Get Sony Xperia Ion Android 4.4 KitKat Update with PureSlim ROM based on SlimKat

CUSTOM ROM INFO
Name PureSlim SlimKat ROM
Android Version Android 4.4.2 KitKat (Launched on Dec 9 by Google).
Is this official? No.
Stability Good enough for daily use.
Credits pongnamu

 WARNING!

Warranty may be void of your device if you follow the procedures given on this page.

You only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

  SONY XPERIA ION KITKAT UPDATE INSTALLATION

Before you begin with guide instructions below, make sure your android device is adequately charged — at least 50% battery of the device.

  STEP 0: CHECK DEVICE MODEL NO.

To make sure your device is eligible with this, you must first confirm its model no. in ‘About device’ option under Settings. Another way to confirm model no. is by looking for it on the packaging box of your device. It must be LT28I/LT28H/LT28AT!

Please know that this page is meant only for Sony Xperia Ion. Please DO NOT try the procedures given here on any other device of Sony or any other company. You have been Warned!

  STEP 1: BACKUP YOUR DEVICE

Back up important data and stuff before you start playing around here as there are chances you might lose your apps and app-data (app settings, game progress, etc.), and in rare case, files on the internal memory, too.

For help on Backup and Restore, check out our exclusive page on that linked right below.

 ANDROID BACK UP AND RESTORE GUIDE: APPS AND TIPS

 STEP 2: UNLOCK BOOTLOADER

 Skip this step if your device is already bootloader unlocked.

User must first unlock the bootloader on your Sony Xperia Ion before proceeding with the guide below.

Check the Sony Xperia Z Bootloader Unlock link below for help on unlocking the bootloader of Sony Xperia Ion as the process would be similar almost on all Sony devices.

 SONY XPERIA Z BOOTLOADER UNLOCKING GUIDE

   STEP 3: INSTALL THE LATEST CWM/TWRP RECOVERY

 Skip this step if you already have latest version of CWM or TWRP recovery installed on your device.

Make sure that you’ve latest version of the recovery installed on your device.

Older versions of CWM and TWRP recoveries are not working with Android 4.4 based ROMs, throwing installation errors and WiFi bugs, therefore you need to use the latest version of either recovery.

   STEP 4: INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

  DOWNLOADS

Download the file given below and transfer it to a separate folder on your phone and remember the location.

  ROM FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: PureSlim-KitKat R1 for Aoba.zip (174 MB)

For latest version of the ROM files, check the original page →

  GAPPS FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: PureGapps-KitKat.zip (36.2 MB)

Be sure to transfer the ROM and Gapps files you downloaded above to your phone and remember the location of the files.

You will need to flash them now on your device using either of ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP recovery.

We’ve got separate guide for CWM and TWRP recovery, so use the guide relevant to the recovery you have installed on your device.

  GUIDE FOR FLASHING ROM IN CWM RECOVERY

  Example video: If you haven’t used CWM recovery before to install a .zip file of a ROM or anything else, then we suggest you first watch a video of that to get familiar with the process. Click here to watch the video

  1. Boot into recovery mode. If you’re rooted, the easiest way to boot into recovery mode would be using the QuickBoot app. If not rooted, then follow the instructions below:
    • Switch off your Xperia Ion first.
    • Switch it back on and the time when you see your phone’s LED notification light turn Blue! (or changes to any other color) — start pressing Volume UP key continuously (Don’t press and hold the Volume Up key) to make your phone boot into recovery mode.
      └In Recovery mode, use Volume buttons to navigate Up and Down between options and Power button to select an option in recovery.
  2. Create a Nandroid Backup from recovery. It’s optional but very important to do, so that in case something goes wrong you can restore to current status easily. For making a Nandroid Backup, go to Backup And Restore » Backup.
  3. Perform a full clean-up of the device (This will delete all apps and their settings and game progress). For this:
    • Select Wipe data/Factory reset, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm factory reset (screenshot).
    • Select Wipe Cache Partition, then select Yes on the next screen to confirm wiping cache.
  4. First Install the ROM file:
    • Select Install zip » Choose zip from sdcard (or external sdcard, you know where your files are) » browse to the location where you saved the file and select the ROM file. How to Flash File in CWM Recovery
  5. Now similarly flash the Gapps file.
    └ Make sure to first flash the ROM file and then the Gapps file.
  6. Reboot your device. For this, go back to the main menu of recovery and select reboot system now.

