Android 13 downgrade using flashtool?

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I have just received my Xperia 10 iii, and the previous owner had upgraded it to Android 13.

I believe I need to downgrade to Android 12 before installing SfOS. Is that correct?

I don’t have access to EMMA as I only own computers running Linux Mint and MacOS (latest version). So can I downgrade using Flashtool on Linux (I have downloaded the needed firmware)?

Thanks

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Looks like it:

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@petefoth
Newflasher would also be an alternative method which works with Windows, Linux, Android & Darwin.

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How to install Newflasher on Debian Linux? How to get it? I would be happy if I could flash different Android versions as basis for a SFOS installation for some testing. I read somewhere on the forum that newer Android version as underlying layer may bring better results as the officially suggested version. But I don’t have a Windows computer.

Aand: Does Newflasher work with old Xperia 10?

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OT: What is Darwin? (20 chars)

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Download from the link in the first post of this XDA forum thread
https://xdaforums.com/t/tool-newflasher-xperia-command-line-flasher.3619426/

It’s the MacOS kernel

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Hi.

You can use A13, no need to downgrade.

There is a long thread about this here: Android 13 and SailfishOS on Xperia 10 III

TLDR is:
You can use A12 or A13, but download the binaries that the documentation says:
Software binaries for AOSP Android 11.0 – Kernel 4.19 – Lena (latest)

EDIT:
Corrected the img file

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Thanks.

I wish I had known that a few hours ago :slight_smile: My first attempt to downgrade involved allowing Xperia Companion to try and repair my device: the repair failed, and left the device unable to boot.

I’m now thrashing around with Androxyde’s Flashtool and NewFlasher. To reflash a working stock firmware. I have managed to unlock the bootloader using fastboot, but Flashtool is failing, reporting that the following error

23/009/2025 13:09:26 - INFO - Parsing boot delivery
23/009/2025 13:09:26 - INFO - Found a boot delivery
23/009/2025 13:09:26 - WARN - File reset-force-psim-mode.ta is ignored
23/009/2025 13:09:26 - ERROR - No flash script found. Flash script is mandatory

Probably user error, so I’m going to take a break and come back to it this evening

EDIT:
With the bootloader unlocked, and the Sailfish zip and Sony binaries downloaded, I tried proceeding from step 8 Flash Sailfish X. First attempt got me to the Recovery. Second attempt and Sailfish is booting :slight_smile:

Thanks all for your help. I’ll be back soon with more questions

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Just to confirm once more, in case someone will search for this like I did: flashing Xperia 10III with Android 13 works.

I don’t have access to any Windows machines, so downgrading with Emma wasn’t an option, but luckily wasn’t necessary, following the manual step by step worked fine :ok_hand:

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