Reverting back to the stock firmware
Questions about the Walkman One firmware
Installation
- How do I install a custom firmware on my player?
A custom firmware is installed like any other official Sony firmware updates. This means launching the installer, connecting the player to your computer and enabling the Mass Storage mode on the player, clicking Next in the installer, and then clicking Ok.
The player will restart automatically into the update mode, where an update bar will fill up slowly on the player's screen. After the update bar fills completely then the player will restart normally.
You can find this info in the downloaded firmware archive as well, in a .txt file, which can be opened with Notepad, for example.
- Can I install a custom firmware from a MacOS or Linux machine?
No, the installers work only on Windows. You could try using a virtual machine with Windows, or install the firmware from a friend's Windows computer, for example.
- How do I apply the external tuning afterwards?
Just go into the tuning's folder, and launch the "FirmwareUpdateTool.exe" executable. This installer is the same as the one used for the firmware installation.
- My antivirus says that files downloaded from this website are infected. What's up with that?
That is your antivirus falsely detecting files downloaded from this website as being infected.
Reverting back to the stock firmware
- How do I revert back to the stock firmware?
A firmware downloaded from this website comes with instructions about how to do this.
Basically, a firmware has its own installer that should be run (just like any other firmware updates) so the device can get back to the stock firmware. After running this installer, you should also apply the last official Sony firmware update for your player.
You can find this info in the downloaded firmware archive as well, in a .txt file, which can be opened with Notepad, for example.
On each device page (links in the navigation bar above) you'll be able to find links to archives with past StockRevert packages.
Questions about the Walkman One firmware
- Does anything happens with the player's settings when installing this?
No, your settings will not be lost/reset for the WM1A and WM1Z players.
For the A30/40/50 and ZX300, settings will be backed up internally, and restored if you'll use the StockRevert package.
- How can I tell if the firmware installed successfully?
You can go to the Unit Information menu, and there you should see the "Walkman One" name being mentioned. You'll also be able to see a folder named "CFW" in the internal memory (read more details about it, below).
- Where is this settings file I keep reading about?
When installing this firmware, a folder named "CFW" will be created automatically in the player's internal storage. In this folder you'll find the settings file (settings.txt), a boot log file (boot_log.txt), a folder named "External_Tunings" containing the external tunings, as well as a folder named "StockRevert", containing the StockRevert package that needs to be used if you want to revert back to the stock firmware.
You can find additional info in the "External_Tunings" and in the "StockRevert" folder about how to use both of them.
If you delete the "External_Tunings" or the "StockRevert" folder, they will automatically appear again at the next player restart.
For both the "External_Tunings" and the "StockRevert" folders, you need about 246 MB available in the internal storage.
- What can I change in the settings file?
In the settings file you can:
- choose the region of the player*;- choose if you'd like to have the remote option (RMT-NWS20) with any region (not just J/E);
- choose between the Plus v1 mode or the Plus v2 mode;
- choose if you'd like to boot into the chosen Plus mode by default or not;
- choose between normal, higher, or lower gain;
- choose to initialize the DAC normally or "differently" (affects the sound signature);
- choosing the color of the icons on the "Home" page of the player.
- How do I change options in the settings file?
Go in the "CFW" folder, and open the "settings.txt" file with any basic text editor, like Notepad or Notepad++. Find the option you want to change, and check the details written in the settings file to find out how to change the value for that particular option.
After changing any setting, save the settings file, disable the Mass Storage mode on the player, and then restart the player.
- How can I tell if my options in the settings file are being applied accordingly?
Go in the "CFW" folder and open the boot log file (boot_log.txt). In there you'll be able to check if the values of the options are read as you set them, and if they are valid or not.
- In the boot log file I see a battery percentage and voltage (WM1A/Z only). What's up with that?
It's exactly the percentage of charge of your battery, as well as the voltage. Unfortunately, that value doesn't know if you have the Battery Care setting enabled or not.
That means that if you have the Battery Care option enabled in your player's settings, you should take that battery percentage with +10%, as when the Battery Care setting is on, the player only charges to 90%, so 90% becomes the 100% if it makes sense.
For example, if Battery Care is on, 80% in the settings file means 90% for the firmware.
- How do I change the sound signature via the settings file?
Open the settings file (settings.txt) from the "CFW" folder in the internal storage of your player, and find the sound signature section. Change the value of the "SIG" option to the chosen one (for example, SIG=2).
Save the settings file, disable the Mass Storage mode on your player, and then restart it. After the restart, you can confirm that your chosen sound signature is in use by checking the boot log file in the same "CFW" folder, or the Unit Information menu in the player's settings.
After you confirmed that the chosen sound signature is in use, apply the corresponding external tuning from the "External_Tunings" folder, or from the downloaded firmware ZIP archive.
- I have Direct Source enabled on my A50/A40/A30 player, and there is no audio playing. What's up with that?
While Direct Source is enabled on the A50/A40/A30 players, MQA and DSD playback will have no audio.
Just disable Direct Source when playing DSD or MQA files on these players.
- I can't apply a certain external tuning, it says to connect the player to the PC, even though it's already connected. What to do?
Make sure that the chosen sound signature is actually in use. Read the info above about how to do that.
- I accidentally deleted the settings file or I messed the values up and I don't know how to fix it. What should I do?
When restarting the player, the firmware will check if the settings file exists. If the settings file doesn't exist, a new one will be created, containing default values for the options in there.
So, if you accidentally delete the settings file or you'd just like to have the original file as it was by default, you can delete it and restart the player.
Something similar is applicable to the "boot_log.txt" file - if you delete it, it will automatically be created again when the player is restarted.
- How do I enter the Plus mode?
You can change to start in the Plus mode by default from the settings file (read above), or you can enter the Plus mode by using the Hold/Lock button.
If you start the player with the Hold/Lock button in the Up position, then the player will start in the chosen Plus mode. If the Hold/Lock button is in the Down position, then the player starts in the Normal mode. After the player finishes starting, you can move the Hold/Lock button as you wish.
- How can I confirm that the external tuning was applied?
When the external tuning is not applied and you go to the Unit Information menu in your player, you'll see the message "External tuning not applied!". You'll also see a similar message in the boot log file.
Also, while the tuning is being applied, the update bar on the player's screen should fill up completely before the player restarts.
- I decided that I don't want to use this firmware. What should I do with the "CFW" folder?
It's simply your choice - you can delete it or leave it there. If you decide to reinstall this firmware, the settings you have in there will be used.
- I don't see the remote option (RMT-NWS20). Did you remove this feature?
If a feature would be removed, it would be mentioned on the firmware's page.
The remote option shows up normally only on the J/E regions. You can still have the remote option show up even if you're not on the J/E regions though. This is possible by using an option from the settings file (REM).
The remote function works only with the RMT-NWS20 remote.
- I have a Japanese Walkman player. How can I change the language? Is it possible to do that with your firmware?
When the region of the player is set to J, the language menu is not shown anymore in Settings.
You can change the region to another one in the settings file (and then restart the player), and you'll then see the language menu.
