Last Updated on July 23, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

Firstly you should understand that there is no traditional rooting tool for this update. We know Chainfire is working hard to come up with solutions for Android 5.0 Lollipop once it comes out. What we are doing involves going back to 4.4.2 KitKat and installing the new 4.4.4 through a custom recovery so you have root access on the last stages of KitKat. It’s a nifty work-around that’s made by “Norti’ from XDA. If you prefer to read the original posters guide you can follow the thread through here. We are getting a great deal of requests for providing a way for unchaining the system internals so people can use Custom ROMs and other application from the Google Play Store that they can’t use unless they break away from the default factory restrictions. Hence why we are creating this tutorial.

Backup the smartphone data and settings. Following through with the steps doesn’t automatically delete the data this time. However, if something goes wrong and you must do a factory reset, your data is compromised. Most people have their own way of backing up. Since you must be rooted already you can take a Nandroid backup or use apps such as Titanium. If you are doing the whole shebang today and are running stock firmware you can use Helium for Android available from the Google Play Store. Don’t forget to make copies of the phone contacts, settings, call logs, SMS texts, videos, pictures, music and other audio files you don’t want to lose.

Z2

Details of Note

  • Don’t follow this guide unless you have the Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone. You can download the stock firmware for the eligible devices from the step during the guide.
  • You must use a Windows PC or else this won’t work. Do not try installing the files on Mac or Linux since they are made for Windows. You can use Windows XP through to Windows 8. We don’t know if it works from Windows 10 if you are reading this later. Remember that Microsoft are choosing to skip the 9 this year and go with the 10 name.
  • You must use the exact files listed in the guide. We know you know names such as SuperSu already, but you must understand that they come in different versions. The files here are for the Xperia Z2 only on the current firmware. Do not try to install them on any other smartphone or tablet since you risk bricking.
  • You must stopover at the Developer Options and enable USB Debugging Mode. You find the menu from the Settings application. The Dev options are only hidden in an earlier version of Android software whereby you tap the build number seven times to unlock it. Likewise, you need the up-to-date USB Drivers. If you are connecting to the computer and accessing the phones data you don’t need to download drivers since the existing drivers are working.
  • As I mentioned before, do not follow the steps unless you are an advanced Android user. Find a family member with experience in modding and customizing the operating system if you don’t have a friend who can help.
  • Furthermore, stop the security programs from running on the Android handset and the Windows computer. The Android has security apps to prevent viruses. You will get access to the Windows security programs direct from the system tray next to the task bar. Don’t forget to start them up again after you leave here.
  • The guide is for those with a locked bootloader.
  • Monitor the battery percentage before starting. You ought to start with at least 50% battery power. That way is won’t shut down during the installation process. Most people have the USB charging feature working. However, we are not connecting to the computer all the time.

How to root Sony Xperia Z2 running Android 4.4.4 KitKat

  1. Download the FTF update file from this XDA Developers thread.
  2. Download SuperSU here.
  3. Download PRFCreator v0.5.zip here.
  4. Download XZ Dual recovery here.
  5. Extract the PRF Creator and run the program on the computer.
  6. Upload the other three zip files (SuperSu, Dual recovery and FTF) to the three section.
    Uncheck all the boxes that say “include” since we are flashing them later with the flash tool. The developer suggests this is safer.
  7. Click the “create” button.
  8. Copy the zip file to the internal memory of the Xperia phone.
  9. Boot it up in team Win’s TWRP.
  10. Choose the “install” option and upload the file.
  11. Go back to the main recovery menu and wipe the Dalvik cache.
  12. Go back once more and select reboot/power off.
  13. Open the flash tool and flash the kernel and baseband files with the flash device icon. Do this from the FTF in flashmode.
  14. Check the partition, TA, system and “no final version” boxes. leave all the other boxes unmarked.
  15. Find the USB cable.
  16. Click the flash button.
  17. press and hold the Volume Down and connect the phone to the computer using the USB wire.
  18. Hold the volume down button until the flashtool start flashing and then release.
  19. Don’t touch any buttons until it finishes.
  20. Disconnect safely by stopping the USB mass Storage Device.
  21. Check the SuperSu after it reboots and mount the system R/W.

In case you are getting stuck in a boot loop enter the recovery mode; from there select the cache options such as “wipe data factory reset” and “wipe cache partition”. navigate back to the main recovery menu and select “reboot system now”.

Don’t hesitate to leave questions and comments if you need anything. Hopefully now you can enjoy custom apps such as Children Tracker, BBQ Screen, FPS meter, Unicon, Nandroid manager and more. Moreover, download and install the root checker app from the Google Play store.