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new SONY XA2 - Downgrade to Android 8

asked 2019-06-06 19:02:47 +0300

madel gravatar image

updated 2019-08-06 10:25:09 +0300

jovirkku gravatar image

I just bought a SONY XA2 to install SailFishX on it - it arrived brand new with Android 9.0 installed. I understand that because of this I cannot install SF. Is there any way of downgrading to Android 8.0 ? or any other trick that would allow to run SF ? Tnaks

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Comments

7

I think it should be possible with the Emma Tool, to flash older Android versions.

davidm00r ( 2019-06-06 21:23:02 +0300 )edit
1

It should be documented then. I hope it is.

lakutalo ( 2019-06-06 22:12:42 +0300 )edit
4

I got mine XA2 with 9.0 installed but bought it used so I am not sure what was preinstalled. Emma offered me only 8.0 to flash. And it flashed and worked :).

skkayman ( 2019-06-11 15:01:35 +0300 )edit

@madel, what do you think about another way like this one

Asmir ( 2019-06-29 22:53:18 +0300 )edit

3 Answers

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11

answered 2019-06-20 03:25:17 +0300

Stephan gravatar image

updated 2019-08-17 11:26:21 +0300

Update:There is an official Guide available now: https://jolla.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360008004900-Downgrading-Android-from-9-to-8-1-on-XA2-This-makes-it-possible-to-install-Sailfish-OS-

Thanks you @jovirkku

Deprecated: Got an upgraded XA2 with Android 9 today. I am not happy with the process, but was able to flash sailfish os, afer downgrading to Andriod 8.

Would be great if someone who was successfully using Emma also write an detailed Answer.

Warning: use the following description only if you know what you are doing!

I downgraded with flashtool. It comes with xperifirm to download an old firmware. Was not able to get it running under Ubuntu 19.04 ("An error occurred while unpacking!") with Windows 10 it worked fine.

Firmware 50.2.A.0.379-R3B (Telekom.de DE) was installed. Xperifirm did not offer an older Version for Telekom.de DE so I used 50.1.A.13.123-R1A (T-Mobile AT)

50.1.X = Android 8 50.2.X = Android 9

To sum up the process (Please read "More detailed resources" before doing anything)

  • Need to use Windows 10 :(
  • download + start flashtool
  • open XperiFirm (XF labed button) + choose XA2 on the left
  • choose an 50.1.X Firmware and download via the button on the right
  • Close XperiFirm
  • Klick the "Flash Icon" within flashtool and choose "Flashmode"
  • Choose downloaded Firmware
  • Select all Wipe options APPSLOG...
  • Klick Flash
  • Igonre the Partition Warning (kind of scary), Include all Scripts if asked
  • Done / Reboot the Device

More detailed resources:

I flollowed the advices here: https://sailfishmods.de/2019/05/sailfish-x-fuer-xa2-nicht-mit-android-9-pie-kompatibel/ and here (only the Downgraden section is nessesary) https://sailfishmods.de/2017/07/howto-sony-xperia-x-teil-1-cda-drm-keys-bootloader/

Other related Topics on togehter.jolla.com: https://together.jolla.com/question/205349/do-not-update-your-xa2-device-to-android-9/?answer=205480#post-id-205480

May thanks to sailfishmods.de!

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Comments

1

fyi I think Jolla is working on making it working with Android 9 but in the meantime your solution is likely the only one ;)

pat_o ( 2019-06-20 10:40:16 +0300 )edit
1

xperifirm and flashtool is available for linux

Itschue ( 2019-06-21 02:04:05 +0300 )edit

yes, but with ubuntu 19.04 I got this error: Link

Stephan ( 2019-06-23 11:42:30 +0300 )edit

there are users repporting that flashtools manages to "un-brick" devices previously bricked by flashing SFOS over Android 9.

flashtool should be working on Linux, because that's what we were using back in the Xperia X era. The error you're getting is probably a bug and an update or bugfix is coming.

DrYak ( 2019-08-07 11:52:27 +0300 )edit
4

answered 2019-08-05 14:11:12 +0300

jovirkku gravatar image

This is how to downgrade Android to 8.1 and then install Sailfish OS:

https://together.jolla.com/question/210457/flash-with-android-9-on-xa2/?answer=211047#post-id-211047

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my xa 2 has android 8.0.0 installed, do i have to update to 8.1 or does it work without the update?

NuklearFart ( 2019-08-05 16:10:55 +0300 )edit

@NuklearFart: It should work on Android 8.0.0, too, but this has been tested too little. Safest would be to upgrade to 8.1 (*) with Emma (Windows PC).

(*) Build version 50.1.A.xxxx.yyyy

jovirkku ( 2019-08-06 10:26:33 +0300 )edit

Thank you very much. Doin the installation in a few minutes. Hope it runs flawlessly :)

NuklearFart ( 2019-08-06 20:45:32 +0300 )edit

Hi NuklearFart! I have the same situation here. Have you been successful flashing Sailfish X based on Android 8.0.0 or did you upgrade with Emma to 8.1 before? Which binary files did you use?

Monty ( 2019-09-16 10:45:44 +0300 )edit
0

answered 2019-07-28 13:10:59 +0300

toba gravatar image

wanted to tell u: i was able to downgrade easily with emma on win 10. worked flawlessly.

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Asked: 2019-06-06 19:02:47 +0300

Seen: 3,743 times

Last updated: Aug 17 '19