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EE and Bootloader

Does anyone know if Xperia Z3's supplied directly through EE or Orange have unlockable bootloaders?
I'm due an upgrade but don't want to be stung with a locked bootloader like I was with the Z1.

fl4r3 said:
Does anyone know if Xperia Z3's supplied directly through EE or Orange have unlockable bootloaders?
I'm due an upgrade but don't want to be stung with a locked bootloader like I was with the Z1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if you can but still even if you could would you want to? Sony has put up a disclaimer on its website stating that unlocking the bootloader on its high-end models, namely the Xperia Z3, will lead to issues in the performance of its camera. After unlocking the bootloader of the device, taking photos in low-light conditions is going to be worse than before...

Yeah that's true but further into the Z3 life cycle things will eventually start to 'feel' boring as I like to tinker with my phones and from experience I tend to get bored if I stay on the same ROM - I may be considered a flashaholic :silly:. It's what makes my Z1 feel boring even though it is a good phone.
So being able to switch between ROMs and custom kernels is something I cannot do without again! Loosing the camera performance is something I can live with (plus a TA backup, once possible before unlocking, will mean I can revert back).
Anyone with an Xperia Z3 from EE want to do a quick check to see if bootloader is unlockable please?

If it's of any help, I know that the xperia z2 from ee had a unlockable bootloader.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

fl4r3 said:
Does anyone know if Xperia Z3's supplied directly through EE or Orange have unlockable bootloaders?
I'm due an upgrade but don't want to be stung with a locked bootloader like I was with the Z1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://developer.sonymobile.com/unlockbootloader/
Says:
Please note! It will only be possible to unlock the boot loader for certain releases. You can check if it is possible to unlock the boot loader of your device in the service menu by following the steps below:
In your device, open the dialler and enter *#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu.
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.
There's a link to a page where you provide an email address where they email you a code.
---------- Post added at 01:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 AM ----------
theonecallednick said:
Not sure if you can but still even if you could would you want to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because as a developer you might be more interested in developing apps for the phone than taking photographs using DRM-restricted software?

Sorry to bump an old thread like this, but is there a definitive answer on this from someone that has a Z3 supplied by EE? I'm looking at a Z3 for an upgrade, but would really like an unlockable bootloader if possible.
Thanks for any input.

One last bump to see if anyone from the UK knows. I suppose I'll go and ask on EE's "support" forum if nobody knows.

[Q] Z3 Root Reality Check

I've been watching the developer board regarding the root and locked bootloader issue, and I've spent hours researching this and have yet to find a solution that's known to work without loss of something, likely a permanent or semi permanent loss. My device is a Z3 model D6616. I'm unhappy with the phone for several other reasons, but haven't owned an un-rooted phone for some time, and prefer keeping this phone if I can root it successfully. Root with stock firmware is my objective and am only interested in responses from people that have themselves rooted (and dealt with bootloader issues) a Z3.
- Root phone installing current T-mobile stock firmware.
- Known loss of function: Sony DRM dependant features/funtion only (from memory, mostly related to camera low light performance and DRM playback issues)
- Other loss of function experienced with stock features, or any other problem with any other app. Especially concerned with root dependant features of Play apps? Also ad blockers?
- Waranty loss (potential) and loss of OTA updates understood.
- Feature/function loss with workarounds or fixed that survive power cycle?
- Expect permament bootlocker inability to relock
- A link to the specific process you used, any problems you encountered whatever the cause. For example it usually takes me at least 3 attempts to root using any complex process, and I always read through 5 times before starting and download every needed file and program in advance.
Again: Sony Xperia z3 D6616 T-mobile
Firmware: 4.4.4 23.0.3.1.123
Software: D6166 R16B
In the past, I've had the most problems when an understood part of a process is not explicitly stated, or I've ignored or misunderstood a step. Plugging and unplugging from usb to PC a typical example. I don't have the technical know how to critique or ignore, so always attempt to follow all instructions without variance. I've had some problems, and most were solved by starting the process again. I hesitate to ask for help since the last time I did that I was attacked for witholding information when asked if I had backed up the phone. Since i didn't have access to the PC at the time of the question I honestly answered I didn't know (since I had attempted to but couldn't confirm). If you've ever answered a question here implying the request or requester is stupid or dishonest, I'm fully aware of my ignorance and my own integrity, and other personality traits, so please ignore this request, which accepts my lack of knowlege and has no tolerance for your issues not previously resolved through your own peaceful and respectful process.
Please only respond if you have personally rooted this specific phone model. If you have not, but know someone who has, please ask them to review this post and respond.

