How to Unlock Bootloader of Sony Ericsson Xperia Phones Tutorial

Today our tutorial How to Unlock Bootloader of all Sony Ericsson Xperia phones. Sony Xperia Android Smartphones are now all over the market since from 2011 and 2012 and performing really well. The Sony Play technology has attracted many users. Xperia phones are Slim, Sleek and stylish. We are here by going to tell you about how you can unlock the bootloader on Xperia Series devices. If you want to root your Xperia phone and install custom ROM, then you have to unlock the bootloader to install custom clockworkmod recovery mode. We have detailed the procedure that will guide you through unlocking the bootloader using the Sony developer site. But you should know that unlocking bootloader voids warranty.

Alert: This Process is safe and tested on Window 32-bit but some users are complaining that it got stuck on 64-bit versions.

Here is the list of Sony Ericsson Xperia devices that you can currently unlock the bootloader by using below guide. We hoping that may more devices will be added to the list in the upcoming days.

Sony Ericssion Xperia Play, Arc, Arc S, Neo, Neo V, Pro, Mini, Mini Pro, Ray, Active and Walkman.
Sony Xperia S, P, Go, U, Sola and Arco S.

Steps and Procedure to Unlock Bootloader of Sony Ericsson Xperia Phones

1. First you must have unlocking bootloader key. In order to get the key you need visit the Ericsson website click here to go. After opening the webpage scroll down to the bottom and click on ‘Start unlocking the boot loader’.

2. In the next also do same thing scroll to bottom of the page and click ‘Continue’.

3. Next, in a new page a message will appear ‘Are you really sure?’ there you need to click on ‘Yes, I’m sure’ button to continue.

4. Accept all the Legal terms by clicking on the boxes and then click on ‘I accept’.

5. Under Create Unlock request, you need to enter the information such as Name, IMEI number and E-mail. (For getting the IEMI number dial *#06# in the phone). After entering all details then, click the ‘Submit’ button.

6. Then, somewhere on the next page, you will find boot loader unlock key. Copy that key on your notepad and save it to a known location in your Computer.

7. Download the Sony Xperia device USB drivers for both windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit from here . After downloading the file extract it and don’t do anything.

8. Again download the fastboot with android usb file package from here. Extract the zip file at somewhere else in your PC.

9. After extracting the file. Open the folder HOLD shift key in the keyboard and right click with mouse on the fastboot folder. Within a second, the list will pop up where you need to select ‘Open command window here’.
10. Now switch off the device and connect your device to PC with USB cable by holding some important button in the device. It may varies from device to devices. check out below things then you will get an idea.

  • For Xperia arc, arc S, neo, neo V, pro you need to hold Menu button.
  • For Xperia PLAY hold Search Button.
  • For Xperia mini, mini pro, ray, active, Live with Walkman, Xperia S hold volume up button.

11. After connecting the device to the PC. Then in the command window, type the command without inverted commas " fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version ". If it shows some kind of value in result then your device has been connected successfully.
12. Once again, type this command without inverted commas " fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY "(in this command you need to replace the word key with the unique key, which you have noted down in step 6).

13. This is the final step and you have successfully unlocked your device’s Bootloader. For other information, you can visit XDA.

48 comments :

  1. how can i flash custom kernels (i want to overclock my device) also please reccomend some kernels...

    ReplyDelete
  2. if you want to overclock and flash custom kernels on your device. First you need to root and install setcpu app from Google Play store.

    ReplyDelete
  3. this method dosn't work even though i have a 32 bit pc with windows 7,i did everything but after connecting the device and typing the code it says waiting for device in quotes and nothing happens,i did this for like four times i also redownloaded the drivers,i didn't open them as you said.....
    please help

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  4. Hello Nimay may i know which Sony Xperia phone are you using?

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  5. Already rooted using your guide installed set CPU but the Sony kernel allows only 1024 MHz max so I want new kernel I found one for ICS but there was no guide on how to flash it...

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  6. hey... i hav already rooted my phone but my bootloader is locked so do i need to unlock my bootloader to flash custom roms??

    And if i follow the above steps to unlock my bootloader do i hav to root my phone again ??

    My phone is Xperia Arc S. Help is highly appretiated thnx :)

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  7. yes must unlock bootloader for flashing custom Cyanogenmod roms and no need of rooting the device again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have USB drivers but how I can to install and use them?
    I miss some steps of the installation. My phone is Xperia P with ICS 4.0.4

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  9. If you didn't installed USB drivers for Xperia P. Then download the drivers from the link which i given above and install it in the PC. If the drivers are already installed then you can skip this step and go for further step.

    follow the steps carefully without missing anyone of them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. sony Xperia s
    wond to root the phone for unlock?
    thx.

