Your Xperia™ from Sony runs on the Android platform. Android devices can perform
many of the same functions as a computer and you can customize them to your own
needs. For example, you can add and delete applications, or enhance existing
applications to improve functionality. On Google Play™, you can download a range of
applications and games from a constantly growing collection. You can also integrate
applications on your Android™ device with other applications and with online services
that you use. For example, you can back up your contacts, access your different email
accounts and calendars from one place, keep track of your appointments, and engage in
social networking.
Android™ devices are constantly evolving. When a new software version is available and
your device supports this new software, you can update your device to get new features
and the latest improvements.
Your Android™ device is pre-loaded with Google™ services. To get the most out of the
provided Google™ services, you should have a Google™ account and sign in to it when you
first start your device. You also need to have Internet access to use many of the features in
Android™.
New software releases may not be compatible with all devices.
1Press and hold down the power key until the device vibrates.
2If your screen goes dark, briefly press the power key
to activate the screen.
3To unlock the screen, swipe up or down on the screen.
4Enter your SIM card PIN when requested, then select OK.
5Wait a while for the device to start.
Your SIM card PIN is initially supplied by your network operator, 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
1Press and hold down the power key until the options menu opens.
2In the options menu, tap Power off.
3Tap OK.
It may take a while for the device to shut down.
To force the device to restart
1Remove the SIM and memory card cover.
2Press and hold down the OFF button using the tip of a pen or a similar object.
3After your device vibrates once, release the button. The device restarts
automatically.
Screen lock
When your device is on and left idle for a set period of time, the screen darkens to save
battery power, and locks automatically. The screen lock prevents unwanted actions on
the touchscreen when you are not using it.
•Swipe up or down on the lower part of the screen.
To lock the screen manually
•When the screen is active, briefly press the power key
.
Setup guide
The first time you start your device, a setup guide opens to help you configure basic
settings, sign in to some accounts, and personalize your device. For example, if you have
a Sony Entertainment Network account, you can sign in to it and start enjoying music,
videos and games from the Sony Entertainment Network on your device. Or you can
create a new account directly on your device.
You can also access the setup guide later from the settings menu.
To access the setup guide manually
1From the Home screen, tap .
2Tap Settings > Setup guide.
Accounts and services
Sign in to your online service accounts from your device to get easy access when you're
on the move. For example, you can integrate contacts from your Google™ account into
your Contacts, so you have everything in one place. You can sign up to new online
services from your device as well as from a computer.
Google™ account
Having a Google™ account is key to using a range of applications and services with your
Android™ device. You need a Google™ account, for example, to use the Gmail™
application in your device, to chat with friends using Google Talk™, and to synchronize
the calendar application on your device with your Google Calendar™. You also need a
Google™ account to download applications and games, music, movies, and books from
Google Play™.
Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® account
Synchronize your device with your corporate Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® account.
This way, you keep your work email, contacts, and calendar events with you at all times.
Facebook™ account
Facebook™ is a social networking service that connects you with friends, family, and
colleagues around the world. Set up Facebook to work on your device so that you can
stay in touch from anywhere.
•Close the on-screen keypad, a dialog box, an options menu, the Notification panel, or an
application
Home
•Go to the Home screen
Task
•Tap to open a window showing your most recently used applications and a small apps bar
Using the touchscreen
A protective plastic sheet is already attached to the screen of your device when you buy
it. You should peel off this sheet before using the touchscreen. Otherwise, the
touchscreen might not function properly.
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. You can also set personal locks to protect your
subscription and make sure only you can access content on your device.
The device screen is made from glass. Do not touch the screen if the glass is cracked or
shattered. Avoid trying to repair a damaged screen yourself. Glass screens are sensitive to
drops and mechanical shocks. Cases of negligent care are not covered by the Sony warranty
service.
To open or highlight an item
•Tap the item.
Marking options
Marked checkbox
Unmarked checkbox
Marked list option
Unmarked list option
To mark or unmark options
•Tap the relevant checkbox or list option.
