So, Seeing that I couldnt get the Moto here in Brazil, I went for the Sony XL.
I had an Xpoeria mini X10 before and loved it, loads of great roms and a great phone.
I am British, but live in Brazil, so the best option was to buy it from Wallmart, carrier unlocked.
When the phone arrived, it was branded to the local operator Claro, however, it accepted any sim I put in there.
I checked the bootloader, and it said it could be unlockled - OK
I decided to use stock for a few weeks, to see if I was happy with the device, but there are a few features I miss, and I especially miss being able to underclock.
I can't remember what firmware it came on, but it was quite outdated, so I decided to update through Sony PC companion.
latest firmware and a few days later, I decided it was time to check out all the hard work that the Dev's here have been doing.
Having already backed up the TA as soon as I had bought the phone, I got my boot unlocker code from sony and excitedly fired up flashtool, installed the drivers in unsigned mode and was ready to go.
to my horror - FAILED OPERATION with both flashtool and the android SDK to unlock.
Checking again the bootloader status, there is no longer and OK next to it, it is blank!!!
The latest update to 1.14 with Claro Brazil has locked my bootloader.
Wether this is some freak accident, or if an operator can lock the bootloader with an update, I have no idea, but i just wanted to warn people in case this is a new thing !!
For now, I've happily installed dextrodroid, but If Sony doesn't update us officially to KitKat, than this purchase has been an absolute waste of my time and money. Brazil has an insane markup of nearly 100% on foreign imports, so phones arent fair prices, and the stock that we receive is limited in brand and selection.
Keep your eyes open people!!!
Related
Hi there - cretinous noob posting a thread here.
As I was thinking of buying a Sony Xperia Z3 in the UK, as the thread title says, I was wondering where people on here have got the handset from and state what locks the handsets have. Here's one way to post said information (this is an example)
- Location/Store: Carphone Warehouse - Birmingham (UK) (they're known for selling untampered handsets)
- SIM Lock Status: Unlocked
- Bootloader Lock Status: Unlockable (permanently locked handsets are usually acquired through carriers sadly)
Also, just to be clear, this thread applies to everyone on an international level, even though I am buying said handset from the UK.
Special thanks go to rehanraza for inspiring me to write this thread, especially when this will (hopefully) help potential buyers when it comes to buying the Xperia Z3.
Xperia Z2 Survey Thread by rehanraza: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2724226
I got my Xperia Z3 yesterday, from 3 and the information is as follows:
-Location/Store: Carphone Warehouse - Worksop (Nottinghamshire) (UK)
- SIM Lock Status: Unlocked
- Bootloader Lock Status: Unlockable (permanently locked handsets are usually acquired through carriers sadly)
Bear in mind mine is from the 3 network, however, I flashed the generic UK FTF to get rid of the carrier stuff.
Won't happen.
There are surveys for all Xperias and that never helped.
Buy carier free device and you'll get BL status yes.
Just hold your horses and check everything before you unlock your BL.
Sony has DRM keys which will be permanently deleted if you unlock bootloader.
If there's still no way to root device before unlocking bootloader that means there's no way to backup DRM keys...
funky0308 said:
Won't happen.
There are surveys for all Xperias and that never helped.
Buy carier free device and you'll get BL status yes.
Just hold your horses and check everything before you unlock your BL.
Sony has DRM keys which will be permanently deleted if you unlock bootloader.
If there's still no way to root device before unlocking bootloader that means there's no way to backup DRM keys...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In agreement with Funky here, do not unlock the bootloader until a locked bootloader root method is found.
funky0308 said:
Won't happen.
There are surveys for all Xperias and that never helped.
Buy carier free device and you'll get BL status yes.
Just hold your horses and check everything before you unlock your BL.
Sony has DRM keys which will be permanently deleted if you unlock bootloader.
If there's still no way to root device before unlocking bootloader that means there's no way to backup DRM keys...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by "won't happen"?
As fornthis survey, its sole purpose is just a guide (nothing more than that) as to where you will most likely get a bootloader-unlockable device (for installing custom ROMs et cetera if you're willing to take the risk) and yes, whilst getting a SIM-free device is the best way to guarantee that (no s***, Sherlock), there are some carrier-based stores that MAY provide bootloader-unlockable Xperia handsets (I went into a Vodafone store one week ago to help sort out my brother-in-law's HTC one mini and after said issue was sorted, I admittedly pressed *#*#7378423#*#* into the Xperia Z2 and the M2 if I recall correctly - the former said no but the latter said yes), and as for "all these surveys haven't helped" part, I have to strongly disagree there for the most part, especially when I now know where to best get a Sony handset from after reading the Z2 survey thread but on the other hand, what may be helpful to me may not be helpful to you.
