I'm new to this modding of Xperia phones as I got one as a gift so please bear with me. I have the NTT docomo variant of the Z5 Premium (SO-03H). I did some basic research on how to root it and found out that I have a locked bootloader. I have seen some users saying I can root with a locked bootloader but since I am new to this, I don't wanna take the risk of messing up my phone. I do have some experience on rooting Samsung devices and initially thought it was a similar procedure with Xperia phones.
Now just so I dont get confused, can I root with a locked bootloader? Specifically on this model and if yes, how?
Also, can I flash something even if my bootloader is locked?
All I really need is a rooted phone and to get KCAL module to work on my phone since the white balance on this phone is horrible (too much blue) and if possible, I'd like to know about debloating apps... there's too much bloatware from docomo.
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Pleas someone tell me whats difference between a bootlocked phone n unlocked one??
I have an xperia play n I dont knw whether its bootloader locked??
I have rom manager, from which when I boot into recovery, m while sony Ericsson logo appears, I press down volume key, then it goes to clockwork mod page.. Does this really mean that I have unlocked my xperia play's bootloader.. I have not installed any custom rom, only on stock rom yet.. So asking... Please help me out..
Answers for your questions SIR lol
Silverstarjigar said:
Pleas someone tell me whats difference between a bootlocked phone n unlocked one??
I have an xperia play n I dont knw whether its bootloader locked??
I have rom manager, from which when I boot into recovery, m while sony Ericsson logo appears, I press down volume key, then it goes to clockwork mod page.. Does this really mean that I have unlocked my xperia play's bootloader.. I have not installed any custom rom, only on stock rom yet.. So asking... Please help me out..
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Firstly can you tell me where you bought your device from and if it was brand new or used.
Apart from that the answer is that the difference between a locked and unlocked bootloader is a locked bootloader doesn't give you the ability to root your android device or install custom roms(custom android versions) while on the other hand, if you have a unlocked bootloader you are able to root, install custom roms and basically just modify your android phone. Although there are catches of unlocking the bootloader such as:
You will loose DRM content
You will loose some fuctionalities of your phone that are carrier specific
You will not be able to PROPERLY re-lock the bootloader in case you are thinking of doing that it is possible but you still cannot recover the lost DRM content
You will loose the ability to do FOTA(firmware-over-the-air)upgrades.
That is basically what you will not be able to do.
Although, in my opinion i recommend not unlocking the bootloader yet because the stock android on the phone is brilliant as well as that in the beginnig of April we will be getting the ICS update for our phones which would include nice features like face unlock improved camera app and other major changes which will be good. So i think it is better to wait till then rather than jumping the ship
If you were wondering it is safe to sim unlock your phone(if its locked to a specific network) since you will not loose any functionality of your device. I recommend rooting only if you are going to overclock your device or don't like how it runs if that's not the case then i don't think you should.
You don't need to unlock the bootloader to root your phone and rooting it has no effect on whether you can upgrade or not. If you don't root it you're very limited in what you can tweak and virtually everything on this forum relies on it.
Unlocking the bootloader is only necessary to change roms to cm7, miui etc
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
Hello,
New to xda and the modding scene. Just got my Arc about a month ago and I LOVE it! Pretty keen on putting some mods on it but my qustion is, can I unlock the bootloader, root, etc on a simlocked phone? Mine is locked to Optus AU.
Thanks!!!
You need first to sim unlock your phone
From my sexy LT15i
Awesome thanks. Turns out that my phone is unlocked after all Time to load it up with mods
Aha, nice
From my sexy LT15i
Before going nuts on modifying your phone you need to ask yourself if you want to root+unlock bootloader or just root... Not all xperia phones can have their bootloaders unlocked (if your phone was sold by a carrier i.e. branded such as Rogers then you will NOT be able to unlock your bootloader... Technically there is a test point method but it is quite the procedure compared to simply unlocking it the simple way that Sony offers). In the newbie guide it explains if you root your xperia but not bootloader unlock it you can only install custom roms for stock kernels, although if you wanted say ICS beta rom that Sony released then you would NEED an ISC kernel which is only possible to get on your phone after bootloader unlocking...
LINKS:
-check if you can unlock your bootloader the easy way and instructions on how to: http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/
-the ultimate NOOB guide behind rooting and unlocking bootloaders!! : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1573266
-Video tutorial covering different methods to unlocking ur arc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn-Vubgka1M
I have a Xperia Pro on fido running xperia ultimate HD (stock kernal)
Sony's official boot loader unlock said that I can't unlock my boot loader.
SE1 Tool does not work.
Allendrissemo (sorry of I can't spell) told me that my phone hardware is too updated (12W24) and it cannot be unlocked.
Now for my pled...
Is there a way to unlock my boot loader? I want to install CM9 but it comes with a custom kernal. And for that I need am unlocked bootloader. If you have a CM9 with a stock kernal, would it work? Or if I have the stock kernal then can I flash that after flashing CM9 and would it work? But I can't flash .img files cause I don't have fast boot.
That is all. Thanks.
I would appreciate any help.
Also, there does not seem to be an Xperia Pro thread on here so if you guys don't mind promoting this to find out, that would be of great help. Thanks.
Is it OK if I bump?
Bump
Bump
I was in your situation 6 months ago and I just went back to Fido and exchanged the phone within 2 weeks of purchase (using an LG Optimus 2X now that actually has an unlocked bootloader). Like you, I also tried to get Alejandrissimo to unlock my bootloader - didn't work!
