Hey guys,
Just wondering if the Sony Xperia Z will come with a locked or unlocked bootloader?
if it is locked, can it easily be relocked after unlocking it for warranty purposes?
I know there isnt much info out right now, but i have never owned a sony xperia phone so,
someone shed some light for me?
Devices from carriers usually can't be unlocked. If you buy it outright then usually it can be unlocked. The process does not record your full IMEI and can be relocked after so you are pretty safe in that regard. My HTC takes the full IMEI (so it can be identified) and if you lock it then it goes to "re-locked" and not "unlocked" .... so the sony method is actually pretty good.
Before buying you can always check on a live unit if bootloader can be unlocked.
M.
mattman83 said:
Devices from carriers usually can't be unlocked. If you buy it outright then usually it can be unlocked. The process does not record your full IMEI and can be relocked after so you are pretty safe in that regard. My HTC takes the full IMEI (so it can be identified) and if you lock it then it goes to "re-locked" and not "unlocked" .... so the sony method is actually pretty good.
Before buying you can always check on a live unit if bootloader can be unlocked.
M.
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Ah okay thanks mate,
hmm new to Sony here too. So what are the chances of pre-orders from carriers being bootloader locked? Just to clarify, does that mean carrier purchased devices are useless (if they are locked)? I was planning to get my device from Orange Uk as i can get a pretty decent 40% off the monthly tariff which makes it the best deal for me. But if it is locked then I may need to pass on this....bummer
m00moo said:
hmm new to Sony here too. So what are the chances of pre-orders from carriers being bootloader locked? Just to clarify, does that mean carrier purchased devices are useless (if they are locked)? I was planning to get my device from Orange Uk as i can get a pretty decent 40% off the monthly tariff which makes it the best deal for me. But if it is locked then I may need to pass on this....bummer
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Well, if i recall correctly, the verizon droid DNA had a permanent locked bootloader too, but the guys here on XDA found a way to crack it.
who knows, maybe there will be a loophole discovered after the first few days?
I'm currently using a T-Mobile Xperia T, and the bootloader is not unlockable. So I would guess the same for the Z.
Though I think early units are generally unlocked (but don't quote me on that but this was the case with my Galaxy SIII and another guy mentioned this for UK network 3).
AW: [Q] Xperia Z Bootloader?
mattman83 said:
Devices from carriers usually can't be unlocked. If you buy it outright then usually it can be unlocked.
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Click to collapse
Is this just the way sony handles it's bootloader?
I unlocked several different phones which were ordered from a carrier without problem. Depends on the device itself!
But Sony seems to be very developer-friendly. There's a developer site on sonys website, where details about bootloaders are posted. Don't know the exact url atm, I'm at work...
For me it is essential to get a phone where bootloader can be unlocked. My first phone was a lg, without custom rom I would not use it anymore...
It all depends on the country. In The Netherlands all bootloaders can be unlocked, even if it are branded handsets from a carrier.
again as mentioned this is my first Sony Android device so please bare with me. Can someone explain the reasons to unlock the bootloader as from what i've seen people have said u still can flash ROMS with a locked bootloader?
m00moo said:
hmm new to Sony here too. So what are the chances of pre-orders from carriers being bootloader locked? Just to clarify, does that mean carrier purchased devices are useless (if they are locked)? I was planning to get my device from Orange Uk as i can get a pretty decent 40% off the monthly tariff which makes it the best deal for me. But if it is locked then I may need to pass on this....bummer
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Click to collapse
If you're getting any sort of subsidy discount, it's highly likely your device will not be unlockable.
The general rule for Sonys is: If it is sold SIM-locked, you will not be able to unlock the bootloader. If it is sold SIM-unlocked, you'll be able to unlock the bootloader. If the carrier later gives you a SIM-unlock code for a device that is sold SIM-locked, your bootloader will remain locked (Sony is working on trying to change this with carriers).
spazzy1912 said:
Well, if i recall correctly, the verizon droid DNA had a permanent locked bootloader too, but the guys here on XDA found a way to crack it.
who knows, maybe there will be a loophole discovered after the first few days?
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Click to collapse
Sony's bootloader security is pretty strong. If the Z were likely to have a loophole, the T would've probably been defeated by now.
m00moo said:
again as mentioned this is my first Sony Android device so please bare with me. Can someone explain the reasons to unlock the bootloader as from what i've seen people have said u still can flash ROMS with a locked bootloader?
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Click to collapse
You can cross-flash firmwares for other devices, but you cannot flash anything that has a modified kernel.
Thanks Entropy for your very helpful reply! I appreicate it
In regards to the discount, it is only because a friend works for them and in return are given a discount for friends and family. Otherwise it will be just the same as purchasing it direct from my carrier. My usual experience with purchasing a phone from a carrier, especially a newer phone which has 'just' (first batch usually) released is that they are usually simfree stock (sim unlocked), but heres hoping!