As for me in terms of what I am personally going to do in terms of actually purchasing a handset, I usually tend to wait before I feel that I am comfortable modding my device due to the reasons you have mentioned (being able to reverse system changes and being abke to modify your phone without any complications) and that I feel that the handset makers are not supporting the device well, in which I ended up installing OmniROM 4.4.x on my Samsung Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300) because of Samsung taking the p*** with their updates and giving the owners of the "baseline international version" of the S3 a big fat "f*** you" by not providing a Kitkat update, and therefore I agree with you when it comes to being patient before going down the modding route and I would suggest the same to the common modding folk here.
Really liked the mint silver colour so picked it up from O2 today:
- Location/Store: O2 - London (UK)
- SIM Lock Status: locked
- Bootloader Lock Status: No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sadly it is locked. I have requested a SIM unlock code and going to try that, then flash a generic FTF to see if it changes to yes.
If that doesn't work then the phone is going back under the 14 day return policy and would mean I cannot have the green colour :crying:....well at least I can get copper from Carphone Warehouse.
fl4r3 said:
Really liked the mint silver colour so picked it up from O2 today:
- Location/Store: O2 - London (UK)
- SIM Lock Status: locked
- Bootloader Lock Status: No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sadly it is locked. I have requested a SIM unlock code and going to try that, then flash a generic FTF to see if it changes to yes.
If that doesn't work then the phone is going back under the 14 day return policy and would mean I cannot have the green colour :crying:....well at least I can get copper from Carphone Warehouse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, unfortunately, from what I have read on here, simply asking for a SIM unlock code and flashing a generic FTF file will not change the "bootloader unlock status" flag, so if I were you, your best bet is to just go to Carphone Warehouse and get a handset from there, and tell O2 that you don't want the handset that is provided by them.
Yeah I know it is a long shot but there have been a few rare cases where it has worked (although the legitimacy is unclear).
Thought I'd give it a try before I return it as it is the only place to get the mint silver colour.
o2 uk unlock stutus=no
Origonally i got a z3 d6603 online with o2 UK, checked the bootloader unlock allowed status and it said no.
So that went straight back on the 14 day return policy.
Ended up getting a sim unlocked version from the catalogue people, very.co.uk.
Got a 10% off code for being a new customer, and i went through quidco for another 7% cashback.
All good now, bootloader can be unlocked.
Cant wait to get flashing when some roms start popping up.
My Z3 is D6653 android 4.4.4 build 23.0.A.2.108
i have unlock boot b4.. after than i was lock it back to restore back original ...but now i wan unlock back it not working d
just show me the error have rooted is that only can unlock one time???after lock back its not working any more??
O2 is sim locked and bootloader can't be unlocked.
If you request a sim unlock, you waive your 14 day return period. I remember asking O2 the same thing.
Then again the green z3 was worth more to me than this unlockable bootloader jazz.
killa78 said:
If you request a sim unlock, you waive your 14 day return period. I remember asking O2 the same thing.
Then again the green z3 was worth more to me than this unlockable bootloader jazz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes they also do it free of charge if your in contract with them. However still can't unlock the bootloader.
I'm quite annoyed to be honest purchased what I thought was a sim free z3 from amazon UK it was a returns phone so i got it cheaper.
Switched the phone on and the default language was pointing at Netherlands, I thought straight away "here we go"
App draw full of Dutch 02 apps! Although the phone does take my 3 sim card. Deleted the ones I could and deactivated the rest.
Now I'm starting to think, will Sony warranty cover me??
What should I do guys?
gibbo82 said:
I'm quite annoyed to be honest purchased what I thought was a sim free z3 from amazon UK it was a returns phone so i got it cheaper.
Switched the phone on and the default language was pointing at Netherlands, I thought straight away "here we go"
App draw full of Dutch 02 apps! Although the phone does take my 3 sim card. Deleted the ones I could and deactivated the rest.
Now I'm starting to think, will Sony warranty cover me??
What should I do guys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you do a live chat or phone Sony and find out?
