Official Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for Xperia Arc and Arc S — Installation Guide

Keeping their word on the mid-April release date, Sony started rolling out the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update for the Xperia Arc S (along with the neo V and Xperia Ray). It is only available in a few countries for now, so in case you haven’t got the update in your country yet but don’t want to wait to try it out, don’t worry. The development community over at XDA, as always, has made available the firmware files for manual flashing.

You can flash the update on both the Xperia Arc and Arc S, as the Arc and Arc S are similar devices, so the firmware is compatible with both. We have a full step-by-step procedure that you can follow to update to Ice Cream Sandwich on your Arc/Arc S.

Read on to find out how you can install the official Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 on your Sony Xperia Arc/Arc S.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and Arc S, model number LT15i/LT18i. It’s not compatible with any other device and may render an incompatible device unusable. Check your device model in Settings » About phone.

Warning!

The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to your device, we won’t be held liable.

How to Install Ice Cream Sandwich on Xperia Arc/Arc S

  1. Download and install Flashtool from → here. (Get the Windows version from the Installation section).
  2. Now, after installing Flashtool, go to the Flashtool folder (C:Flashtool by default) on your computer, and open the drivers folder. Double-click the Flashtool-drivers file to start the installation of the necessary drivers for the phone.
  3. In the drivers setup screen, click Next once, then on the component selection screen, tick the following two options:
    1. Arc-Play-Neo-Acro ADB Drivers
    2. Flashmode Drivers
  4. Then, select Next to start installing the necessary drivers. During installation of drivers, you’ll get a lot of pop-ups saying the drivers are not compatible or something. Just select Install this driver anyway on each pop-up. After driver installation is complete, proceed to the next step.
  5. Download the firmware file.
    Download Link  |  Filename: LT18i_4.1.A.0.562_Generic.ftf
    Note: Your browser/download manager might save the file as a zip file. If that happens, just change the .zip at the end of the filename to .ftf (if you can’t see the .zip in the filename, go to Control Panel » Folder Options, and under the View tab, uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types option, then click OK).
  6. Copy the downloaded .ftf file to the Flashtoolfirmwares folder.
  7. Now, double-click the FlashTool file inside the Flashtool folder to run the flashing program.
  8. Once the Flashtool program opens — click on the “Flash” button (the first of the seven buttons at the top of the screen).
  9. Select Flashmode on the screen that shows up, then press OK.
  10. You will see LT18i in the list of devices in the new window that shows up (as shown in screenshot below). Click on the LT18i entry in the list, then click OK.
  11. Now, after a few seconds, it should ask you to connect your phone to the PC. So first plug the USB cable to PC, then pick up your phone and hold the “Back” key (key at the bottom left on your Arc), and then connect the USB cable to your phone. Remember, you have to hold the “Back” key while connecting the USB cable to phone.
  12. Once the phone gets connected, Flashtool will automatically start the flashing process.
  13. Important! At the end of the flashing, instead of a Flashing Complete message, you might get an error message in red letters saying Error Flashing, in the Flashtool window, as shown below in screenshot. Ignore this error. The firmware has been successfully flashed.
  14. After the flashing is complete, just unplug your phone from the computer, then turn it on.
  15. On first boot, the phone will restart once at the Sony logo, then boot up into Ice Cream Sandwich.

Congratulations. You’ve successfully updated your Xperia Arc/Arc S to the official Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 update. Do let us know what you think of ICS, and whether you like it on your Arc/Arc S, in the comments below.

111 Comments

  1. after download the file.zip not .ftf ????

    1. Hold on… don’t use it… new version being updated… check back in 10 mins

    2. Hi. Your download manager renamed the file to .zip. Just rename it to .ftf and you’re good to go. 

    3. Does it work for LT18a? Built 4.0.2.A.0.62 ?

    4. Yes, it should work.

    5. Yes, it is working properly. It was updated to LT18i.

  2. after download the file.zip not .ftf ????

    1. Hold on… don’t use it… new version being updated… check back in 10 mins

    2. Hi. Your download manager renamed the file to .zip. Just rename it to .ftf and you’re good to go. 

      1. Does it work for LT18a? Built 4.0.2.A.0.62 ?

        1. Yes, it should work.

          1. Yes, it is working properly. It was updated to LT18i.

  3. Dont work on xperia arc lt15 . Boots Sony then xperis then sony ……….  🙁

  4. Hola alguien ya logro actualizar el Xperia Arc LT15i y que tal les resulto…

    no pierde la liberacion el equipo?

  5. Dont work on xperia arc lt15 . Boots Sony then xperis then sony ……….  🙁

  6. gonzalo Contreras Juarez

    Hola alguien ya logro actualizar el Xperia Arc LT15i y que tal les resulto…

    no pierde la liberacion el equipo?

  7. 15/044/2012 07:44:41 – INFO
    – Start Flashing

    15/044/2012 07:44:41 – INFO
    – Ending flash session

    15/044/2012 07:44:41 – ERROR

    15/044/2012 07:44:41 – ERROR
    – Error flashing. Aborted

    above message appears. doesn’t continue flashing. any help?
    and it says be sure that im not connected in MTP mode. i pressed the back button when connecting. it said connected in flash mode.