Nobody has rooted this phone without unlocking the bootloader. If you unlock to root, you will permanently lose DRM keys from the TA partition with no way to recover. No current root method works on 4.4.4 on the Z3. No one knows when or if an exploit will be found. We all want root. If you want it now, unlock the bootloader. If you can wait, wait. It's your call either way. As soon as a root method surfaces, best believe it will be in these forums. I'll be waiting with you...

First of all, check *#*#7378423#*#* to see if you bootloader can be unlocked or not.
Coz I think 6616's bootloader is unlockable.

freddy1991 said:
First of all, check *#*#7378423#*#* to see if you bootloader can be unlocked or not.
Coz I think 6616's bootloader is unlockable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true. D6616 owner here, T-MO not unlockable yet :/ eagerly awaiting root as well as I really enjoy the z3, maybe even more than my Nexus 6 (gasp, blasphemy!)

Thanks For the Responses
freddy you addressed my concern, exactly. My phone reports:
Rooting Status:
Boot Unlocker Allowed: No
Although variants of the z3 have been bootlocker unlocked and rooted, I have not found a clear claim that was successfully done with D6616 z3. Since I'm a new T-mobile customer, this and their attitude about it are a poor way to start. I have a HTC phone I haven't returned, maybe I can get them to take the Z3 back instead. While I have benefited from and appreciate the great work so many people have done to make our phones usable and available to us, I've seen how carriers, mfgs, and users push good phones to market crippled by junk and unecessarily locked down. it's time to consider the mamufacturers that have been successful building good phones and selling in places like China at much lower prices.
Regarding any loss of DRM, I couldn't care less. This phone takes worse low light photos and video than my rooted Samsung G3, making it functionaly useless to me. Add to that the lack of a rational UI for telephony and IM, and done with Sony.
To be clear, if the bootloader can be unlocked and the phone can be rooted and you have done this yourself, please post.

Well...
I think there is no way you could unlock the bootloader of 6616.
The only way is to wait for the root on locked bootloader.
Check here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2940539
But that means you have to stick in the .93 firmware, even if the exploit is also usable for Z3.
Or return your 6616 and buy a 6603 or 6653 variant.

BREAKING NEWS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/giefroot-rooting-tool-cve-2014-4322-t3011598

Man, No bootloader unlock = Useless phone

HORiZUN said:
BREAKING NEWS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/giefroot-rooting-tool-cve-2014-4322-t3011598
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58468332&postcount=815

I'm similarly confused about this whole thing, this new Giefroot program means we can all potentially get root for our devices, but we still lose the DRM keys right? So that means we can never have the Sony camera/image processing processes back again right?

Thwwack said:
I'm similarly confused about this whole thing, this new Giefroot program means we can all potentially get root for our devices, but we still lose the DRM keys right? So that means we can never have the Sony camera/image processing processes back again right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO
Unlocking the bootloader = loss of DRM
Rooting that does not involve unlocking the bootloader means you keep the DRM keys

gregbradley said:
NO
Unlocking the bootloader = loss of DRM
Rooting that does not involve unlocking the bootloader means you keep the DRM keys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'm new to Android and this is all over my head. To clarify, Giefroot does this without unlocking the bootloader?
It's all pretty frustrating, I gotta say... I'd love to install Cyanogenmod on this, but losing key features on the device is a pretty harsh trade off.

Thwwack said:
Thanks, I'm new to Android and this is all over my head. To clarify, Giefroot does this without unlocking the bootloader?
It's all pretty frustrating, I gotta say... I'd love to install Cyanogenmod on this, but losing key features on the device is a pretty harsh trade off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, giefroot does not unlock the boot. There is only one way to do that and that is to obtaining the code from sony and fastboot it either manually or using flashtool.

Delete

[Q] Xperia M2 Version Number

Ive found on few sites that my Sony Xperia M2 D2303 with Kitkat should be 18.3.C.0.37 but mine software version is 18.3.1.C.0.21.
Why is it like this? Is there something wrong with my device, is it fully updated to last software version or not?
Also ive checked bootloader unlock status and it says Not allowed.
In the official Sony site ive seen a text that says: "Important note! In order to unlock your Xperia™ M2 you need to be on software version 18.3.C.0.37." - which is different then mine.
I also checked for any updates but there is nonne showing in my sony app.
How can i solve this?
Thanks in advance.