Zooming
The zoom options available depend on the application you are using.
•Place two fingers on the screen at once and pinch them together (to zoom out) or
spread them apart (to zoom in).
When you use two fingers on the screen to zoom, it is only possible to zoom if both fingers
are within the zoomable area. If you, for example, want to zoom in on a photo, make sure that
both fingers are within the photo frame area.
Scrolling
Scroll by moving your finger up or down on the screen. On some web pages you can
also scroll to the sides.
Dragging or flicking will not activate anything on the screen.
To scroll
•Drag or flick your finger in the direction you want to scroll on the screen.
To scroll more quickly, flick your finger in the direction you want to go on the screen.
•To scroll more quickly, flick your finger in the direction you want to go on the
screen. You can wait for the scrolling movement to stop by itself, or you can stop
it immediately by tapping the screen.
Sensors
Your device has sensors that detect both light and proximity. The light sensor detects
the ambient light level and adjusts the brightness of the screen accordingly. The
proximity sensor turns the touch screen off during voice calls when your ear is close to
the screen. This prevents you from unintentionally activating other functions on your
device when you are engaged in a call.
Battery
Your device has an embedded battery.
Charging the battery
Your battery is partly charged when you buy your device. It may take a few minutes
before the battery icon appears on the screen when you connect the charger cable to
a power source, such as a USB port or a charger. You can still use your device while it is
charging. Charging your device over a long period of time, for example, overnight, does
not damage the battery or the device.
1Plug the charger into a power outlet.
2Plug one end of the USB cable into the charger (or into the USB port of a
computer).
3Plug the other end of the cable into the micro USB port on your device, with the
USB symbol facing up. The notification light lights up when charging starts.
4When the notification light is green, the device is fully charged. Disconnect the
USB cable from your device by pulling it straight outward. Make sure not to bend
the connector when removing the cable from the device.
Use the charger and USB cable provided with the device to ensure faster charging.
If the battery is completely discharged, it may take a few minutes before the notification light
lights up after you connect the charger cable to a power source.
Battery notification light status
GreenThe battery charge level is greater than 90%
Flashing redThe battery level is low
OrangeThe battery is charging and the battery charge level is less than 90%
To check the battery level
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > About phone > Status > Battery level.
Improving battery performance
The following tips can help you improve battery performance:
•Charge your device often. This will not affect the lifetime of the battery.
•Downloading data from the Internet is power consuming. When you're not using the
Internet, you can save power by disabling all mobile data connections from the
Notification panel by dragging down the status bar. This setting does not prevent your
device from transmitting data over other wireless networks.
•Turn off Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® when you don't need these features. You can turn them
on and off more easily from the Notification panel by dragging down the status bar.
•Use the STAMINA mode and Low battery mode features to reduce battery
consumption. You can select the power saving mode that best suits the way you use
your device. You can also customize the settings of each power saving mode.
•Set your synchronization applications (used to synchronize your email, calendar, and
contacts) to synchronize manually. You can also synchronize automatically, but increase
the synchronization intervals.
•Check the battery usage menu in your device to see which applications use the most
power. Your battery consumes more power when you use video and music streaming
applications, such as YouTube™. Some applications downloaded from Google Play™
may also consume more power.
•Close and exit applications that you are not using.
•Turn off your device or activate the Airplane mode setting if you are in an area with no
network coverage. Otherwise, your device repeatedly scans for available networks, and
this consumes power.
•Use a Sony™ original handsfree device to listen to music. Handsfree devices demand
less battery power than your device's own loudspeakers.
•Keep your device in standby mode whenever possible. Standby time refers to the time
during which your device is connected to the network and is not being used.
•Disable any live wallpaper.
To access the battery usage menu
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > Power management > Battery.
