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[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

Going from Z to Z5 Compact - downgrade to 4.42?

Evening all,
Just placed an order for the Z5 Compact after my Z has started playing up after 3 years of use,
Basically I had mine rooted a long time ago, and I havnt really touched it since or done any rooting/customization in ages and im drawing a blank..
Basically want to root the Z5 and downgrade to the 4.42 firmware as I have on my Z, as I dislike the 5.51 software the menu options etc looks very tacky for stock Sony layout, and it looks like 6 marshmallow is the same.
Is this feasible or reccomended?
Is there a step by step guide I can follow as I am seriously ****e with computers and all this stuff, I also wanted to learn about and if there are guides on how I can customise the menu etc If I can keep 5.51 or even upgrade to 6.0 and root the device and install a custom theme and change the menu layout etc?
Is this possible at all, I know people have custom software but I havnt a clue on how to go about rooting it let alone customising it...
Any help much appreciated!

There is no 4.4.2 firmware available for z5 series...

Daniel_GB said:
There is no 4.4.2 firmware available for z5 series...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol cool well that answers that, can the menu/ settings etc be customized and changed,

kam90 said:
lol cool well that answers that, can the menu/ settings etc be customized and changed,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can customize settings menu in stock roms...

Daniel_GB said:
I don't think you can customize settings menu in stock roms...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im planning on rooting from 5.51 found a decent guide with use of command prompt so should be easy I hope! Is there an app/program downloadable after root which will allow me to apply custom themes/ menu layouts.
I can only remember Super SU, and theres an aptoide one I had iirc

hey. no offense but i'd suggest you read and learn a bit more about rooting newer xperia devices before you do any mistake.
its for sure no easy thing if you arent much into this stuff. just to mention one thing: at this moment there is no way to root the z5
with locked bootloader. unlocking your bootloader means, that you most probably lose your warranty and the drm keys. those keys
can be simulated by a workaround, but infact they are gone forever without any chance to restore them.
in the end, rooting the z5 now is a process of unlocking bootloader (via flashtool or adb), flash kernel via adb, flash twrp recovery via adb
and finally install supersu via twrp flash.
these should be enough keywords to google for, and/or getting knowledge here in xda forums. once again, i just can advice
you read all those guides twice....

VorlonKosh said:
hey. no offense but i'd suggest you read and learn a bit more about rooting newer xperia devices before you do any mistake.
its for sure no easy thing if you arent much into this stuff. just to mention one thing: at this moment there is no way to root the z5
with locked bootloader. unlocking your bootloader means, that you most probably lose your warranty and the drm keys. those keys
can be simulated by a workaround, but infact they are gone forever without any chance to restore them.
in the end, rooting the z5 now is a process of unlocking bootloader (via flashtool or adb), flash kernel via adb, flash twrp recovery via adb
and finally install supersu via twrp flash.
these should be enough keywords to google for, and/or getting knowledge here in xda forums. once again, i just can advice
you read all those guides twice....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DRM keys arent really required though are they? are they not restorable/ way to back them up prior, ive googled Z5 compact root and ive got loads of links on search results though

Voiding warranty of new device and god knows what will be with restored fake DRM keys with further updates, and no, there is NO rooting Z5 series with having Bootloader locked for now, i doubt there will ever be a method but hope im wrong. You might want to reconsider Z5 series, replace your Z with Z3 that is easily rootable even with locked BL and is on Marshmallow list.

kam90 said:
DRM keys arent really required though are they? are they not restorable/ way to back them up prior, ive googled Z5 compact root and ive got loads of links on search results though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, the drm keys are required for e.g. x-reality, camera postprocessing, ps controller support and much more. at the moment the drm restore patch works, but who knows, google or sony could counterpatch this aswell. you can only backup them with root. to get root you need to unlock your bootloader first. unlock bootloader = drm key lost forever. you cant lock your bootloader without original drm keys, and with unlocked bootloader you dont have ota updates and pc companion wont work anymore. means, you always have to update manually with
flashtool.

