This is the Xperia™ Z Ultra User guide for the Android™ 5.1 software version. If you're
not sure which software version your device is running, you can check it via the Settings
menu. For more information about software updates, see
the 129 page.
To check the current software version of your device
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > About phone > Android™ version.
Do not insert fingers or other objects into the opening for the second microphone (illustrated in
item 13 above) to avoid damaging your device.
Assembly
A protective plastic sheet is attached to the screen. You should peel off this sheet before
using the touchscreen. Otherwise, the touchscreen might not function properly.
To insert the micro SIM card
Do not insert a memory card into the micro SIM card slot.
Insert a fingernail into the gap between the micro SIM card slot cover and the
device, then detach the cover.
2
Using a fingernail, pull out the micro SIM card holder.
3
Place the micro SIM card on the holder, with the gold-colored contacts on the
micro SIM card facing up.
4
Insert the micro SIM card holder back into the device.
5
Re-attach the micro SIM card slot cover.
Inserting the micro SIM card into the device without the SIM card holder could damage your
micro SIM card or your device, and Sony Mobile does not warrant and will not be responsible
for any damage caused by such action.
To insert the memory card
Do not insert the memory card into the micro SIM card slot.
1
Insert a fingernail into the gap between the memory card cover and the device,
then detach the memory card cover.
2
Place the memory card in the memory card slot, with the gold-colored contacts
facing towards you, then push the memory card all the way into the slot until you
hear a locking sound.
3
Re-attach the memory card cover.
A memory card may not be included at purchase in all markets.
Remove the cover of the micro SIM card slot cover.
2
Pull out the micro SIM card holder.
3
Remove the micro SIM card.
4
Insert the micro SIM card holder back into its slot.
5
Re-attach the micro SIM card slot cover.
To remove the memory card
1
Turn off the device.
2
Remove the cover of the memory card slot, then press against the edge of the
memory card and release it.
3
Draw the card outwards to remove it fully.
Screen protection
Before using your device, remove the transparent protection
protruding tab.
It is recommended to protect your device with a Sony-branded screen cover or protector
intended for your Xperia™ model. The use of third party screen protection accessories
may prevent your device from working by covering sensors, lenses, speakers, or
microphones and it can invalidate the warranty.
film by pulling up on the
Starting your device for the first time
The first time you start your device, a setup guide opens to help you configure basic
settings, sign in to online accounts, and personalize your device. For example, if you
have a Sony Entertainment Network account, you can sign in to it here and get set up
straight away.
You can also access the setup guide later from the Settings menu. To access the setup guide
on a device with multiple users, you must be logged in as the owner, that is, the primary user.
Make sure the battery is charged for at least 30 minutes before you turn on the device for the
first time.
1
Press and hold down the power key until the device vibrates.
2
Enter your SIM card PIN when requested, then tap
3
Wait a while for the device to start.
Your SIM card PIN is initially supplied by your service provider, but you can change it later
from the Settings menu. To correct a mistake made while entering your SIM card PIN, tap .
.
To Turn off the Device
1
Press and hold down the power key until the options menu opens.
2
In the options menu, tap Power off.
It may take a while for the device to shut down.
Why do I need a Google™ account?
Your Xperia™ device from Sony runs on the Android™ platform developed by Google™.
A range of Google™ applications and services is available on your device when you
purchase it, for example, Gmail™, Google Maps™, YouTube™ and the Play Store™
application, which gives you access to the Google Play™ online store for downloading
Android™ applications. To get the most out of these services, you need a Google™
account. For example, a Google™ account is mandatory if you want to:
•
Download and install applications from Google Play™.
•
Synchronize email, contacts and the calendar using Gmail™.
•
Chat with friends using the Hangouts™ application.
•
Synchronize your browsing history and bookmarks using the Google Chrome™ web
browser.
•
Identify yourself as the authorized user after a software repair using Xperia™ Companion.
