[Tutorial] Xperia devices Bootloader Unlocking/Relocking

DooMLoRD · Sep 16, 2013

Quick tutorial for unlocking & relocking the bootloader for most Xperia devices

this is the official way to unlock bootloader

This will work on:

Xperia 2011 devices - Arc, Play, Neo, etc
Xperia 2012 devices - S, Ion, T, V, etc
Xperia 2013 devices - Z1, Z Ultra, Z, Tablet Z, etc

DooMLoRD said:
Special note for Xperia Z1

WARNING!

MAKE TA BACKUP BEFORE UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER!

After unlocking bootloader the camera can not be used on stock ROM!

Relocking bootloader will NOT help!

Just restore TA, and the camera will work again!

if you want to backup the TA or keep ur DRM keys,first root the device and then check this out (this is for Xperia Z but MAY work on Z1)

Warning!

This procedure will wipe the /data partition of your phone, so you will loose all ur stored data, settings. SDCARD will BE WIPED!!!

For Xperia™ devices released 2013 or later (for example Xperia™ Z and Xperia™ ZL), the SD card of your device will be formatted and you will lose all content (for example photos, music, videos) when you unlock the boot loader.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

DRM keys WILL be lost forever

schaggo said:

I'd add what losing DRM keys means, e.g. no more Music ID/Gracenote within the Walkman app plus probably most importantly, as asked all the time and all over the place in the T/mint forums: loss of Bravia Engine.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

older Xperia devices sometimes got issues after unlock of bootloader (BRICK after FOTA update) - you have been warned

why to unlock bootloader?

u can flash custom ROMs/Kernels
u dont need to worry if the new firmware can be rooted or not as with unlocked bootloader u can always ROOT ur device
Sony gives sneak-peaks/preview builds of latest OS which requires unlocked bootloaders, as they did with Xperia 2011/2012 line, so who knows may be Sony may give early builds of next android OS

Most of this is taken from lollylost100's his tutorial from ARC thread (all credits for that concise tutorial go to him, i have elaborated on a few things and added device specific changes)

btw i dont have this device, most of this testing was done remotely on a users phone... so thanks a lot to him for helping out!!!

[ before we begin unlocking bootloader ]

get the IMEI code for ur device: type *#06# in phone dialer to find it out, note only the digits (no dashes)
download the fastboot package with usb drivers (alternate drivers if the ones in package dont work OR this)
IMPORTANT: if you are using Windows 8 you will need to enable few things to allow driver installation
make sure u have a windows PC with USB cable to connect the phone
power down ur phone and keeping the Volume Up button pressed connect the USB cable to PC this will trigger FASTBOOT mode and windows will start driver installation, extract the above package and point the driver install to that location (usb_driver) folder
once drivers are installed just disconnect cable and power on device

[ how to unlock ] (official way)

Go to: http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/ and read everything!
At the bottom click 'Start Unlocking the Bootloader'

First, you should confirm that it is possible to unlock the boot loader of your phone by checking the service menu. In your phone, open the dialler and enter *#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu.

In your phone, tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse
after u have verified that u can unlock bootloader, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Continue"
you will get numerous prompts, read all info and if u agree click on "Accept"/"OK"/"Proceed"
finally u will get a "Create Unlock request" page, enter your IMEI (sometimes the last digit needs to be removed for this to work), name and email address
You should now receive your unique unlock key via EMAIL, SAVE THIS KEY SAFELY
Extract fastboot_with_Android_USB_file.rar and open fastboot folder
Hold SHIFT and right click on the background of the folder
Select 'Open command window here'
Connect your phone in fastboot mode (turn phone off, hold Volume UP button and plug in USB Cable) [make sure drivers are installed as explained above)
In the cmd windows type in fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version
If a value is returned (it will return 0.5), it means the phone is correctly connected
Type in fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY and replace KEY with the key which u received earlier.
You're device should now be bootloader unlocked

If this tutorial is too much for you then itskapil wrote a step-by-step guide (and recorded a video also):
-Instructions: http://www.theandroidsoul.com/how-to-unlock-bootloader-xperia-arc-play-neo-pro/
-Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRH3pC7MhEA
(the above videos and some steps are for Xperia 2011 devices, but most the steps are same for Xperia Z)

Relock procedure is posted here

regards,

DooMLoRD

DooMLoRD · Sep 16, 2013

With the latest release of Flashtool it is now possible to relock bootloader.

Download the latest flashtool from:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2162907

Important

DO NOT USE ANY FTF TO RELOCK BOOTLOADER! THOSE OLD FTFs DO NOT WORK FOR THE 2013 DEVICES!!!

before u relock bootloader u have to be on pure stock kernel (flash only the kernel.sin using flashtool), else the device WILL NOT BOOT after relock

Steps:

now start Flashtool and click on BLU button
u will be asked to connect device in flashmode
once u connect the device u will get a prompt to "Relock"
click on it and when prompted disconnect the device

rahulk23 · Nov 11, 2013

thanks dude i think relocking bootloader is simple compared to unlocking bootloader processor thank you once again

bodega1968 · Dec 9, 2013

DoomLord,

read through your simple and clear instructions. only thing i wanted to clarify:

You wrote: [In your phone, tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.]

Does this the last line mean that there is NO OTHER WAY TO UNLOCK THE BL except via HARDWARE METHODS?

just wanted a final clarification for this, since SlenderMan also has a cool Tutorial, but doesn't clarify this point. You mention it, but perhaps still implying that there's some SOFTWARE method approach to unlocking an Xperia V.

thanks dude,

bodega1968

---------- Post added at 11:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 AM ----------

DoomLord,

read through your simple and clear instructions. only thing i wanted to clarify:

You wrote: [In your phone, tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.]