Really?! Cause with my Z I could link up with pc companion and do a factory reset which wiped out the root and everything on it when it froze up..
What about the main thread on this forum... is there any other reading or threads/guides in relation to this

Bounty for unlocking bootloader for vs990 (progress has been made)

Good afternoon people of XDA,
Today is the dawn of a new day. A day where we begin the road to unlocking the bootloader to something that many believe is unlockable. Me and a few other users are starting a bounty to bring the incentive to life for all active developers. You can find my previous thread here. Now, when I say progress has been made, I mean that we have gotten into fastboot, we have donation incentives and we already have root so our tools are there we just have to find the exploit. Every day people are finding new exploits furthering our cause into reaching our goal. Now to the developers who want to pursue this, I've very much so tried to get active commands in fastboot but basically its just a dead fastboot for right now. The board on this phone and technologies behind it are so similar to its predecessors that somethings got to give. If you are interested in this cause, i.e. donating or deving on it, please contact me here, or email me at [email protected]
This is in our grasps friends. Spread the word, grab your fellow developers and lets get this thing to be a free wad of cash for whoever can bust it. Lets do this.
Attached is the spreadsheet for the current donations.

this kind of things never work...i mean, you make a donation and the people or the persons behind the scenes when getting high values like 400-500$ then buy a new phone and move on letting the desired phone to get development in the trash!!
Noooo, people should see, if a year old phone never came to life in development in the first 6-8 months then the development for it is dead and if you like to custumize the phone and flash things you need to move to a more flashable-friend device!

I have to agree with this. The Tmobile version has unlocked bootloader yet barely no development. What would make me that unlocking VS990 bootloader would all of a sudden spur development.

beavis5706 said:
I have to agree with this. The Tmobile version has unlocked bootloader yet barely no development. What would make me that unlocking VS990 bootloader would all of a sudden spur development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally (and I think many other users) don't really need cooked roms. With gravity box, xposed and some other apps, I can "cook" my own rom (and believe me, it won't be that hard). All we need is a method for rooting. Using an android without rooting is even worse than an iphone without jailbreaking since iphones are undoubtedly smoother

presariohg said:
I personally (and I think many other users) don't really need cooked roms. With gravity box, xposed and some other apps, I can "cook" my own rom (and believe me, it won't be that hard). All we need is a method for rooting. Using an android without rooting is even worse than an iphone without jailbreaking since iphones are undoubtedly smoother
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, a rooting method for version above MM is the most importing thing for us rather than flashing custom rom. However, system-less root is need to root MM or above and this is required modifying boot.img, therefore, bootloader unlocking is need. Unless, we have found a way to sign the modified boot.img to deceive the offical bootloader.

ivangundampc said:
Indeed, a rooting method for version above MM is the most importing thing for us rather than flashing custom rom. However, system-less root is need to root MM or above and this is required modifying boot.img, therefore, bootloader unlocking is need. Unless, we have found a way to sign the modified boot.img to deceive the offical bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you mean by "unless"? Have you found an evidence that MM bootloader is unlockable or not?..

presariohg said:
What did you mean by "unless"? Have you found an evidence that MM bootloader is unlockable or not?..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean even if the bootloader is not unlockable, somethings can be done to let us perform the same things just like bootloader is unlocked.
For example, some dev in G2 and G3 have released a tool called "Bump!" before that can sign any third party image and let it able to be run on offical locked LG bootloader.
source: http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g3/orig-development/bump-sign-unlock-boot-images-lg-phones-t2935275
But of course, since LG have fixed the bug, we can no longer do the same tricks now.

In China, there is name ???he has lg tool, this tool can unpack repack kdz tot, add root in tot.
This is weibo id http://m.weibo.cn/u/1684239753

Need help
andy_zhang said:
In China, there is name ???he has lg tool, this tool can unpack repack kdz tot, add root in tot.
This is weibo id
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, So I've been working to be able to get root, so far I have added root to the system.img and that's all done, I need this tool to be able to repack. Can anyone, or you, contact him and get this tool? This would be so helpful for me to get root and release it!!!!

abine45 said:
Hey, So I've been working to be able to get root, so far I have added root to the system.img and that's all done, I need this tool to be able to repack. Can anyone, or you, contact him and get this tool? This would be so helpful for me to get root and release it!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of Android you are going to add root? I wonder that you cannot simply add root in /system after Android 6.0.

ivangundampc said:
What version of Android you are going to add root? I wonder that you cannot simply add root in /system after Android 6.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying different things but still i need to figure out how to repack a tot to find out what's going to work!! Does anybody know how to get that application?

abine45 said:
I'm trying different things but still i need to figure out how to repack a tot to find out what's going to work!! Does anybody know how to get that application?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For MM, unless you've found a way to get the SELinux context needed, repacking the system image will not work.

anyone having any luck with rooting MM?