    1. u need to enable “usb debugging” and change MTP to MSC

  8. flashed it. but now i get only the startup coot screen. sony then xperia. it keeps repeating.

  9. 15/044/2012 07:44:41 – INFO
    – Start Flashing

    15/044/2012 07:44:41 – INFO
    – Ending flash session

    15/044/2012 07:44:41 – ERROR

    15/044/2012 07:44:41 – ERROR
    – Error flashing. Aborted

    above message appears. doesn’t continue flashing. any help?
    and it says be sure that im not connected in MTP mode. i pressed the back button when connecting. it said connected in flash mode.

    1. u need to enable “usb debugging” and change MTP to MSC

  10. flashed it. but now i get only the startup coot screen. sony then xperia. it keeps repeating.

  11. Yep, looks like boot-loop ? Any solutions? -> On Xperia Arc.

    1. same here,,,

      after flash – disconnect
      got boot loop,,, on LT15i

    2. Upgrade the flashtools to the next version and reflash using it again. It worked fine and am on ARC with ICS. Works slow though…

    3. can u help me? I upgraded the flastools but when i connect my phone to the usb, the flasher doesnt recognize the phone. I get this message: device connected in flash mode.
      what can I do?

  12. didnt worked , rebooting

  13. Yep, looks like boot-loop ? Any solutions? -> On Xperia Arc.

  14. Yep, looks like boot-loop ? Any solutions? -> On Xperia Arc.

    1. same here,,,

      after flash – disconnect
      got boot loop,,, on LT15i

      1. Upgrade the flashtools to the next version and reflash using it again. It worked fine and am on ARC with ICS. Works slow though…

        1. can u help me? I upgraded the flastools but when i connect my phone to the usb, the flasher doesnt recognize the phone. I get this message: device connected in flash mode.
          what can I do?

  15. didnt worked , rebooting

  16. yesss,,, fix up
    for who’s got boot loop,, shut down your device
    continue to this https://nerdschalk.com/root-android-4-0-ice-cream-sandwich-firmware-on-xperia-arc-and-arc-s/

    and root your xperia arc/arc s

    fyi: first time will get slow respon on xperia arc

    1. Nope, still doesn’t work. SE Arc, all other firmwares has worked fine, phone was rooted already and worked well. According to what I can find from Sony this version will infact NOT work on normal Arc. If anyone should happen to find a working solution, please post in this thread.

      Thanks

    2.  after test up for 1 day,,,
      every restart go back to setup wizard,,
      cannot install apps,, free mem for device 0
      wifi not working

      time to downgrade 🙁

  17. yesss,,, fix up
    for who’s got boot loop,, shut down your device
    continue to this https://nerdschalk.com/root-android-4-0-ice-cream-sandwich-firmware-on-xperia-arc-and-arc-s/

    and root your xperia arc/arc s

    fyi: first time will get slow respon on xperia arc

    1. Nope, still doesn’t work. SE Arc, all other firmwares has worked fine, phone was rooted already and worked well. According to what I can find from Sony this version will infact NOT work on normal Arc. If anyone should happen to find a working solution, please post in this thread.

      Thanks

      1.  after test up for 1 day,,,
        every restart go back to setup wizard,,
        cannot install apps,, free mem for device 0
        wifi not working

        time to downgrade 🙁

  18. Keep rebooting even after using 0.6.9.1, how to downgrade it back?

  19. Keep rebooting even after using 0.6.9.1, how to downgrade it back?

  20. shame shame shame sony ericsson….why is your software support such utter garbage?
    Are you a bunch of morons or just don’t care….I suspect the latter.

  21. shame shame shame sony ericsson….why is your software support such utter garbage?
    Are you a bunch of morons or just don’t care….I suspect the latter.

  22. its stuck in boot loop wat to do now. M having xperia arc s, m in great trouble please help

  23. its stuck in boot loop wat to do now. M having xperia arc s, m in great trouble please help

  24. have these problems been sorted out… I have Arc Lt15i… Is it gonna work proparly??

    1. Check out the official development page linked above. You’ll get all the updates regarding this rom there.

  25. have these problems been sorted out… I have Arc Lt15i… Is it gonna work proparly??

    1. Check out the official development page linked above. You’ll get all the updates regarding this rom there.

  26. i have xperia Arc LT15I…..i did the steep and it didn’t work…it was broken, but after some checking on the webi made it work.Install flashtool 0.7.1.0 and check ” No final verification” and it will work ICS

    1. Okay.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and findings with us.

  27. i have xperia Arc LT15I…..i did the steep and it didn’t work…it was broken, but after some checking on the webi made it work.Install flashtool 0.7.1.0 and check ” No final verification” and it will work ICS

    1. Okay.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and findings with us.

  28. my xperia arc lt15i phone is succesfully updated bro after sony screen comes its getting restarted and automatically its getting turned off noting is coming please help me out

  29. my xperia arc lt15i phone is succesfully updated bro after sony screen comes its getting restarted and automatically its getting turned off noting is coming please help me out

  30. this doesnt work my phone turns on and i get the sony logo but then i get a phone and warning sign and it wont load? what do i do??????????????? please help?