•
Remotely find, lock or clear a lost or stolen device using the my Xperia™ or Android™
Device Manager services.
For more information about Android™ and Google™, go to
It is crucial that you remember your Google™ account username and password. In some
situations, you may need to identify yourself for security reasons using your Google™ account.
If you fail to give your Google™ username and password in such situations, your device is
locked. Also, if you have more than one Google™ account, make sure to enter the details for
the relevant account.
http://support.google.com
To Set up a Google™ Account on Your Device
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > Accounts > Add account > Google.
3
Follow the registration wizard to create a Google™ account, or sign in if you
already have an account.
.
You can also sign in to or create a Google™ account from the setup guide the
start your device. Or you can go online and create an account at
Your device has an embedded, rechargeable battery that should be replaced only by
Sony or an authorized Sony repair center. You should never try to open or take apart this
device yourself. Opening the device can cause damage that will void your warranty.
The battery is partly charged when the device is shipped from the factory. The battery
level may be very low, depending on how long the device was in the box before you
purchased it. It is therefore recommended that you charge the battery for at least 30
minutes before starting up your device for the first time. You can still use your device
while it is charging. Read more about how to improve battery performance in
and power management
on page 21.
To charge your device
1
Plug the charger into a power outlet.
2
Plug one end of the USB cable into the charger (or into the USB port of a
computer).
3
Plug the other end of the cable into the micro USB port on your device, with the
USB symbol facing up. The notification light illuminates when charging begins.
4
When the device is fully charged, disconnect the cable from your device by pulling
it straight outward. Make sure not to bend the connector.
Battery
If the battery is completely discharged, it may take a few minutes before the
illuminates and the charging icon appears.
Battery notification light status
GreenThe battery is charging and the battery charge level is greater than 90%
RedThe battery is charging and the battery charge level is less than 15%
OrangeThe battery is charging and the battery charge level is less than 90%
Scroll left or right, for example, between Home screen panes.
Flicking
•
Scroll quickly, for example, in a list or on a web page. You can stop the scrolling
movement by tapping the screen.
Locking and Unlocking the Screen
When your device is on and left idle for a set period of time, the screen darkens to save
battery power and locks automatically. This lock prevents unwanted actions on the
touchscreen when you are not using it. When you buy your device, a basic screen swipe
lock is already set. This means you have to swipe upward on the screen to unlock it. You
can change the security settings later and add other kinds of locks. See
the 44 page.
When the screen is active, briefly press the power key .
Home screen
The Home screen is the starting point for using your device. It's similar to the desktop on
a computer screen. Your Home screen can have up to seven panes, which extend
beyond the regular screen display width. The number of Home screen panes is
represented by a series of dots at the lower part of the Home screen. The highlighted dot
shows the pane that you are currently in.
To go to the Home screen
•
Press
To browse the Home screen
.
Home screen panes
You can add new panes to your Home screen (up to a maximum of seven panes) and
delete panes. You can also set the pane that you want to use as the main Home screen
pane.
To Set a Pane as the Main Homescreen Pane
1
Touch and hold an empty area on your Homescreen until the device vibrates.
2
Flick left or right to browse to the pane you want to set as your main Homescreen
pane, then tap .
Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2
To browse the panes, flick all the way to the right or left, then tap .
To delete a pane from your Home screen
1
Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2
Flick left or right to browse to the pane that you want to delete, then tap .
Homescreen Settings
Use the Home Settings shortcut to adjust some basic settings on your Homescreen. For
example, you can set your Homescreen to auto-rotate and adjust the size of icons.
To Set Your Homescreen to Auto-Rotate
1
Touch and hold an empty area on your Homescreen until the device vibrates, then
tap Home Settings.
2
Drag the slider beside Auto rotation to the right.
To Adjust the Size of Icons on Your Homescreen
1
Touch and hold an empty area on your Homescreen until the device vibrates, then
tap Home Settings.