That’s all. Your phone will now reboot and it will take some time as it’ll be phone’s first boot after installing Android 4.4, be extremely excited for this!

 Note: In case your device gets bootloop (stuck at logo while rebooting), just do a factory reset (step 3) and you will be fine.

GUIDE FOR TWRP RECOVERY USERS
  1. Boot into recovery mode. If you’re rooted, the easiest way to boot into recovery mode would be using the QuickBoot app. If not rooted, then follow the instructions below:
    • Switch off your Xperia Ion first.
    • Switch it back on and the time when you see your phone’s LED notification light turn Blue! (or changes to any other color) — start pressing Volume UP key continuously (Don’t press and hold the Volume Up key) to make your phone boot into recovery mode.
  2. Create a Nandroid Backup from recovery. It’s optional but very important to do, so that in case something goes wrong you can restore to current status easily. For making a Nandroid Backup, go to Backup » and select all check boxes and swipe on the Swipe to confirm option at the bottom of the screen to confirm backup.
  3. Perform a Factory Reset (this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress). For this:
    • Tap on Wipe » then at the bottom of the screen do a Swipe on the ‘Swipe to factory reset‘ option (screenshot).
  4. First Install the ROM file:
    • Tap on Install » browse to the location where you saved the files and tap on the ROM file. Now at the bottom of the screen, do a swipe on the Swipe to confirm flash option to begin flashing.
      How to Flash File in CWM Recovery
  5. Now similarly flash the Gapps file.
    └ Make sure to first flash the ROM file and then the Gapps file.
  6. Reboot your device. Go back to the main menu of recovery and tap on Reboot » then, tap on System to reboot your phone.

That’s all. Your phone will now reboot and it will take some time as it’ll be phone’s first boot after installing Android 4.4, be extremely excited for this!

 Note: In case your device gets bootloop (stuck at logo while rebooting), just do a factory reset (step 3) and you will be fine.

SCREENSHOTS

sony-xperia-ion-pureslim-kitkat-update-screenies-1

sony-xperia-ion-pureslim-kitkat-update-screenies-2

FEEDBACK US!

It was easy to install PureSlim SlimKat ROM, based on Android 4.4 KitKat, right? Let us know how it is to your liking in comments below.

Your suggestions and queries, if any, are most welcomed!

43 Comments

  1. does not work on lt28i. status 7. this for lt28h, not for lt28i.

  2. Антон Андреев

    does not work on lt28i. status 7. this for lt28h, not for lt28i.

  3. Антон Андреев

    does not work on lt28i. status 7. this for lt28h, not for lt28i.

  4. LT28at has a locked bootloader that can’t be unlocked, so this system can’t be used with this model , please correct me if I’m wrong. I’m stuck in 4.04!!!

    1. Me too! At&t should let us unlock the bootloader now that it’s been such a long time.

  5. Javier Enrique Miranda Valverd

    LT28at has a locked bootloader that can’t be unlocked, so this system can’t be used with this model , please correct me if I’m wrong. I’m stuck in 4.04!!!

    1. Me too! At&t should let us unlock the bootloader now that it’s been such a long time.

  6. Javier Enrique Miranda Valverd

    LT28at has a locked bootloader that can’t be unlocked, so this system can’t be used with this model , please correct me if I’m wrong. I’m stuck in 4.04!!!

    1. Me too! At&t should let us unlock the bootloader now that it’s been such a long time.

  7. Works great! Fast! Three problems I’ve been facing (LT28h)
    1. BBM messenger crashes or becomes unresponsive when on network data but OK when on Wi-Fi.
    2. When I reboot the phone it says “Sim Card added – Restart your device to access mobile network”. Every time I restart I get this msg even though the sim is present. I just press back and its Ok.
    3. Once restart the data/time does not syn with network provider even though the option is selected so Whatsapp throws an error telling me to correct data/time.
    Hope to get a new rev soon that address these issues. Thanks guys. Great work! Very much appreciated.