The Bell (Canada) Xperia ZL I have has an unlockable bootloader.
Only stok based roms... cm, miui, paranoid, etc bootloader must be unlocked so you can flash custom kernel
Sent from my LT26i
So therefore AOSP roms cannot run on a Locked bootloader due to requiring a different kernel. Where as variations/modded versions of Sony's rom can be flashed due to not requiring a custom kernel.
I think I understand now. The Sony rom looks decent to be honest which isn't something I can say about Touchwiz. It is actually skinned nicely and I wouldnt mind a de-bloated version of that.
I'm pretty sure sony will unlock it, judging from Sony's recent actions where they released the kernel source for the T if i'm not mistaken. Why wouldn't they do it for this monster phone right?
brambizimski said:
I'm pretty sure sony will unlock it, judging from Sony's recent actions where they released the kernel source for the T if i'm not mistaken. Why wouldn't they do it for this monster phone right?
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It's already listed on Sony's "Unlock Bootloader" site. So i guess they'll all unlock, unless you get it carrier branded/simlocked and they ( carrier ) will interfere with unlocking process.
m00moo said:
again as mentioned this is my first Sony Android device so please bare with me. Can someone explain the reasons to unlock the bootloader as from what i've seen people have said u still can flash ROMS with a locked bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you need an unlocked bootloader to be able to boot the rom?
For htc devices, you need an unlocked bootloader, but it does not have to be S OFF.
If it was S ON, you just had to do an extra process of manual flashing the boot.img through fastboot
This is pretty simple if it's sim locked then it's also bootloader locked. The issue is not if you bought it on your carrier or on a retailer store. It's about locks
spazzy1912 said:
I believe you need an unlocked bootloader to be able to boot the rom?
For htc devices, you need an unlocked bootloader, but it does not have to be S OFF.
If it was S ON, you just had to do an extra process of manual flashing the boot.img through fastboot
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Depending on what you mean by "boot the rom" i am assuming you are referring to AOSP roms which use a different kernel to stock roms usually. Thus if you cannot flash a custom rom on the phone with a "locked" bootloader, you are stuck with stock Sony type roms. Don't mind it personally just sucks i cannot experience the great kernels that the XDA devs release. Fingers cross the first batch of pre orders will be unlocked though as they are usually sim unlocked in my experience.
Riyal said:
This is pretty simple if it's sim locked then it's also bootloader locked. The issue is not if you bought it on your carrier or on a retailer store. It's about locks
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50% true. As Entropy said the simlock can be "unlocked" by the carrier. This will therefore then be a sim unlocked device, but the bootloader remains locked. This needs to be clarified to Sony noobies like myself who may think sim unlocking will result in a unlocked bootloader, or by buying a sim unlocked device from say Ebay they have definately gotten a unlocked BL.
spazzy1912 said:
I believe you need an unlocked bootloader to be able to boot the rom?
For htc devices, you need an unlocked bootloader, but it does not have to be S OFF.
If it was S ON, you just had to do an extra process of manual flashing the boot.img through fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's different again. With a locked bootloader you can't flash a custom kernel *at all*. I'm on a HOX now so I know all about the stupid htc bootloader unlock It basically means the device is useless for custom roms etc..
Still waiting to see if my local carrier will lock it or not, they have a mixed history with simlocking devices so could go either way. If it is locked I'll just pick get an iphone instead (should be roughly same price on contract) to sell on ebay and buy my sony outright I'll make it work one way or another.
M.
I recently bought the Xz on the 3 network (uk) and straight away wanted to get on aosp but this was shortly lived when my bootloader unlock status said no!!! Arghhh!!!
After moving from the HTC one X this was a massive disappointment as I loved the IceColdJelly Rom from Lord.
So I started to look into how to get around this and came across a solution online saying you need to network unlock the device officially from your network operator this would then change the bootloader unlock allowed status to yes.
Great but I cannot get this yet as 3 state you need to be over 1 month into the contract witch I sadly am not.
I then done a bit of thinking and wondered if I managed to get onto the official unbranded software from Sony via an official method I may be able to get round it.
To do this I:
Rooted for locked bootloaders
Installed twrp for locked bootloaders
Installed one of the roms for locked bootloader (353?)
Then plugged my phone into the computer and started up the Sony update software and this gave me the option to update my phone to the latest 434? Software (something I couldn't get while on the branded stock rom)
So update done I reset the phone from within settings and preyed my bootloader unlock allowed status had been changed from no to yes. But no it hadn't .
So what's the point of this post?
Well I'm sharing my way of getting the latest update from Sony officially if anyone would ever want to do it that way.
But also I'm opening this thread to discuss if anyone had unlocked their network limitations and found that it changed the bootloader unlock allowed status.
Thank you for your time
Hi.