If it is does take your three UK Sim card, then it is a Sim free phone...
However the dutch firmware can be flashed over with a UK one via flashtool
Just got off the phone to Sony, at first they told me it was the UK version, then it turns out to be a German z3!. they said it is covered for warranty over here till 13/3/17.
Do I need to root to flash the UK firmware??
No.. Run Flashtool as it is.
Where can I get the uk firmware from?
try the general section where there's an official thread on the first page, although due to xperifirm, a free software download allowing you to access almost any sony firmware direct from their servers, most firmwares are no longer uploaded - the UK generic on xda may not be the most up to date version, so accept that you're using an older firmware initially and simply update it via pc companion once installed, or use xperifirm direct (you will need to google how to run this with flashtool to get the software onto your phone, unless you've been there and bought the t shirt)...... and you don't need root to do any of this.
So I've bought Moto G XT1039 at Tesco (UK) recently. It was locked to Vodafone, but much cheaper than sim free one, so I though I'm going to unlock it and stay with my carrier (O2). Unfortunately it wasn't as easy as I expected, but first things first - shortly after unboxing it I realised notification LED light is not working. I found a solution on the web - some widget released by Motorola that revives LED - and was happy to fix the problem quickly, but to my surprise it wasn't available in Play Store any more. OK, it's not the end of the world. I switched from Iphone 3gs and my Moto G was like a leap into the XXII century anyway, even without working LED.
The real struggle begun when I actually tried to unlock my phone to use it on other network. I first tried a cheap code from Ebay, but it didn't work. The seller offered me more expensive one, but it didn't work either. I tried another seller - with the same effect. As I'm not giving up easily, and you get a refund when codes don't work, I tried again with a third seller. Cheap code obviously didn't work, so I tried dearer one which supposed to work, according to Motorola database, but it didn't. I tried it on original software my phone came with (KitKat 4.4.4) I also tried it on Lolipop 5.1 I updated my phone to couple days later - with the same effect. This is actually another story showing how ridiculous Motorola is when it comes to customer care. I managed to root KitKat before I realised Lolipop is available as my phone's software manager was saying it's up to date while on KitKat. I didn't know you have to first update updating software for it to let you update software (sounds stupid, I know, but that's how it actually works). Anyhow, I had nice new Lolipop installed and, as I said, it still didn't let me unlock network service.
"Oh well" I said to myself, in worst case my contract with O2 ends in a few months so I just wait and switch to Vodafone. The only thing that kept me going was a ridiculous idea that the guy who sold me unlocking code will think I'm some kind of cheap scammer who used working code and claims it didn't work just to get 5 quid refund. So I gave it the last try - I flashed stock 4.4.4 firmware (Thanks to vpnair) onto my phone which I was going to do anyway as Lolipop looks and feels terribly to me. After flashing it everything changed just as if King Midas touched my Moto G. The Led started to work, Nova Launcher stopped crashing and last but not least - unlocking SIM went smoothly and beatifuly. I am happy now and only wondering why the heck this phone works as it should with some software taken from the internet and not whit original one?
If you are wondering why I decided to share it with you, let me justify myself. While I was struggling with unlocking SIM I read some stories of other people having the same problem. They usually solved their problems returning phones to a store (well, not "a store", they all came from Tesco UK). So maybe there will be someone like me looking for a solution in the future, and this is for Him/Her. I hope Admins of this fantastic forum will understand and won't bin my post.
Cheers
unlock for US?
minimale_ldz said:
So I've bought Moto G XT1039 at Tesco (UK) recently. It was locked to Vodafone, but much cheaper than sim free one, so I though I'm going to unlock it and stay with my carrier (O2). Unfortunately it wasn't as easy as I expected, but first things first - shortly after unboxing it I realised notification LED light is not working. I found a solution on the web - some widget released by Motorola that revives LED - and was happy to fix the problem quickly, but to my surprise it wasn't available in Play Store any more. OK, it's not the end of the world. I switched from Iphone 3gs and my Moto G was like a leap into the XXII century anyway, even without working LED.