Using STAMINA mode
Activate the STAMINA mode feature to pause your Wi-Fi® connection, data traffic and
several power consuming applications when your screen is inactive. When STAMINA
mode is active, you can still receive phone calls, and text and multimedia messages. You
can also set up an applications list to allow some applications to keep running when your
screen is inactive. Once the screen becomes active again, all paused functions are
resumed.
To activate STAMINA mode
1Drag the status bar downwards, then tap .
2Find and tap Power management.
3Drag the slider beside STAMINA mode to the right, then tap Activate.
appears in the status bar when STAMINA mode is activated.
To deactivate STAMINA mode
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > Power management.
3Tap next to STAMINA mode.
To change the settings for STAMINA mode
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > Power management.
3To open the settings menu, tap STAMINA mode.
4Add or remove applications, as desired.
5When you're finished, tap Done.
Estimating the standby time of your device
Standby time refers to the amount of time the battery can last when your device is
connected to the network but is not in active use, for example, to receive or make phone
calls. STAMINA mode, when activated, continuously evaluates the remaining standby
time, which can vary depending on how you use your device. STAMINA mode is more
effective in lengthening the standby time if you keep the screen of your device locked. If
you rarely lock the screen, you may not see much improvement in battery performance.
When you use your device for the first time, the estimated standby time may not be accurate
since there is no previous usage history to estimate from.
To view the estimated standby time
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > Power management.
Using Low battery mode
You can activate the Low battery mode feature to save power when the battery level is
low. This feature helps you to adjust the settings for screen brightness, data traffic and
the vibrate function so that you can reduce battery consumption.
1Drag the status bar downwards, then tap .
2Find and tap Power management.
3Drag the slider beside Low battery mode to the right.
To deactivate Low battery mode
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > Power management.
3Tap next to Low battery mode.
To change the settings for Low battery mode
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Find and tap Settings > Power management.
3To open the settings menu, tap Low battery mode.
4Adjust the settings as desired.
5When you're finished, tap .
Using the lock screen
You can add new panes to your Home screen even when the screen is locked. You can
also add widgets to these panes when you create them. You can then access these
widgets when the screen is locked by swiping to the left on the screen.
To take a photo from the lock screen
1To activate the screen, briefly press the power key .
2To activate the camera, swipe to the left in the upper part of the screen.
3After the camera opens, tap .
To add a new pane and widget when the screen is locked
1To activate the screen, briefly press the power key .
2Swipe to the right, then tap to add a new pane.
3Find and tap the widget that you want to add.
You can only add one widget per pane when the screen is locked.
Home screen
The Home screen is your gateway to the main features on your device. You can
customize your Home screen with applications, widgets, shortcuts, folders, themes, and
wallpaper.
The Home screen extends beyond the regular screen display width, so you need to flick
left or right to view content in all of the Home screen's panes. shows
which part of the Home screen you are in. You can set a pane as the main Home
screen pane, and add, or delete panes.
The items in the bar at the bottom of the screen are always available for quick access.
To go to the Home screen
•Press .
To browse the Home screen
•Flick right or left.
To set a pane as the main Home screen pane
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2Flick left or right to browse to the pane that you want to set as your main Home
screen pane, then tap .
To add a pane to your Home screen
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2Flick left or right to browser the panes, then tap .
To delete a pane from your Home screen
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2Flick left or right to browse to the pane that you want to delete, then tap .
Widgets
Widgets are small applications that you can use directly on your Home screen. For
example, the “WALKMAN” widget allows you to start playing music directly.
Some widgets are resizable, so you can expand them to view more content or shrink
them to save space on your Home screen.
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates,
then tap Widgets.
2Find and tap the widget that you want to add.
To resize a widget
1Touch 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.
2Drag the dots inward or outward to shrink or expand the widget.
3To confirm the new size of the widget, tap anywhere on the Home screen.
Rearranging your Home screen
Customize the appearance of your Home screen and change the features you can
access from it. Change the screen background, move items around, create folders, and
add shortcuts and widgets.