    ReplyDelete
  11. for rooting the device you must first unlock the bootloader.

    ReplyDelete
  12. (for rooting the device you must first unlock the bootloader. )
    Sir Pls Guide me how to root my sony Xperia s, affter unlock the bootloader.

    ReplyDelete
  13. have you unlocked bootloader successffully right?

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  14. i m stuck at waitng for device any help having arc s LT18a

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  15. Turn off the phone and power on while hold menu button in the device. Now connect to the PC it will definitely recognized by unlocked tool.

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  16. i m stuck at waiting for device. i have the usb drivers and everything. my phone is xperia arc s. PC is not recognizing the driver for xperia. any suggestions?

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  17. @Crunk can you tell me how you connecting the device to PC. Let me know whether you are following my steps are not.

    1. Switch off the phone
    2. Power on device while holding the menu button which third button in your mobile.
    2. Now connect to PC

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  18. can i use win xp for this tutorial

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  19. yes you can use this tutorial on Windows XP OS.

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  20. how can i open the flashboot on a command using xp?

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  21. In Windows XP open the command prompt by doing like this

    1. In the keyboard press Windows logo button and R key together.
    2. A small dialog box will appear in the screen.
    3. Type cmd and MS-DOS command will be open.
    4. Their type the location path from which location you extracted the file.

    Example: C:\X location\fast boot

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  22. shenoy joseph...I'm sorry dude the links for the files are dead.

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  23. thanks for this tutorial dude :) i got my Xperia Go boot loader unlocked.

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  24. hey help me out.. i followed every step but i face problem in step 9.. my pc wont show anything while i connect my phone holding the menu button..
    phone: Sony xperia arc s

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  25. Hey help me out.. I am facing problem while connecting my phone to the pc the blue light glows but nothing shows up on my pc...

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  26. what is your problem even though if you connected the device to PC it shows waiting for the device right?

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  27. can i relock my bootloader? If yes how can i do it.

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  28. hey i download fast boot but i have windows xp on this comand prompt not opening when i right click while pressing shift key on fast boot folder?

    now please tell me how to open fast boot folder on command prompt in xp because its not showing open command windows here in xp while pressing shift key and right click on fast boot folder.....

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  29. In Windows XP follow this tutorial

    1. In keyboard press Windows logo button and R key together.
    2. A small dialog box will appear in the screen.
    3. Type cmd and MS-DOS command prompt will be open.
    4. Their type the location path from which location you extracted the file.

    Example: C:\X location\fastboot

    ReplyDelete
  30. Stuck at waiting for device in Xperia mini ST15i
    tried pluging in the phone with Vol UP as well as down button

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. Have you installed Sony Xperia Mini USB drivers ? if not download it from here http://goo.gl/uTm6H and http://goo.gl/LcvXX. Try to install both of them one may work definitely.

      2. Now Switch off the device, hold volume down button and connect the device to the PC. That's it your phone will be recognized by the computer.

      Delete
  31. Hey please can any one help me out i am stucking at "" using xperia mini pro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. check above comment of mine download usb drives and follow the procedure once.

      Delete
  32. the waiting device message didnot go
    i have no sign like version 3 or so

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. have you installed Sony Xperia USB drivers which is located at c:/fastboot/drivers.exe

      Delete
  33. MX
    If my bootloader says "unlockable:NO"
    Can i still unlock the bootloader then unlock the phone network with the code?THX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Although it shows unlockable:NO but you can sure unlock it by following the procedure which i mentioned in the above article.

      Delete
  34. Hi , I am using xperia tipo. And I have followed all of ur steps and I am using win xp. I pressed the button to open the command prompt and typed the code to locate the drivers but it says that the entered code is not internal/external. I am stuck here pls help me. It is very urgent!!!!!

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  35. I have tipo and win xp . I followed ur instructions to open cosmmand prompt and typed the code to locate theh files but it says that is nothing internal/external command. Pls help me It is very urgent!!

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  36. I have win xp and xperia tipo. The command prompt is searching the fastboot folders pls help me.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I have xperia tipo and Windows xp . After opening the command prompt and entering the commands the command prompt is saying that this neither internal/external command. Pls help me.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have tipo and win xp. Pls help me on command prompt part.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I am using sony xperia arc s lt18a. when i go to SDK>extras>google I only have the folder usb_driver. Am I supposed to create a fastboot folder myself? ive tried now on the x64 and x32 versions. im lost.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to extract that zip file then you will get two folders fastboot and usb_driver.

      Delete
  40. i have connected my phn in flashboot mode then to its showing waiting for the device in command window plz help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. have you installed ADB drivers for your particular device?

      Delete