2
Tap
Icon size
, then select an option.
Application screen
The Application screen, which you open from the Homescreen, contains the applications
that come pre-installed on your device as well as applications that you download.
To view all applications on the Application screen
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Flick left or right on the Application screen.
To open an application from the Application screen
•
Flick left or right to find the application, then tap the application.
To Search for an Application from the Application Screen
1
When the Application screen is open, tap
2
Enter the name of the application you want to search for.
.
To open the Application screen menu
•
When the Application screen is open, drag the left edge of the screen to the right.
To open the Application screen menu, drag the left edge of the Application screen
to the right.
2
Make sure Custom order is selected under SHOW APPS.
3
On the Application screen, touch and hold the application until it's selected, then
drag it to the new location.
To Add an Application Shortcut to the Homescreen
1
To open the Application screen menu, drag the left edge of the Application screen
to the right.
2
Make sure Custom order is selected under SHOW APPS.
3
On the Application screen, touch and hold an application icon, then drag the icon
to the top of the screen. The Homescreen opens.
4
Drag the icon to the desired location on the Homescreen, then release your finger.
If Alphabetical or Most used is selected under SHOW APPS instead of Custom order, you can
still add an application shortcut to the Homescreen. Just touch and hold the relevant
application icon until the Homescreen opens, then drag the icon to the desired location and
release your finger.
To arrange applications on the Application screen
1
To open the Application screen menu, drag the left edge of the Application screen
to the right.
2
Select the desired option under
SHOW APPS
.
To Uninstall an Application from the Application Screen
1
To open the Application screen menu, drag the left edge of the Application screen
to the right.
2
Tap
UNINSTALL
3
Tap the application you want to uninstall, then tap OK.
. All uninstallable applications are indicated by .
Navigating Applications
You can navigate between applications using the navigation keys, the favorites bar, and
the recently used applications window, which lets you switch easily between all recently
used applications. The navigation keys are the Home key, the Recent apps key, and the
Back key. Some applications get closed when you press the Home key
others are paused or continue to run in the background. If an application is paused or
running in the background, you can continue where you left off the next time you open
the application.
to exit, while
1Recently used applications window – Open a recently used application
2Favorites bar – Use a shortcut to access applications or widgets
3Recent apps key – Open the recently used applications window and the favorites bar
4Home key – Exit an application and go back to the Homescreen
5Back key – Go back to the previous screen within an application or close the application
To open the recently used applications window
•
Press .
To Close All the Recently Used Applications
•
and then tap .
Tap
To open a menu in an application
•
While using the application, press .
A menu is not available in all applications.
Small apps
Small apps are miniature apps that run on top of other applications on the same screen,
to enable multi-tasking. For example, you can have a webpage open showing details of
currency exchange rates, and then open the Calculator small app on top of it and
perform calculations. You can access your small apps via the favorites bar. To download
more small apps, go to Google Play™.
To open a small app
1
To make the favorites bar appear, press .
2
Tap the small app that you want to open.
You can open several small apps at the same time.
To close a small app
•
Tap on the small app window.
To download a small app
1
From the favorites bar, tap , then tap and tap .
2
Search for the small app that you want to download, then follow the instructions
to download it and complete the installation.
To move a small app
•
When the small app is open, touch and hold the top left corner of the small app,
then move it to the desired location.
To minimize a small app
•
When the small app is open, touch and hold the top left corner of the small app,
then drag it to the right edge or to the bottom edge of the screen.
To rearrange the small apps in the favorites bar
•
Touch and hold a small app and drag it to the desired position.
To remove a small app from the favorites bar
1
Touch and hold a small app, then drag it to .
2
Tap OK.
To restore a previously removed small app
1
Open the favorites bar, then tap .
2
Touch and hold the small app you want to restore, then drag it into the favorites
bar.
Enter a name for the widget, if desired, then tap OK.