    1. Same experience…

    2. Do as Wisky83 suggests. Works fine by me!!

  31. this doesnt work my phone turns on and i get the sony logo but then i get a phone and warning sign and it wont load? what do i do??????????????? please help?

    1. Same experience…

    2. Do as Wisky83 suggests. Works fine by me!!

  32. stuck on 60% in flasher Xperia Arc Unlocked bootloader

  33. Does your device need to be rooted for this to work
    Please help
    I have a Xperia Arc with build 4.0.2.A.0.62 and i cant find out how to root this device
    So will a root be needed?

  34. stuck on 60% in flasher Xperia Arc Unlocked bootloader

  35. Does your device need to be rooted for this to work
    Please help
    I have a Xperia Arc with build 4.0.2.A.0.62 and i cant find out how to root this device
    So will a root be needed?

  36. i have arc S and i have successfully completed flash but when my phone start some exclamatory on triangle is coming…. please help me …

    1. the traingle indicates that ur phone is also rooted enjoy it mate

    2. same thing happened to my phone…… go to this site
      (Install Official Android 4.0 ICS update to your Xperia arc [Guide] | Xperia Blog) and re-install the updated program and drivers… it worked for my arc s LT18i,
      you can use the same firmware from this site!!! good luck

    3. hey… shahid… same happen to me… help me …

  37. i have arc S and i have successfully completed flash but when my phone start some exclamatory on triangle is coming…. please help me …

    1. the traingle indicates that ur phone is also rooted enjoy it mate

    2. same thing happened to my phone…… go to this site
      (Install Official Android 4.0 ICS update to your Xperia arc [Guide] | Xperia Blog) and re-install the updated program and drivers… it worked for my arc s LT18i,
      you can use the same firmware from this site!!! good luck

    3. hey… shahid… same happen to me… help me …

  38. thnxxxxxxx a trillion for your hard work
    i follow all these steps
    and succesfully updated from 2.3.4 to 4.0.4 again tnxxxx buddy

  39. thnxxxxxxx a trillion for your hard work
    i follow all these steps
    and succesfully updated from 2.3.4 to 4.0.4 again tnxxxx buddy

  40. hey my phone goes off after sony logo showing an exclamation mark in a triangle and then phone turns off…please help me….

    1. same thing happened to my phone…… go to this site
      Install Official Android 4.0 ICS update to your Xperia arc [Guide] | Xperia Blog and re-install the drivers… it worked for my arc s LT18i

    2. you can use the same firmware from this site!!!

  41. hey my phone goes off after sony logo showing an exclamation mark in a triangle and then phone turns off…please help me….

    1. same thing happened to my phone…… go to this site
      Install Official Android 4.0 ICS update to your Xperia arc [Guide] | Xperia Blog and re-install the drivers… it worked for my arc s LT18i

      1. you can use the same firmware from this site!!!

  42. It was now working on my Xperia Arc, but finally done. In flash tool just check Wipe Data, Wipe User Cache, Wipe Apps Log and don’t forget to check No Check Verification

  43. It was now working on my Xperia Arc, but finally done. In flash tool just check Wipe Data, Wipe User Cache, Wipe Apps Log and don’t forget to check No Check Verification

  44. unfortunatley, everthing was going fine until step number 5 where it says that the download is temporarily unavailable. Please get it fixed, as im desperate for this update!!! cheerss

  45. unfortunatley, everthing was going fine until step number 5 where it says that the download is temporarily unavailable. Please get it fixed, as im desperate for this update!!! cheerss

  46. Can I downgrade to Gingerbread with the Flashtool?

  47. Can I downgrade to Gingerbread with the Flashtool?

  48. gooooooooood

  49. gooooooooood

  50. Firmware link is dead. Can you please fix, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

  51. Firmware link is dead. Can you please fix, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

  52. would there be a difference if i used the LT18_4.1.A.0.562_NCB.ftf instead of
    LT18i_4.1.A.0.562_Generic.ftf?

    1. And im using a SE Arc. will it work?

  53. would there be a difference if i used the LT18_4.1.A.0.562_NCB.ftf instead of
    LT18i_4.1.A.0.562_Generic.ftf?

    1. And im using a SE Arc. will it work?

    1. if i had lt18a will it work /??

    1. if i had lt18a will it work /??

  54. what if i had an lt18a ?? would it work?

  55. what if i had an lt18a ?? would it work?

  56. Is this compatible with lt18 docomo? Thanks

  57. Is this compatible with lt18 docomo? Thanks

  58. hey admin last error showes on 73 % u said ignor the errors if i ignore the error ,is the installation is completed plzz help sorry fr my bad English

  59. hey admin last error showes on 73 % u said ignor the errors if i ignore the error ,is the installation is completed plzz help sorry fr my bad English

  60. The link for downloading firmware is not available…..

  61. The link for downloading firmware is not available…..

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