Customization options
When you touch and hold an empty area of your Home screen, the following
customization options appear:
Add widgets to your Home screen.
Add applications and shortcuts.
Set a wallpaper for your Home screen.
Set a background theme.
To view customization options from the Home screen
•Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates and
customization options appear at the bottom of the screen.
To add a shortcut to your Home screen
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2Tap Apps > Shortcuts.
3Select a shortcut.
You can add an application shortcut directly from the Application screen by touching and
holding the application.
To move an item on the Home screen
•Touch and hold the item until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then drag the
item to the new location.
To delete an item from the Home screen
•Touch and hold an item until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then drag the
item to .
To create a folder on the Home screen
1Touch and hold an application icon or a shortcut until it magnifies and the device
vibrates, then drag and drop it on top of another application icon or shortcut.
2Enter a name for the folder and tap Done.
To add items to a folder on the Home screen
•Touch and hold an item until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then drag the
1Tap the folder to open it.
2Touch the folder's title bar to show the Folder name field.
3Enter the new folder name and tap Done.
Changing the background of your Home screen
Adapt the Home screen to your own style using wallpapers and different themes.
To change your Home screen wallpaper
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2Tap Wallpapers and select an option.
To set a theme for your Home screen
1Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until the device vibrates.
2Tap Themes, then select a theme.
When you change a theme, the background also changes in some applications.
Accessing and using applications
Open applications from shortcuts on your Home screen or from the Application screen.
Application screen
The Application screen, which you open from your Home screen, contains the
applications that come pre-installed on your device, as well as the applications you
download.
The Application screen extends beyond the regular screen width, so you need to flick left
and right to view all content.
To open the Application screen
•From your Home screen, tap .
To browse the Application screen
•From the Application screen, flick right or left.
To create a shortcut to an application on the Home screen
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Touch and hold an application icon until the screen vibrates, then drag the icon to
the top of the screen. The Home screen opens.
3Drag the icon to the desired location on the Home screen, then release your
finger.
To share an application from your Application screen
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Tap , then tap Share. All applications which can be shared are indicated by .
3Tap the application that you want to share, then select an option and confirm, if
necessary. A link to a download of the application is sent to the people you have
selected.
•From your Home screen or the Application screen, tap the application.
To close an application
•Press .
Some applications are paused when you press to exit, while other applications may
continue to run in the background. In the first case, the next time you open the application,
you can continue where you left off. Remember that some applications may cause data
connection charges when they are running in the background, for example, social networking
services.
Recently used applications window
You can switch between recently used applications from this window. You can also open
small apps.
To open the recently used applications window
•Press .
Using small apps
From the recently used applications window, you can get quick access to several small
apps at any time using the small apps bar. A small app only takes up a small area of your
screen. So you can interact with a small app and another application at the same time
on the same screen.
To open the small apps bar
•Press .
To open a small app
1To make the small apps bar appear, press .
2Tap the small app that you want to open. A small app window appears.
To close a small app
•Tap on the small app window.
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 your small apps
1To make the small apps bar appear, press .
2Touch and hold a small app and drag it to the desired position in the small apps
bar.
To remove a small app from the small apps bar
1To make the small apps bar appear, press .
2Touch and hold a small app icon and drag it away from the small apps bar.
To restore a previously removed small app
1To make the small apps bar appear, press .
2Tap .
3Touch and hold the small app you want to restore, then drag it into the small apps
1To make the small apps bar appear, press .
2Tap > > .
3Find a small app that you want to download, then follow the instructions to
complete the installation.
To add a widget as a small app
1To make the small apps bar appear, press .
2Tap > > .
3Select a widget.
4Enter a name for the widget, if desired, then tap OK.
Application menu
You can open a menu at any time when you are using an application. The menu will look
different depending on which application you are using.
To open a menu in an application
•While using the application, press .
A menu is not available in all applications.
Rearranging your Application screen
Move the applications around on the Application screen according to your preferences.
To arrange applications on the Application screen
1From your Home screen, tap to go to the Application screen.