Widgets
Widgets are small applications that you can use directly on your Homescreen. They also
function as shortcuts. For example, the Weather widget allows you to see basic weather
information directly on your Homescreen. But when you tap the widget, the full Weather
application opens. You can download additional widgets from Google Play™.
To Add a Widget to the Homescreen
1
Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates, then
tap
Widgets & Apps
2
Find and tap the widget that you want to add.
To resize a widget
1
Touch and hold a widget until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then release the
widget. If the widget can be resized, for example, the Calendar widget, then a
highlighted frame and resizing dots appear.
2
Drag the dots inward or outward to shrink or expand the widget.
3
To confirm the new size of the widget, tap anywhere on the Home screen.
To move a widget
•
Touch and hold the widget until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then drag it to
the new location.
To delete a widget
•
Touch and hold the widget until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then drag it to
.
.
Shortcuts and folders
Use shortcuts and folders to manage your applications and keep your Home screen tidy.
Scroll through the list of applications and select an application. The selected
Widgets & Apps
>
Apps
.
application gets added to the Home screen.
In step 3, alternatively, you can tap
from the list available. If you use this method to add shortcuts, some of the applications
available allow you to add specific functionality to the shortcut.
Widgets & Apps > Shortcuts and then select an application
To Move an Item on the Homescreen
•
Touch and hold the item until it is selected, then drag the item to the new location.
To Delete an Item from the Homescreen
•
Touch and hold an item until it is selected, then drag the item to .
To Create a Folder on the Homescreen
•
Touch and hold an application icon or a shortcut until it is selected, then drag and
drop it on top of another application icon or shortcut.
To Add Items to a Folder on the Homescreen
•
Touch and hold an item until it is selected, then drag the item to the folder.
To rename a folder on the Home screen
1
Tap the folder to open it.
2
Tap the folder's title bar to show the Folder name field.
3
Enter the new folder name and tap Done.
Background and Themes
You can adapt the Homescreen to your own style using wallpapers and different themes.
Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2
Tap Wallpapers and select an option.
To set a theme
1
Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2
Tap
Themes
3
Select an option and follow the instructions in your device.
When you change a theme, the background also changes in some applications.
.
Battery and power management
Your device has an embedded battery. You can keep track of your battery consumption
and see which applications are using the most power. You can remove or restrict apps
and activate a number of power saving modes to get more out of your battery. You can
also view an estimate of how much battery time is left and adjust your battery settings to
improve performance and make your battery last longer.
To manage your battery consumption
1
From your Home screen, tap
2
Find and tap
Settings
>
Power management
overview appears showing applications that have high data traffic rates or that you
have not used for a long time.
3
Review the information, then act as required, for example, to uninstall an
application or restrict its usage.
.
>
App power consumption
. An
To view which applications use the most battery power
1
From your Home screen, tap
2
Find and tap Settings > Power management > Battery usage.
.
To view the estimated battery time
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > Power management.
Power-Saving Modes
There are several power saving modes available for you to use if you want to make your
battery last longer:
STAMINA mode
Disables Wi-Fi® and cellular data when the screen is turned off, and restricts hardware
performance. appears in the status bar when this mode takes effect.
Limits your device’s functionality for core tasks such as making phone calls and sending
SMS messages. appears in the status bar once this mode is activated.
Low battery mode
Queue background
data
If you are using a device with multiple users, you may need to log in as the owner, that is, the
primary user, to activate or deactivate a power-saving mode.
Modifies your device’s behavior, for example, to adjust screen brightness and the
screen timeout setting, when the battery level drops below a certain percentage.
appears in the status bar when this mode takes effect.
Optimizes outgoing traffic when the screen is off by sending data at pre-defined
intervals.
To Activate a Power Saving Mode
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > Power management.
3
To activate your preferred mode, select the mode name, and tap the on-off switch
to activate the chosen mode, if necessary. In some cases, tap Activate and
confirm activation.