    1. Hi,
      Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .
      If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  8. Works great! Fast! Three problems I’ve been facing (LT28h)
    1. BBM messenger crashes or becomes unresponsive when on network data but OK when on Wi-Fi.
    2. When I reboot the phone it says “Sim Card added – Restart your device to access mobile network”. Every time I restart I get this msg even though the sim is present. I just press back and its Ok.
    3. Once restart the data/time does not syn with network provider even though the option is selected so Whatsapp throws an error telling me to correct data/time.
    Hope to get a new rev soon that address these issues. Thanks guys. Great work! Very much appreciated.

    1. Hi,
      Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .
      If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  9. Works great! Fast! Three problems I’ve been facing (LT28h)
    1. BBM messenger crashes or becomes unresponsive when on network data but OK when on Wi-Fi.
    2. When I reboot the phone it says “Sim Card added – Restart your device to access mobile network”. Every time I restart I get this msg even though the sim is present. I just press back and its Ok.
    3. Once restart the data/time does not syn with network provider even though the option is selected so Whatsapp throws an error telling me to correct data/time.
    Hope to get a new rev soon that address these issues. Thanks guys. Great work! Very much appreciated.

    1. Hi,
      Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .
      If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  10. No need to flash kernel via fastboot prior to flashing rom?

  11. No need to flash kernel via fastboot prior to flashing rom?

  12. No need to flash kernel via fastboot prior to flashing rom?

  13. I have problems with Facebook newsfeed, doesn’t work, and neigther the cam on whatssapp. Alto when some app won’t work the device restarts and the date is October 1970, and every app throws errors, someone knows how to fix this?

    1. Hi,
      Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .
      If you have any doubt you can contact me.

    2. Hi how do u do this and IOS-8 means its an apple software ?

  14. Fasterworks Luis Pérez

    I have problems with Facebook newsfeed, doesn’t work, and neigther the cam on whatssapp. Alto when some app won’t work the device restarts and the date is October 1970, and every app throws errors, someone knows how to fix this?

    1. Hi,
      Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .
      If you have any doubt you can contact me.

      1. Hi how do u do this and IOS-8 means its an apple software ?

  15. Fasterworks Luis Pérez

    I have problems with Facebook newsfeed, doesn’t work, and neigther the cam on whatssapp. Alto when some app won’t work the device restarts and the date is October 1970, and every app throws errors, someone knows how to fix this?

    1. Hi,
      Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .
      If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  16. Hi,
    Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.we IIT batch created this script for xperia phones. But need minimum 512 MB memory.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .we can play high graphics games .
    If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  17. Hi,
    Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.we IIT batch created this script for xperia phones. But need minimum 512 MB memory.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .we can play high graphics games .
    If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  18. Hi,
    Install IOS-8 in xperia ion,it’s work well.but need some extra scripts for ion.we IIT batch created this script for xperia phones. But need minimum 512 MB memory.iam using this last 7 months.no issues no bugs.everything working well and very fast .we can play high graphics games .
    If you have any doubt you can contact me.

  19. i did exactly as show above and my phone is not starting anymore.when i press power button it just vibrates a little and remains dead!tell me now if i can fix it somehow

  20. nightly

  21. nightly

  22. i did exactly as show above and my phone is not starting anymore.when i press power button it just vibrates a little and remains dead!tell me now if i can fix it somehow

  23. i did exactly as show above and my phone is not starting anymore.when i press power button it just vibrates a little and remains dead!tell me now if i can fix it somehow

  24. the language in the screen shots doesn’t look like English. So how can we have the English version of it ??

  25. the language in the screen shots doesn’t look like English. So how can we have the English version of it ??

  26. the language in the screen shots doesn’t look like English. So how can we have the English version of it ??

  27. dear, my phone has stuck at logo (android). please help me. it is not responsive to reboot

  28. dear, my phone has stuck at logo (android). please help me. it is not responsive to reboot

Comments are closed.