Does this the last line mean that there is NO OTHER WAY TO UNLOCK THE BL except via HARDWARE METHODS?

just wanted a final clarification for this, since SlenderMan also has a cool Tutorial, but doesn't clarify this point. You mention it, but perhaps still implying that there's some SOFTWARE method approach to unlocking an Xperia V.

thanks dude,

bodega1968

shingers5 · Dec 11, 2013

relocking bootloader on c6833 worked perfectly without any issues. flashed c6833 .532 ftf then updated successfully via OTA. now have UK .257 on device.

thanks again

pixellegolas · Feb 13, 2014

Hi! I have 10.4.B.0.569 installed. So I only need to press relock to make it relocked? Do I need to make backups etc or will the phone just reboot with everything intact?

seriestv · May 9, 2014

It works!

Thank you, I have relocked my xperia ZR

maddboss · May 16, 2014

Can I unlock my Xperia S if it says that I can't officially unlock the bootloader. Is there an unofficial way to unlock it?
And if I can't unlock it can I install custom rom somehow?

jackxperiap · May 16, 2014

maddboss said:
Can I unlock my Xperia S if it says that I can't officially unlock the bootloader. Is there an unofficial way to unlock it?
And if I can't unlock it can I install custom rom somehow?

S u can install custom roms without unlocking bootloader

jus by root and Cwm.. But u can't flash a custom Kernel :thumbdown:.. So first root your device then install Cwm and then u can flash custom roms.. U ll be in stock Kernel only..

Sent from my Xperia P Running MoonWalker V5.5 and Nemesis Kernel V6.3 Using XDA Premium

maddboss · May 16, 2014

jackxperiap said:
S u can install custom roms without unlocking bootloader jus by root and Cwm.. But u can't flash a custom Kernel :thumbdown:.. So first root your device then install Cwm and then u can flash custom roms.. U ll be in stock Kernel only..

Sent from my Xperia P Running MoonWalker V5.5 and Nemesis Kernel V6.3 Using XDA Premium

is this cyanogenmod and this slimrom includes custom kernel?

jackxperiap · May 17, 2014

maddboss said:
is this cyanogenmod and this slimrom includes custom kernel?

s for CM roms, slimrom, AOSP, carbon roms etc will include a custome kernel and these roms must need unlocked bootloader .. check this link for various custom roms .. LB is for locked bootloader and UB is for unlocked bootloader ..

paper13579 · May 18, 2014

@DooMLoRD can you please make it possible to unlock the bootloader on devices where it says bootloader unlock allowed: no. For example, on the xperia m, you cannot even install cwm without an unlocked bootloader. Can you make this a possibility? Im sure all xperia devices would benefit from this as i believe it is slowing down developement especially in the xperia m. Thank you

Sent from my E15i using XDA Free mobile app

DooMLoRD · May 18, 2014

paper13579 said:
@DooMLoRD can you please make it possible to unlock the bootloader on devices where it says bootloader unlock allowed: no. For example, on the xperia m, you cannot even install cwm without an unlocked bootloader. Can you make this a possibility? Im sure all xperia devices would benefit from this as i believe it is slowing down developement especially in the xperia m. Thank you

Sent from my E15i using XDA Free mobile app

that would mean hacking the bootloader.. and Sony have protected it VERY WELL!!!

the last time this was achieved was for the 2011 devices... in the last 3 years no one has been able to hack that bootloader...

maddboss · May 19, 2014

jackxperiap said:
s for CM roms, slimrom, AOSP, carbon roms etc will include a custome kernel and these roms must need unlocked bootloader .. check this link for various custom roms .. LB is for locked bootloader and UB is for unlocked bootloader ..

and can I install those custom roms with stock kernel?

jackxperiap · May 19, 2014

maddboss said:
and can I install those custom roms with stock kernel?

Custom roms can be installed with stock Kernel but not all custom roms..

Sent from my Xperia P Running MoonWalker V5.5 and Nemesis Kernel V6.3 Using XDA Premium

maddboss · May 20, 2014

jackxperiap said:
Custom roms can be installed with stock Kernel but not all custom roms..

Sent from my Xperia P Running MoonWalker V5.5 and Nemesis Kernel V6.3 Using XDA Premium

and is there a 4.4 custom rom for Xperia S which can be installed with stock kernel?

jackxperiap · May 20, 2014

maddboss said:
and is there a 4.4 custom rom for Xperia S which can be installed with stock kernel?

http://xdaforums.com/xperia-s/s-development here u can check all your rom for S .. LB is for locked bootloader ..

vvaklnprm · May 22, 2014

BE2 on bootloader relock?

I was wondering if we could get back BE2 on bootloader relock..

jackxperiap · May 22, 2014

vvaklnprm said:
I was wondering if we could get back BE2 on bootloader relock..

s v can get back bravia engine after relocking .. if u have backed up your ta using this http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2292598 before unlocking then jus restore it to get back your bravia engine ,, else u can relock the bootloader in so many ways .. :laugh:,, in this same thread see post no 2 to relock the bootloader :good:

abumaha · Jul 6, 2014

i thinkl my volume up button damaged

how else can boot to fastboot
wt19i

[Tutorial] Xperia devices Bootloader Unlocking/Relocking

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