Successful installation of /e/ Android Q on Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact (xz2c)

/e/OS Devices Sony
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I managed to compile and install /e/ Android Q on a XZ2C device and wanted to share how I did it.

Compilation

In order to compile /e/, I followed the steps described on https://doc.e.foundation/how-tos/build-e and Is it possible to make Q builds using Docker?
with the following arguments:
-e “BRANCH_NAME=v1-q”
-e “DEVICE_LIST=xz2c”
-e “OTA_URL=https://myownserver.example.com” \

The final zip file was called “e-0.14-q-20201228-UNOFFICIAL-xz2c.zip”

Installation

The Installation was a bit more tricky and I was confronted with a bit of try and error.

I unlocked the bootloader as written on the LineageOs guide “Unlocking the bootloader” https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/xz2c/install

WARNING: This will permanently erase some Sony DRM-Keys and permanently unlock the bootloader (and possibly other things).

WARNING: After unlocking the bootloader I installed different versions of LineageOS and of the stock-Android. I can not recall the exact order, so be aware that some TWRP & LineageOS & Android combinations are not compatible (Android 9 vs Android 10 or stock vs sodp): read the package-descriptions!

I installed TWRP recovery from https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/recovery-android-10-stock-sodp-xz2-c-p-3-twrp-3-4-0-0-unofficial.4074305/
I read and applied the first and the second post.
I followed the installation instructions 1-4 in the second post.
Instead of steps 5-6 I installed TWRP with the following command: “fastboot flash boot twrp-apollo.img”
I did not do steps 8-10

I had to go the TWRP-way, because the Lineage Recovery as described in https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/xz2c/install did not work for my compiled os.
I got this idea from [UNOFFICIAL BUILD] OnePlus 7T Pro(hotdog) eOS - Q (Thank you @vxrdanny)

HINT: Since “fastboot devices” showed no device in the appropriate step for me on Windows, I had to manually install and select the correct driver for the Bootloader.

I followed the “Pre-install instructions” of https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/xz2c/install and did the partition copy.

By adopting the instructions of “Installing LineageOS from recovery” of https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/xz2c/install to TWRP, I managed to install e and after a reboot I was saluted by the e-logo :smiley:

Initial Tests

Android changed quite a bit between Nougat-LeEco Le 2 (s2) to the Q-xz2c.
In the few hours I tested it so far, I experienced only minor issues:

  • I can make calls and receive SMS
  • calendar, contacts, notes synchronization works with my own Nextcloud
  • E-Mail access works
  • Picture-Quality is better than on the s2 (and the camera works without problems :smiley: in comparison to the s2)
  • App-Installation via /e/-Apps, F-Droid and Aurora made no problems
  • The “Files”-App has some dialogues with white text on white background, so some buttons are unreadable (can not say if this is a Q-thing or a xz2c-thing)
8 Likes
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Excellent! Did you check if GPS, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth and fingerprint work?

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GPS: Magic Earth with navigation works
WiFi: I can connect to my WLAN-router
NFC: don’t have an application for it, so I never tested
Bluetooth: Received a file from my previous phone, but it took longer than expected - not sure about the reason
Fingerprint: Tested and I can access the phone with it

1 Like
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Good work on making the build! I hope to be able to take on my first build one day.

I’ve noticed the Files app missing dialogue on an unofficial build for Xperia XA2 which is also e-0.14-q, so it may be a pre-release glitch I guess.

1 Like
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Hi guys, do not hesitate to :heart: my request here to increase the chance for this device to be officially supported maybe one day: Sony XZ2 Compact dual sim (8324) At least it’s worth a try

1 Like
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I also managed to compile and install Android Q (0.14) on my single sim xz2c (8134). I had LOS microg before and the explained installation guide didn’t work for me (maybe I took the wrong boot.img.), got Error: “kDownloadMetadataSignatureMismatch” So I tried with LOS Recovery and sinced my device didn’t boot later anything other than fastboot I downloaded newest (2021-03-12) and everything worked immediatly with it.

I ran into some issues, Calls work (but app crashes, again and again) so I need to reboot device to hang up. Installed a diffrent app and with it it worked. Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS and NFC works. Installing covid app I was greeted with missing API. So I tried to install from APPS. When I click install the APPS app crashes also.

Has anyone suggestions?

Oh and whats the difference of branch and tag? I went alog with the tag since I read often about in the community.

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I own the dual-sim XZ2C - maybe these two devices are different in some ways that affect you. Have you tried to view the logcat when the apps crash? The Covid App might need some Google-API that is not present on /e/-OS.
Branch and Tag point to different locations in the source code tree.

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Does the compilation include the Xperia XZ2 Compact SO-05K, NTT DoCoMo JP, Android 10?

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@anjomale I can confirm, that the OS works on the “H8324” model. I have no experience, if it works on the “SO-05K” model. You could try and ask on the LineageOS development thread. https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-11-lineageos-18-1-official.4195805/. Maybe someone there has an answer.

Fore reference there is also this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/h8314-firmware-on-an-so-05k-model-possible.4219995/. It seems like no one has reported a successful installation of LineageOS (or derived OS like /e/) on the “SO-05K” model yet.

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Did you Checksum(ed) the .zip?

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@Markus, Yes it’s true. I was also not successful.

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I successfully compiled and installed v0.18.1-r /e/-Android R on XZ2C.
Since I used the Prod-Docker-Image for compilation, instead of the Community-Docker-Image, I needed to do a factory reset before the installation of Android R - I did not manage to update it directly from v0.18-q (Community-Docker-Image) via sideload.

Basic functionality is working: Phone, Messengers, E-Mail, SMS, Contacts, Calendar, Photo, Nextcloud-connection to my own Nextcloud-server, Navigation, Notes.

1 Like
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hey guys sony xz2c
docomo (Can So-05 flash this ROM?) Or help me how to self-compile. grateful!

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If I remember correctly, this did not work. According to https://doc.e.foundation/devices/xz2c and https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/xz2c/ only the following were supported:

  • H8314
  • H8324