I renewed my contract with Three and got the XZ, and like you was hoping it had the unlockable bootloader. I knew I had the contract I needed anyway and was prepared to do whatever I had to do if the bootloader was properly locked. In the end the only thing I could do was get rid of the phone and buy one that was Sim free and bootloader unlockable. I bought it from Phones for you and checked the bootloader status before I handed over any money.
When I had my "old" XZ, I put it up for sale and in the hope of getting it sold easier I had it sim-unlocked by Three and I flashed UK unbranded firmware. As expected, unlocking the Sim and flashing unbranded firmware did not change the bootloader status.
In short, the only way to run something like CM is to sell your blower and buy one with a suitable bootloader.
Ah well that sucks surely it's not down to the carrier to impose these limitations apon the end user? There must be a way around this even if it is contacting Sony, surely if I the owner of my phone want to. Unlock my bootloader it's for me to decide, not the middle man.
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
just got a xperia t lt30a, didn't knew that it was sim locked, now i want to unlock it, i don't know what network is locked to.
how can i find this information?
anyone can suggest a cheap safe unlocking site?
Sisqo said:
just got a xperia t lt30a, didn't knew that it was sim locked, now i want to unlock it, i don't know what network is locked to.
how can i find this information?
anyone can suggest a cheap safe unlocking site?
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Click to collapse
I think the lt30a is the AT&T phone. You may be able to get an unlock code from them. I had no problem getting an unlock code from AT&T when I sold my S3 to buy this phone.
EDIT: I read this wrong. the AT&T version is lt30at. Sorry.
yes.
from what i undestand it was bought in uk.
some people are confusing the 2 unlock types
Just in case, the sim unlock process is a simple one, just insert another sim from the other provider and enter the code provided.
Unlocking the bootloader is not possible with some versions including the lt30a - at least a method does not yet exist - unless you are working with the models that have unlocking enabled. Check other posts which cover this topic extensively.
yes i know it asks for the SIM network unlock PIN, i do not have one.
and also i know that the bootloader isn't unlockable, i've checked in service info. i don't need unlocked bootloader for now as i have rooted the latest stock 4.1.2, only problem i have it with the sim lock..
got the sim network unlock pin from network operator, thread can be closed
Or put [solved] in the title
Sent from my LT30p, 4.1.2 stock, DooMKernel v7,root access, unlocked bootloader.
I'm looking into buying a used SP and I got somewhat confused about sim- and bootloaderlocks.
If I get a (cheaper) simlocked phone - is there a chance the bootloader is unlockable? (Guess not since it would help in removing the simlock...)
Given a simlocked phone with 'bootloader unlock allowed:no' - will having a phoneshop remove the simlock result in an unlockable state?
Do I have to get a factory unlocked non-carrier-branded phone to get unlockability?
If not - how do I recognize unlockable ones prior to the sim-unlock?
Edit:
Shops in my country charge about 45 dollars for unlocking sony phones. Is there any detriment in using a web-based service instead?
Can someone recommend a trustworthy one they've used themselves? How much was it and how long did it take?
Thanks for your insights
ZanyG said:
I'm looking into buying a used SP and I got somewhat confused about sim- and bootloaderlocks.
If I get a (cheaper) simlocked phone - is there a chance the bootloader is unlockable? (Guess not since it would help in removing the simlock...)
Given a simlocked phone with 'bootloader unlock allowed:no' - will having a phoneshop remove the simlock result in an unlockable state?
Do I have to get a factory unlocked non-carrier-branded phone to get unlockability?
If not - how do I recognize unlockable ones prior to the sim-unlock?
Thanks for your insights
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Click to collapse
You're basically flying blind unless you buy a factory sim unlocked phone which should have the bootloader unlockable. If the carrier has simlocked it then they usually bootloader lock it too.
Hey,
I wanted to root my XZ1 compact, unfortunaly I realized that my bootloader is unable to be unlocked.
I am a bit confused, as I thought the unlocking is not allowed if your phone is blocked by your carrier, but this phone doesn't have a branding and has no simlock.
Are there other reasons why a bootloader unlocking isn't allowed?
I got this phone as a display model from I think it was UK, perhaps this could be why.
If someone has an idea if there could be a way to unlock, I would be very grateful, even though I know that it doesn't seem possible.
Edit: Ok I think the bootloader is still blocked by the carrier MyEE, their app is on the phone. So it's probably because of them that the phone is blocked, even though I can use other SIM cards...
If somebody knows what I could do to unblock the bootloader, please tell me.
Thank you!
Monti1811 said:
Edit: Ok I think the bootloader is still blocked by the carrier MyEE, their app is on the phone. So it's probably because of them that the phone is blocked, even though I can use other SIM cards...
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Click to collapse
If the phone came from EE or any other carrier the BL will be locked, getting a code to unlock the sim won't unlock the BL, so unfortunately you're stuck with a BL locked phone.