Unknow sources
Now use the built-in File explorer app to locate the deviceID.apk app you copied on
the microSD card.
Install it, launch it.
Tap on the Google Service Framework (GSF) line, then tap on the COPY button.

In your Android webbrowser, go to : https://www.google.com/android/uncertified/

Connect to Google using your Google/Android account.
In the input field of the page, paste the 16 digits code.
Click on the Save button, a success message confirms your device is Certified.

Do I need to re-certify it ?
"Your device�s GSF ID is reset every time your device is factory reset (or when you
wipe the GSF app itself) since it is stored in your data partition, so you must re-
register your GSF ID every time you perform either of these actions."
More info here : https://lineageos.org/Google-Play-Certification/

14) PERMANENT CUSTOM RECOVERY

Download app from Play Store : Recovery Manager for Xperia.
Chose FOTAkernel -> Backup.
Then TWRP -> Download.
Now connect tab to PC in USB.
Replace the recovery downloaded (you'll find it in XperiaRecovery folder in the
tab) with TWRP 3.2.3-0.img (located in the flash folder specific for your model).
Then unplug tab from PC and flash TWRP recovery from app Recovery Manager for
Xperia.

15) OVERCLOCK
Download Kernel Adiutor app from the Play Store.
Launch and grant root access.
In CPU you can try 1600 MHz or higher values. If unstable, try lower values.

Your tablet is a rocket, enjoy ;-)

Thanks: LineageOS team, TWRP team, OpenGApps team, Flashtool Xperia Driver pack
team