Unlock Bootloader

What is this?

By unlocking the bootloader, it’s possible to put custom ROMs on your Xperia™ device. However, we recommend that standard users not unlock the bootloader, as it is unnecessary. We are proud to deliver great software experiences through our rigorously tested and official software releases. You should not proceed further if you are unfamiliar with the risks involved.

Voiding the warranty

If you unlock the bootloader, you may void the warranty of your device and/or any warranty from your operator. See your device’s warranty statement for details. Additionally, due to the modified device software, Sony’s repair network will likely have to replace key components before it can properly test, repair and verify your device using our repair tools and software. Consequently, if Sony performs a warranty repair, Sony will likely charge you a significant service fee for the additional costs caused by your modification of the software.

Risks

Please be aware that Sony cannot guarantee the full functionality, and will not be responsible, for any unsigned custom ROM being flashed to your device after the bootloader is unlocked. An unsigned custom ROM may not have gone through the thorough tests that we run for each device and software version that we release.

Also, a custom ROM might not work properly on your device, and certain functions and offerings may cease to work. The performance of the device might also be affected, and you may damage your device permanently. In worst case, unlocking the bootloader will cause physical injuries or material damage, for example, due to the device overheating.

Certain pre-loaded content on your device may also be inaccessible due to the removal of DRM security keys. For devices running recent software versions, for instance Xperia Z3, the removal of DRM security keys may affect advanced camera functionality. For example, noise reduction algorithms might be removed, and performance when taking photos in low-light conditions might be affected. The secure user data partition may also become inaccessible, and you will not be able to get any more official software upgrades if you unlock the bootloader.

After unlocking your device, you should not enable My Xperia (found in the settings menu under security on some devices running Android 5.0) as this might cause the device to malfunction.

Preparations

Before you proceed to unlock the bootloader of your device, you should do a complete back-up of the system. Unlocking the bootloader will trigger a factory reset that erases all device settings, user data, third-party applications and associated data from the device’s hardware storage. If your device, or part of your device, is encrypted, the keys used for decryption might also be erased, leaving contents cryptographically inaccessible. Pre-installed Sony applications and data stored on removable storage (such as a micro SD card) will not be affected. The factory reset will return the device to the condition it was in when shipped from the factory. In addition, if you have enabled My Xperia, this function must be turned off before you can unlock your device.