2Tap the drop-down list on the top left of the screen and select an option.
To move an application on the Application screen
1Open the Application screen.
2Touch and hold an item until it magnifies and the device vibrates, then drag the
item to the new location.
You can only move your applications when Own order is selected.
To uninstall an application from the Application screen
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Tap , then tap Uninstall. All uninstallable applications are indicated by .
3Tap the application that you want to uninstall, then tap Uninstall.
Status and notifications
The status bar at the top of your screen shows what's going on in your device. To the
left you get notifications when there is something new or ongoing. For example, new
message and calendar notifications appear here. The right side shows the signal
strength, battery status, and other information.
The Notification panel allows you to adjust quick settings on your device, for example,
Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, data traffic, and sound. You can also open the settings menu from
the Notification panel to customize quick settings or change other settings.
A notification light also gives you battery status information and some notifications. For
example, a flashing blue light means there is a new message or a missed call. The
notification light may not work when the battery level is low.
You can drag down the status bar to open the Notification panel and get more
information. For example, you can use the panel to open a new message or view a
calendar event. You can also open some applications that run in the background, such
as the music player.
To open the Notification panel
•Drag the status bar downwards.
To close the Notification panel
•Drag the tab at the bottom of the Notification panel upward.
To open a running application from the Notification panel
•Tap the icon for the running application to open it.
To dismiss a notification from the Notification panel
•Place your finger on a notification and flick left or right.
To clear the Notification panel
•From the Notification panel, tap Clear.
Setting your device from the Notification panel
You can open the settings menu from the Notification panel to adjust device quick
settings. For example, you can turn on Wi-Fi®.
To open the device settings menu from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downward.
2Tap .
To adjust sound settings from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downwards.
2Tap .
To control the Bluetooth® function from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downward.
2Tap .
To control the Wi-Fi® function from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downwards.
2Tap .
To enable or disable data traffic from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downwards.
2Tap .
Customizing quick settings from the Notification panel
You can customize quick settings from the Notification panel by selecting the quick
settings you want and rearranging their order. You can select up to 10 quick settings, or
you can also select none of them.
To select quick settings from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downwards, then tap .
2Find and tap Display > Quick settings.
3Select the desired settings.
To rearrange the quick settings from the Notification panel
1Drag the status bar downwards, then tap .
2Find and tap Display > Quick settings.
3Touch and hold beside a quick setting, then move it to the desired position.
Settings menu
View and change settings for your device from the Settings menu.
To access your device settings
1From your Home screen, tap .
2Tap Settings.
You can also drag the status bar downward on the Home screen and tap to access your
device settings.
Typing text
You can select from a number of keyboards and input methods to type text containing
letters, numbers and other characters.
On-screen keyboard
Tap the keys of the on-screen QWERTY keyboard to enter text conveniently. Some
applications open the on-screen keyboard automatically. You can also open this
keyboard by touching a text field.
1 Change the character case and turn on the caps lock. For some languages, this key is used to access
extra characters in the language.
2 Close the on-screen keyboard view. Note that this icon does not appear in portrait mode.
3 Display numbers and symbols.
4 Personalize your keyboard. This key disappears after the keyboard is personalized.
5 Enter a space.
6 Enter a carriage return or confirm text input.
7 Delete a character before the cursor.
All illustrations are for illustration purposes only and may not accurately depict the actual
device.
To display the on-screen keyboard to enter text
•Tap a text entry field.
To hide the on-screen keyboard
•When the on-screen keyboard is open, tap .
To personalise the on-screen keyboard
1Open the on-screen keyboard, then tap .
2Follow the instructions to personalise your on-screen keyboard, for example, mark
the Smiley key checkbox.
If you don't mark the Smiley key checkbox when you personalise the on-screen keyboard, the
smiley icon will not appear.
To use the on-screen keyboard in landscape orientation
•When you enter text, turn the device sideways.