STAMINA Mode Feature Overview
STAMINA mode has several features that allow you to optimize your battery
performance:
Extended
standby
STAMINA clock
Extended usage
Prevents applications from using data traffic by disabling Wi-Fi® and cellular data when
the screen is off. You can exclude some applications and services from being paused
when this feature is active.
Keeps network connections paused in situations where you frequently press the power
key to check the time.
Restricts hardware performance when you are using your device.
If you are using a device with multiple users, you may need to log in as the owner, that is, the
primary user, to activate or deactivate a STAMINA mode feature.
To Activate STAMINA Mode Features
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap
3
Activate STAMINA mode if it is deactivated.
4
Drag the sliders beside the features you want to activate, then tap
Settings
>
Power management
, then tap
STAMINA mode
Activate
.
, if
prompted.
To select which applications to run in STAMINA mode
1
From your Home screen, tap
2
Find and tap Settings > Power management, then tap STAMINA mode.
3
Activate STAMINA mode if it is deactivated.
4
Make sure the Extended standby feature is turned on, then tap Apps active in
.
standby > Add applications.
5
Scroll left or right to view all applications and services, then mark the relevant
checkboxes for the applications that you want to run.
6
When you're done, tap Done.
Taking a screenshot
You can capture still images of any screen on your device as a screenshot. Screenshots
you take are automatically saved in Album.
Press and hold down the power key until a prompt window appears.
2
Tap
You can also take a screenshot by pressing and holding down the power key and volume
down key at the same time. Once the screenshot is captured, you can release the keys.
To view your screenshot
•
Drag the status bar fully downwards, then tap the screenshot you want to view.
You can also view your screenshots by opening the Album application.
Recording your screen
You can use the screen recording feature to capture videos of what’s happening on your
device’s screen. This feature is useful, for example, when you want to create tutorials or
record videos of you playing a game on your device. Recorded video clips are
automatically saved in Album.
1Minimize/resume the record screen window
2Record your screen
3Record your screen when the front camera is activated
4Access the screen recording settings
5Close the screen recording window
To record your screen
1
Press and hold down the power key until a prompt window appears.
2
Tap
.
3
After the screen recording window opens, tap
. The record screen function
starts and a timer button is displayed.
4
To stop the recording, tap the timer button, then tap .
To record your screen when the front camera is activated
1
When the screen recording window opens, tap . A window opens showing a
viewfinder for the front camera.
2
To start recording your screen and video captured by the front camera, tap .
3
To stop recording, tap the timer button, then tap
4
To close the front camera viewfinder window, tap .
To record a still photo using the front camera while you are recording the screen, drag
the mini viewfinder to expand the view and then tap .
.
in
To view recent screen recordings
•
Drag the status bar downward, then tap to view the most recent recordings of
your screen.
You can also view your screen recordings in the Album application.
Notifications inform you of events such as new messages and calendar notifications as
well as activities in progress, such as file downloads. Notifications appear in the following
places:
•
The status bar
•
The Notification panel
•
The lockscreen
To open or close the Notification panel
1
To open the Notification panel, drag the status bar downward.
2
To close the Notification panel, drag the panel upward.
To Take Action on a Notification in the Notification Panel
•
Tap the notification.
To dismiss a notification from the Notification panel
•
Place your finger on a notification and flick left or right.
To Expand a Notification on the Notification Panel
•
Drag the notification downward.
Not all
notifications are expandable.
To Clear all Notifications from the Notification PanelS
•
Tap .
To Take Action on a Notification from the Lockscreen
•
Double-tap the notification.
To dismiss a notification from the lockscreen
•
Place your finger on the notification and flick left or right.
To Expand a Notification on the Lockscreen
•
Drag the notification downward.
notifications are expandable.
Not all
Managing Notifications on the Lockscreen
You can set up your device so that only selected notifications get displayed on your
lockscreen. You can make all notifications and their content accessible, hide sensitive
content for all notifications or specific apps, or choose not to show any notifications at
all.