The real struggle begun when I actually tried to unlock my phone to use it on other network. I first tried a cheap code from Ebay, but it didn't work. The seller offered me more expensive one, but it didn't work either. I tried another seller - with the same effect. As I'm not giving up easily, and you get a refund when codes don't work, I tried again with a third seller. Cheap code obviously didn't work, so I tried dearer one which supposed to work, according to Motorola database, but it didn't. I tried it on original software my phone came with (KitKat 4.4.4) I also tried it on Lolipop 5.1 I updated my phone to couple days later - with the same effect. This is actually another story showing how ridiculous Motorola is when it comes to customer care. I managed to root KitKat before I realised Lolipop is available as my phone's software manager was saying it's up to date while on KitKat. I didn't know you have to first update updating software for it to let you update software (sounds stupid, I know, but that's how it actually works). Anyhow, I had nice new Lolipop installed and, as I said, it still didn't let me unlock network service.
"Oh well" I said to myself, in worst case my contract with O2 ends in a few months so I just wait and switch to Vodafone. The only thing that kept me going was a ridiculous idea that the guy who sold me unlocking code will think I'm some kind of cheap scammer who used working code and claims it didn't work just to get 5 quid refund. So I gave it the last try - I flashed stock 4.4.4 firmware (Thanks to vpnair) onto my phone which I was going to do anyway as Lolipop looks and feels terribly to me. After flashing it everything changed just as if King Midas touched my Moto G. The Led started to work, Nova Launcher stopped crashing and last but not least - unlocking SIM went smoothly and beatifuly. I am happy now and only wondering why the heck this phone works as it should with some software taken from the internet and not whit original one?
If you are wondering why I decided to share it with you, let me justify myself. While I was struggling with unlocking SIM I read some stories of other people having the same problem. They usually solved their problems returning phones to a store (well, not "a store", they all came from Tesco UK). So maybe there will be someone like me looking for a solution in the future, and this is for Him/Her. I hope Admins of this fantastic forum will understand and won't bin my post.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I have a Moto XT1093 locked in US Cellular. The guys from US Cellular are telling me that the phone has no world phone capabilities and therefore it won't be available for use in Europe. On the other hand though, everywhere I read I see that the phone has all the hardware needed for Europe built in. Do you think that a solution as yours might work for me too?
Thanks
govorici said:
Hey, I have a Moto XT1093 locked in US Cellular. The guys from US Cellular are telling me that the phone has no world phone capabilities and therefore it won't be available for use in Europe. On the other hand though, everywhere I read I see that the phone has all the hardware needed for Europe built in. Do you think that a solution as yours might work for me too?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just bricked my device flashing the very same ROM again, so I'm not gonna give any advices Looking for a solution to unbrick it now
So for a lot of the phones the option for unlocking the bootloader comes after you get your sim-unlocked from carrier, currently I have a sim locked D6616 on T-Mobile and dialing *#*#7378423#*# gives bootloader unlock allowed : no. I can use the phone on T-Mobile network for 40 days to get it sim-unlocked, would that trigger bootloader unlock allowed : yes for Xperia Z3 D6616?
Thank you
ddvche said:
So for a lot of the phones the option for unlocking the bootloader comes after you get your sim-unlocked from carrier, currently I have a sim locked D6616 on T-Mobile and dialing *#*#7378423#*# gives bootloader unlock allowed : no. I can use the phone on T-Mobile network for 40 days to get it sim-unlocked, would that trigger bootloader unlock allowed : yes for Xperia Z3 D6616?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is: No.
I've had mine for 7+ years and nothing changed. You can get root, but the bootloader is locked.
Obviously, unless they have some hardware stuff going on, there is always the possibility to unlock it, either through cracking things or a release of keys etc at some point, but given this phone is almost 8 years old, TMo doesn't care, and Sony Mobile gives zero about the US market, the demand for unlocking is low.
I would love it if, given all of the vulnerabilities in Android discovered over the past 8 years, someone had found a way to crack it, but it seems like most have abandoned it. Not to mention batteries are kind of iffy at 8 years....
Though there is still a chance. I pulled mine out of storage the other day when I remembered it has a headphone jack and it's rooted, so I can tighten things down, plug it into a speaker, and have it run as a dedicated receiver for notifications. And now I'm browsing through XDA to see if anyone has cracked it. If I get a chunk of free time or am really trying to avoid something, I may physically open it up and see if there are any physical attack vectors, assuming someone hasn't already gone that route.
Though there may be a way to unlock the bootloader.... maybe?