For the keyboard to support this feature, landscape mode must be supported by the
application you are using, and your screen orientation settings must be set to automatic.
To enter text using the on-screen keyboard
•To enter a character visible on the keyboard, tap the character.
•To enter a character variant, touch and hold a regular keyboard character to get a
list of available options, then select from the list. For example, to enter "é", touch
and hold "e" until other options appear, then, while keeping your finger pressed on
the keyboard, drag to and select "é".
To shift between upper-case and lower-case letters
•Before you enter a letter, tap to switch to upper-case , or vice versa.
1When you enter text using the on-screen keyboard, slide your finger from letter to
letter to trace the word you want to write.
2Lift up your finger when you’ve finished entering a word. A word is suggested
based on the letters you have traced. If necessary, select the correct word in the
candidate bar.
3To view more options, scroll right or left in the word candidate bar. If you cannot
find the desired word, tap once to delete the entire word, then try again to
trace the word using the Gesture input function, or tap each letter to enter the
word.
To change the Gesture input settings
1When you enter text using the on-screen keyboard, tap .
2Tap , then tap Keyboard settings.
3Tap Text input settings.
4Mark or unmark the Gesture input checkbox.
Phonepad
The Phonepad is similar to a standard 12-key telephone keypad. It gives you predictive
text and multi-tap input options. You can activate the Phonepad text input method via
the keyboard settings. The Phonepad is only available in portrait orientation.
Using the Phonepad
1Choose a text input option
2Change the character case and turn on the caps lock
3Display numbers
4Display symbols and smileys
5Enter a space
6Enter a carriage return or confirm text input
7Delete a character before the cursor
All illustrations are for illustration purposes only and may not accurately depict the actual
device.
To open the Phonepad for the first time
1Tap a text entry field, then tap .
2Tap , then tap Keyboard settings.
3Tap Keyboard appearance > Keyboard layout.
4Select the Phonepad.
•When appears in the Phonepad, tap each character key only once, even if the
letter you want is not the first letter on the key. Tap the word that appears or tap
to view more word suggestions and select a word from the list.
•When appears in the Phonepad, tap the on-screen key for the character you
want to enter. Keep pressing this key until the desired character is selected. Then
do the same for the next character you want to enter, and so on.
To enter numbers using the Phonepad
•When the Phonepad is open, tap . A Phonepad with numbers appears.
To insert symbols and smileys using the Phonepad
1When the Phonepad is open, tap . A grid with symbols and smileys appears.
2Scroll up or down to view more options. Tap a symbol or smiley to select it.
Keyboard and Phonepad settings
You can select settings for the on-screen keyboard and the Phonepad, such as writing
language and automatic correction.
To access the on-screen keyboard and Phonepad settings
1When you enter text using the on-screen keyboard or Phonepad, tap or .
2Tap , then tap Keyboard settings.
To add a writing language for text input
1When you enter text using the on-screen keyboard or Phonepad, tap or .
2Tap , then tap Keyboard settings.
3Tap Languages > Writing languages and mark the relevant checkboxes. Tap
OK to confirm.
Text input settings
When entering text using the on-screen keyboard or the Phonepad, you can access a
text input settings menu that helps you set options for text prediction, automatic spacing,
and quick fixes. For example, you can decide how word options are presented and how
words get corrected as you type. You can also set the text input application to
remember new words that you write.
To change the text input settings
1When you enter text using the on-screen keyboard or the Phonepad, tap or
.
2Tap , then tap Keyboard settings > Text input settings and select the relevant
settings.
Entering text using voice input
When you enter text, you can use the voice input function instead of typing the words.
Just speak the words that you want to enter. Voice input is an experimental technology
from Google™, and is available for a number of languages and regions.
To enable voice input
1When you enter text using the on-screen keyboard or the Phonepad, tap or
.
2Tap , then tap Keyboard settings.
3Mark the Google voice typing key checkbox.
4Press to save your settings. A microphone icon appears on your on-screen