To Select the Notifications to Display on the Lockscreen
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > Sound & notification > When device is locked.
3
Select an option.
Notification Display Options on the Lockscreen
Show all notification
content
Hide sensitive
notification content
Don't show
notifications at all
Get all notifications on the lockscreen. When you have this setting turned on, keep in
mind that all content (including the content of incoming emails and chats) will be visible
on your lockscreen unless you designate the relevant apps as Sensitive in the Appnotifications settings menu.
You must have a PIN, password, or pattern set up as your screen lock in order for this
setting to be available. Contents hidden is displayed on the lockscreen when sensitive
notifications arrive. For example, you'll get a notification for an incoming email or chat,
but the content won't be visible on your lockscreen.
You won't get any notifications on the lockscreen.
Setting the Notification Level for an App
You can set different notification behaviors for individual applications. For example, you
can block all email notifications, prioritize Facebook™ notifications, and make the
content of messaging notifications invisible on the lockscreen.
To Set the Notification Level for an App
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > Sound & notification > App notifications.
3
Select the app you want to change the notification settings for.
4
Drag the relevant slider to the right.
Notification Levels and Options for Specific Applications
Block
Priority
Sensitive
Never show notifications for the selected app.
Show notifications for the selected apps at the top of the list on your lockscreen.
This option is only available if you set up a PIN, password, or pattern as your screen lock and
selected Show all notification content under the When device is locked setting. Notifications for
the app appear on your lockscreen but their content isn't visible.
Notification Light
The notification light informs you about battery status and some other events. For
example, a flashing white light means there is a new message or a missed call. The
notification light is enabled by default but can be disabled manually.
When the
such as when the battery level falls below 15 percent.
To Enable the Notification Light
1
From your Homescreen, tap .
2
Find and tap Settings > Sound & notification.
3
Drag the slider beside Notification light to the right.
notification light is disabled, it only lights up when there is a battery status warning,
The Xperia™ Movie Creator automatically creates short videos of around 30
seconds in length using existing photos and videos. The application
automatically determines the timeline to create its movie.
Use the Support application to access user support on your device. For
example, you can access a User guide, troubleshooting information, plus tips
and tricks.
Some applications are not supported or listed by all networks and/or service providers in all
areas.
Google Play™ is the official online Google store for downloading applications, games,
music, movies, and books. It includes both free and paid applications. Before you start
downloading from Google Play™, make sure that you have a working Internet
connection, preferably over Wi-Fi® to limit data traffic charges.
To use Google Play™, you need to have a Google™ account. Google Play™ may not be
available in all countries or regions.
To download an application from Google Play™
1
From the Home screen, tap
2
Find and tap Play Store.
3
Find an item you wish to download by browsing categories, or by using the search
function.
4
Tap the item to view its details, and follow the instructions to complete the
installation.
Some applications may need to access data, settings, and various functions on your device in
order to work properly. Only install and give permissions to applications you trust.
You can view the permissions granted to a downloaded application by tapping the application
under Settings > Apps.
.
Downloading applications from other sources
When your device is set to allow downloads from sources other than Google Play™, you
can download applications directly from other websites by following the relevant
download instructions.
Installing applications of unknown or unreliable origin can damage your device. Only download
applications from reliable sources. Contact the application provider if you have any questions
or concerns.
If you are using a device with multiple users, only the owner, that is, the primary user, can allow
downloads from sources other than Google Play™. Changes made by the owner affect all
other users.
To Allow the Download of Applications from Other Sources
1
From your Home screen, tap .
2
Find and tap
3
Drag the slider beside Unknown sources to the right.
4
Tap OK.
Some applications may need to access data, settings, and various functions on your device in
order to work properly. Only install and give permissions to applications you trust.
You can view the permissions granted to a downloaded application by tapping the application
under Settings > Apps.