Xperia Z3 (T-Mobile) D6616 Android 6.0 Not Found
Hi, I've Xperia Z3 (T-Mobile) D6616 running on Android 5.0. I would like to install Android 6 on it. I prefer to install Stock Rom of Android 6 On my Z3. Default :(, If there are a cool & good :D Custom ROM of Android 6. I was not able to root...
forum.xda-developers.com
I hope you guys can help me. I should have come to you all first.
I have S22 Ultra Snapdragon Unlocked Verizon SM-S908U1 VZW/XAA/XAA
Still haven't gotten One UI 5.
Tried to get OTA not available. Tried using Smart Switch, nothing. Tried going to Verizon website. They have posted that you can use their upgrade assistant tool. Didn't work.
So I called VZ tech support. They said i should have gotten the update and transferred me to Samsung tech who had me 1st try and reset my apps. The tech told me if that didn't work to call back. Gave me a ticket number to reference.
Well, it didn't. So I call back and the 2nd tech guy didn't even want to attempt to help me. He immediately told me I had to take my phone to a service center. He told me I could go to Best Buy or U Break. At this point my head is about to explode.
I go to Best Buy. They aren't set up yet as a service center. But when I tell the guy what's up, he tells me it's probably a corrupt OS and to take it to U Break and they can fix it.
When I got to U Break, they acted like they had never worked on an unlocked phone before. I told them I wanted to be sure the flashed it with the Unlocked firmware. They looked at me like I had 2 heads. They wanted me to call Samsung clarification. So Samsung said that all the firmware was the same. That it's the carrier that locks it. So I tell U Break to flash the phone. 4 hours later U Break calls me to tell me my phone will not take the One UI 5 flash. Everything if boots, it boots to One UI 4.1. They said they could leave it that way or mark my phone as unrepairable. I call Samsung back. I get told that they will not go by the word of their authorized service center. That to replace the phone, I have to mail it to Samsung for them to inspect. If they deem it unremarkable, they'll send me a replacement. Turnaround time about 2 weeks! Meanwhile I'm without a phone, my only means of communication. Or I can pay $99 deductible and replace it under Samsung Care. A phone that I've only had since June and I just made my 4th payment on, a phone I didn't Break.
I said screw it and picked up my phone and brought it home. Naturally it was wiped.
Now for my issue. Sorry to be so long winded. Just wanted to give you guys the back story.
I start to load my phone and notice that the "code" not sure the correct term, changed from VZW/XAA/XAA to VZW/VZW/XAA. I lost one of my fonts I purchased. And my phone just doesn't seem the same.
I tried to flash the One UI 4.1 XAA OS using Odin and it didn't change anything and I still can't get One UI 5.
Is my phone now locked? What can I do at this point?
Thanks for your help
My daughter's un-rooted, unlocked S22 on Verizon hasn't gotten it yet either. The unlocked versions are generally about a week behind.
1. Only Verizon and T-Mobile branded models have gotten the Android 13 update. The U1 is Unlocked firmware and will probably take a week or so longer. The only way you'd get it now is to flash to T-Mobile or Verizon firmware, which I don't recommend because they're bloated, lack certain Samsung features, and require a wipe when switching. Also, Verizon doesn't release all of its firmwares so you'd have to flash a version of 12, then upgrade.
2. There is NOTHING wrong with your phone. An unlocked phone on VZW will show VZW/VZW/XAA. If it was showing VZW/XAA/XAA, then the CSC (carrier coding) didn't fully change when inserting the SIM card.
3. Be patient, the changes in One UI 5 are minimal and there are possibly bugs. Wait for the stable release.
Guyinlaca said:
1. Only Verizon and T-Mobile branded models have gotten the Android 13 update. The U1 is Unlocked firmware and will probably take a week or so longer. The only way you'd get it now is to flash to T-Mobile or Verizon firmware, which I don't recommend because they're bloated, lack certain Samsung features, and require a wipe when switching. Also, Verizon doesn't release all of its firmwares so you'd have to flash a version of 12, then upgrade.
2. There is NOTHING wrong with your phone. An unlocked phone on VZW will show VZW/VZW/XAA. If it was showing VZW/XAA/XAA, then the CSC (carrier coding) didn't fully change when inserting the SIM card.
3. Be patient, the changes in One UI 5 are minimal and there are possibly bugs. Wait for the stable release
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why people flipping out over this. Just relax the Unlocked Phones with no Carrier Firmware installed will be last to upgrade. All the Carriers get priority first. It's always been this way.