Currently, only stock-based custom ROMs can be flashed on a locked bootloader. This applies to all brands, not just Sony.
Even SIM unlocking is in doubt here - I personally couldn't SIM unlock my Xperia via a purchased code (the site cellunlocker.net has never failed me before, except on this one Xperia model). The new security MCUs after 12w14 are tight bastards. Other users were successful with SIM unlock via code, but that did absolutely nothing to allow unlocking of the bootloader.
moral of the story: no matter what country you live in, never get a carrier branded Sony handset! If you really must have a Sony model, the only way to guarantee an unlockable bootloader is to get the stock, unbranded, unlocked model which is expensive.
In other words, if you gotta get a carrier subsidy, avoid Sony. Otherwise, Sony is great at supporting this kind of stuff, too bad most users can't enjoy it due to stupid carriers.
So, there's no hope? I always thought that this XDA community, and its vastness of knowledge would have a solution.
Follow me on twitter @Shivammcool
machoman1337 said:
I was in your situation 6 months ago and I just went back to Fido and exchanged the phone within 2 weeks of purchase (using an LG Optimus 2X now that actually has an unlocked bootloader). Like you, I also tried to get Alejandrissimo to unlock my bootloader - didn't work!
Currently, only stock-based custom ROMs can be flashed on a locked bootloader. This applies to all brands, not just Sony.
Even SIM unlocking is in doubt here - I personally couldn't SIM unlock my Xperia via a purchased code (the site cellunlocker.net has never failed me before, except on this one Xperia model). The new security MCUs after 12w14 are tight bastards. Other users were successful with SIM unlock via code, but that did absolutely nothing to allow unlocking of the bootloader.
moral of the story: no matter what country you live in, never get a carrier branded Sony handset! If you really must have a Sony model, the only way to guarantee an unlockable bootloader is to get the stock, unbranded, unlocked model which is expensive.
In other words, if you gotta get a carrier subsidy, avoid Sony. Otherwise, Sony is great at supporting this kind of stuff, too bad most users can't enjoy it due to stupid carriers.
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Thanks for the advice. I would keep that in mind next time
Follow me on twitter @Shivammcool
Thanks
machoman1337 said:
I was in your situation 6 months ago and I just went back to Fido and exchanged the phone within 2 weeks of purchase (using an LG Optimus 2X now that actually has an unlocked bootloader). Like you, I also tried to get Alejandrissimo to unlock my bootloader - didn't work!
Currently, only stock-based custom ROMs can be flashed on a locked bootloader. This applies to all brands, not just Sony.
Even SIM unlocking is in doubt here - I personally couldn't SIM unlock my Xperia via a purchased code (the site cellunlocker.net has never failed me before, except on this one Xperia model). The new security MCUs after 12w14 are tight bastards. Other users were successful with SIM unlock via code, but that did absolutely nothing to allow unlocking of the bootloader.
moral of the story: no matter what country you live in, never get a carrier branded Sony handset! If you really must have a Sony model, the only way to guarantee an unlockable bootloader is to get the stock, unbranded, unlocked model which is expensive.
In other words, if you gotta get a carrier subsidy, avoid Sony. Otherwise, Sony is great at supporting this kind of stuff, too bad most users can't enjoy it due to stupid carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this helped and i'll make sure to buy unlocked phones next time
I have a ZL, it's NOT my daily driver (my Z1 is), and it is carrier unlocked but the Bootloader is locked.
The phone itself was IMEI Blacklisted as I bought it off Kijiji, and the original owner tried to blackmail me out of additional money months after purchase. I let him blacklist it, then went and bought a Z1. I want to use my ZL as a testing platform for ROMs and Kernels and customizations and what not.
Problem is the ZL's Bootloader is locked, and I can't flash the custom ROMs and Kernels (as is my understanding of unlocked bootloaders).
Is there any way to forcibly unlock a bootloader?
The ZL is currently rooted on 4.3, with XZDR. I have long since recovered any data and stuff on it and am not afraid to wipe it multiple times or anything.
Let me know please
There used to be an exploit called Test-point for 2011 Sony Ericssons.
However, it doesn't exist for current Sonys.
Sorry to say but your bootloader will remain LOCKED till someone finds an exploit.
So I just got an Xperia M because I wanted a super-small device with 1 GB RAM and Sony firmware and community support (in a way, my Xperia Ray is the best smartphone I've ever had!). Turns out it's sim unlocked but bootlocker locked - it's a Bell Mobility device. I expected it to be fully unlocked so I was all excited and ready to flash 5.1 and mess around with mods. If I understand correctly, anything that requires flashing a new kernel (*.img file) is a no-go. So, I think I can get away with some 4.4 ROMs on the 4.3 kernel? What are your recommendations? Any crazy way to force unlock the BL? (there was a testpoint method on 2011 Xperias)...
I've looked in the forums and it's not really clear to me which ROMs are OK for locked bootloaders (LBL). I've seen one thread labeled LB, but I'm used to other forums where many threads are labeled LBL/UBL. It's OK if you need to moderate this question out (although I believe it might be helpful to newcomers), but can someone please answer it first or point me in the right direction?
As far as I know, you can only root it with TowelRoot (or Flashtool). Then you can tweak it with Xposed.
If your bl is unlockable, then you can unlock it via official method (google: how to unlock sony bootloader).