LiquidShot said:
Ive found on few sites that my Sony Xperia M2 D2303 with Kitkat should be 18.3.C.0.37 but mine software version is 18.3.1.C.0.21.
Why is it like this? Is there something wrong with my device, is it fully updated to last software version or not?
Also ive checked bootloader unlock status and it says Not allowed.
In the official Sony site ive seen a text that says: "Important note! In order to unlock your Xperia™ M2 you need to be on software version 18.3.C.0.37." - which is different then mine.
I also checked for any updates but there is nonne showing in my sony app.
How can i solve this?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different terms, different topics.
Let's see, .21 build version number means 4.4.4 KitKat (most updated version of KitKat).
If the unlock allowed device says No, it means you have the SIM Locked, so, you need to contact your carrier provider in order to unlock it and change the status to "yes", so, you could unlock your bootloader without any troubles in the process
Official Sony says you need to be in 4.4.2 or higher build number version, it's not stated you need to be in .37 build number.
Note: 4.4.2 (is precisely .37 build number, but, still .21 or higher works fine with the unlocking).
Regards!

i know its a bit turn off the topic, but while im still here let me ask - Does anyone know is Lolipop gonna come out for M2 or not?
There have been many different statements about this so id like to know once for all, is it or not?

LiquidShot said:
i know its a bit turn off the topic, but while im still here let me ask - Does anyone know is Lolipop gonna come out for M2 or not?
There have been many different statements about this so id like to know once for all, is it or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It ain't confirmed yet. In some point might show up for our device. But right now there's no confirmation. Just OmniROM, CyanogenMod 12 and FXP AOSP.

If your bootloader unlock allowed says no. Then there is nothing you can do to unlock it. Not even network unlocking your phone will change that. To get bootloader unlock allowed yes buy sim free unlocked device. Most carriers lock down bootloaders hope this answers your questions
sent from my Rooted B/l 4.4.4 kk Xperia D2303

aidy.luca[email protected] said:
If your bootloader unlock allowed says no. Then there is nothing you can do to unlock it. Not even network unlocking your phone will change that. To get bootloader unlock allowed yes buy sim free unlocked device. Most carriers lock down bootloaders hope this answers your questions
sent from my Rooted B/l 4.4.4 kk Xperia D2303
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But ive hear many times people are "decoding" their phones in order to get SIM free device, why cant i do it?
And is there a way to root my device without unlocking bootloader?

To root you need to search on here plenty of easy to follow tutorials on how to root for locked and unlocked bootloaders.
sent from my Rooted B/l 4.4.4 kk Xperia D2303

[email protected] said:
If your bootloader unlock allowed says no. Then there is nothing you can do to unlock it. Not even network unlocking your phone will change that. To get bootloader unlock allowed yes buy sim free unlocked device. Most carriers lock down bootloaders hope this answers your questions
sent from my Rooted B/l 4.4.4 kk Xperia D2303
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under what assumptions you say that? Topics before some guy said that he unlocked its device changing the status of its SIMLock with some code to unlock it. The carrier locks down your phone via SIM, but it doesn't mean you can't unlock it forever. If you "free" it, the problem must be solved. The guy I'm talkin' about, unlock two devices using the same method I'm sayin' here, and the two of them went fine. So, just try. The carrier shouldn't show any troubles in order to disable the SIMLock, it's your right, in fact.

Help a Xperia noob out with some questions please :L

So this is my first xperia device since the Xperia Arc was released way back when, and I have been using HTC phones. Which are WAY different in terms of Rooting / Unlocking / Etc.
So long story short, What I want to know is what Can I currently do to the Xperia Z5? I see there's no custom ROM's yet which is expected , but I see mixed results about unlocked BootLoader & Root , the main thread says that a bootloader hasn't been achieved, yet there's a few root methods which have been successfully completed , requiring an unlocked bootloader, so naturally you could see the confusion..... Can someone point a SONY noob towards the right direction in terms of bootloader unlock / rooting? Running the E6653 ( not sure if there's variants )

Basically you currently need to unlock the bootloader to to get root. And doing so loses some features which u may possibly never get back. So most people are currently waiting for another way around to be figured out
Sent from my Xperia z5 using Tapatalk

well ****...
Ben36 said:
Basically you currently need to unlock the bootloader to to get root. And doing so loses some features which u may possibly never get back. So most people are currently waiting for another way around to be figured out
Sent from my Xperia z5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My heart literally dropped as I read this..... Because I already unlocked the bootloader. I'm assuming it's the bootloader unlocking that destroys some features? If so , which ones?
And how can I tell if they were actually destroyed / bootloader unlock actually worked

Unlocking the bootloader on Xperias will delete the device's DRM keys. These keys are unique per device and once gone are gone forever. They're needed for Image enhancements like X-Reality/Bravia/Super-Vivid and some camera features too - low light and noise reduction algorithms I think. Sound improvements (ClearAudio+...) too.