I think at this point what we really need is a small set of testers who have a good insurance policy on their phones and are willing to risk bricking their phones. We've got the outline of a method which looks viable, but the details haven't been worked out and is hence likely to produce a few bricks before we get it working.

Sorry for dropping of the face of the planet for the past two months. In testing with my device it ended up being FUBAR after wiping my aboot completely and with that the phone would not boot to anything but a black screen. I sent it into LG and after some time they finally just replaced my motherboard. But the absolute sad part is that they have me upgraded to 6.0 which absolutely is crushing my world. SO until further notice I will not be testing the unlocking of the bootloader anymore but I will make efforts here in a few weeks to start work on rooting the device. @alvislee[email protected]

Is it worth rooting / flashing the Mate 9?

I love this phone and have had it for more than 2 years now, and have no plans of upgrading and will use it until it breaks down. Since I don't expect any updates any more, I was wondering if its worth rooting and flashing an Android 10 ROM (any recommendations?) this phone, especially since I want to use the Google camera that only works with Android 10. But as I read the guides and threads here, it seems rooting is more complicated than other phones.
So, is it worth it?

tukmulin said:
I love this phone and have had it for more than 2 years now, and have no plans of upgrading and will use it until it breaks down. Since I don't expect any updates any more, I was wondering if its worth rooting and flashing an Android 10 ROM (any recommendations?) this phone, especially since I want to use the Google camera that only works with Android 10. But as I read the guides and threads here, it seems rooting is more complicated than other phones.
So, is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To flash a custom ROM you don't need root but unlocked Bootloader.
If you didn't obtain BL code when it was easy and free or cheap, that is now complicated and expensive (although still possible)- look at some other threads where people asked about flashing and it always comes down to the question about unlocking Bootloader

zgfg said:
To flash a custom ROM you don't need root but unlocked Bootloader.
If you didn't obtain BL code when it was easy and free or cheap, that is now complicated and expensive (although still possible)- look at some other threads where people asked about flashing and it always comes down to the question about unlocking Bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. Thank you. Looks like I'm stuck with stock then. Thank you! It doesn't make sense to me to root if I can't flash anyway since I won't be able to get Android 10. The phone has excellent battery life and I have no complaints about speed. Unless there are benefits to just rooting that I don't know about?

tukmulin said:
I see. Thank you. Looks like I'm stuck with stock then. Thank you! It doesn't make sense to me to root if I can't flash anyway since I won't be able to get Android 10. The phone has excellent battery life and I have no complaints about speed. Unless there are benefits to just rooting that I don't know about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did I miss, but you didn't mention the most important fact - what is your EMUI version.
Supposing you are on 9.1 or 9.0 since you are asing about Android Q....
For rooting you must also flash (e.g. Recovery-Ramdisk patched by Magisk to get root, on EMUI 9), so it again comes down to the same problem about obtaining the Bootloader code (locked Bootloader prevents Fastboot from flashing) - to get a picture why is it complicated to obtain the BL code, please read like:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/mate-9-reached-dead-t3978105/post80497731
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/hi-to-downgrade-firmware-versions-gpu-t3917826
However, you can still do useful modding without TWRP, root, custom ROMs - that is, without the need to unlock Bootloader, see:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/modding-removing-bloatware-blocking-ads-t3971297

zgfg said:
Did I miss, but you didn't mention the most important fact - what is your EMUI version.
Supposing you are on 9.1 or 9.0 since you are asing about Android Q....
For rooting you must also flash (e.g. Recovery-Ramdisk patched by Magisk to get root, on EMUI 9), so it again comes down to the same problem about obtaining the Bootloader code (locked Bootloader prevents Fastboot from flashing) - to get a picture why is it complicated to obtain the BL code, please read like:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/mate-9-reached-dead-t3978105/post80497731
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/hi-to-downgrade-firmware-versions-gpu-t3917826
However, you can still do useful modding without TWRP, root, custom ROMs - that is, without the need to unlock Bootloader, see:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/modding-removing-bloatware-blocking-ads-t3971297
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Will look them up. Thank you so much! These are invaluable resources.

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