ricodredd said:
Unlocking the bootloader on Xperias will delete the device's DRM keys. These keys are unique per device and once gone are gone forever. They're needed for Image enhancements like X-Reality/Bravia/Super-Vivid and some camera features too - low light and noise reduction algorithms I think. Sound improvements (ClearAudio+...) too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well crap lol, is there any way to actually make sure that the DRM's were deleted or if the bootloader unlock was actually successful? I still have a few days to swap the phone out if anything goes wrong ( Bell wouldn't be able to tell a bootloader unlock ) , I haven't had enough play time with the phone before the process to actually see a difference with the camera, I read somewhere that if TrackID works, than it's not unlocked, is that true?

BL unlocking/custom ROM Question: What is permanently lost if I do that?

Hi,
Just grabbed an Xperia 5 II on a great deal and I'm loving this device. It's an A002SO. I have noticed in other threads that there is some loss with original functionality of the phone (maybe Dolby or some other features are broken even if phone is restored to stock). Is it true? And if so what features are broken.
I noticed that Xperia camera software are available for other roms too which is great but what about device fingerprint and BL unlock sensing protection for banking apps? (I am not interested in rooting the phone after flashing lineage/AOSP roms but more concerned about the broken safety net in-case I go custom ROM route)
Also, is there a risk of losing IMEI with all this process? Not talking about crossflashing here but would love an AIO guide about BL unlock > recovery > ROM and the Back to stock locked bootloader guides if there are any.
Thank you!

dark_prince said:
Hi,
Just grabbed an Xperia 5 II on a great deal and I'm loving this device. It's an A002SO. I have noticed in other threads that there is some loss with original functionality of the phone (maybe Dolby or some other features are broken even if phone is restored to stock). Is it true? And if so what features are broken.
I noticed that Xperia camera software are available for other roms too which is great but what about device fingerprint and BL unlock sensing protection for banking apps? (I am not interested in rooting the phone after flashing lineage/AOSP roms but more concerned about the broken safety net in-case I go custom ROM route)
Also, is there a risk of losing IMEI with all this process? Not talking about crossflashing here but would love an AIO guide about BL unlock > recovery > ROM and the Back to stock locked bootloader guides if there are any.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a different model, but I recently went from stock to Lineage OS, then back to stock. I haven't had any issues. Dolby works, my data/LTE works, and I can still use my banking app just fine. Fingerprint detection was a bit more finnicky with Lineage OS, though.
I should also note, I'm currently rooted with my bootloader unlocked, and still no issues.

SomeRandomGuy212 said:
I have a different model, but I recently went from stock to Lineage OS, then back to stock. I haven't had any issues. Dolby works, my data/LTE works, and I can still use my banking app just fine. Fingerprint detection was a bit more finnicky with Lineage OS, though.
I should also note, I'm currently rooted with my bootloader unlocked, and still no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gave up in the end because my device is Japan Softbank with bootloader unlocking not allowed. Crossflashing instructions have alot of "you can", "I think" but no definite root-to-fruit guide so I may convert it to global model and BL unlock without losing imei / 4G. Thank you for taking time to write the clarification.

dark_prince said:
I gave up in the end because my device is Japan Softbank with bootloader unlocking not allowed. Crossflashing instructions have alot of "you can", "I think" but no definite root-to-fruit guide so I may convert it to global model and BL unlock without losing imei / 4G. Thank you for taking time to write the clarification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't actually know if that would work... I don't mean to give you another indefinite answer, but I tried that once on a Japanese Xperia 10 II. I know it's a different device, but it may still apply in your situation. I would still try it, though. Worse case scenario, you have to use Sony's repair tool to get back to stock.
(Also, if you're interested in a non Japanese model, I am currently selling my 5 II.)

SomeRandomGuy212 said:
I don't actually know if that would work... I don't mean to give you another indefinite answer, but I tried that once on a Japanese Xperia 10 II. I know it's a different device, but it may still apply in your situation. I would still try it, though. Worse case scenario, you have to use Sony's repair tool to get back to stock.
(Also, if you're interested in a non Japanese model, I am currently selling my 5 II.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am from Pakistan so it's gonna cost me double the actual price to pay customs taxes and get it cleared for use in-country. Our country has a rule about only the devices which are approved after paying hefty taxes, are permitted on Pakistan's cellular operators.

This was discussed before, in short you seem to lose out certain manufacturer keys and your phone remembers you have unlocked its bootloader before. As for functionality, iirc they seem to come back after relocking.
More info: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/closed-delete.4177209/post-87242833