Sony Releases Tutorial to Help Unlock Bootloader on Xperia Devices

Not many smartphone manufacturers allow users to unlock the bootloader of their devices, as it not just enables rooting of the devices and the flashing of custom ROMs, but also potentially exposes the devices to various threats and can potentially even brick them.

On Friday, Sony went ahead and uploaded a video on its developers channel demonstrating the process of unlocking the bootloader on Xperia devices for custom ROMs installation.

The process isn't simple for regular users, and Sony also warns that it is not something the company recommends them to do, as it is not needed. Also, this may void warranty of the device or any warranty that users have got additionally from the carrier operator, says company.

The multiple-step unlocking bootloader process involves an unlock code from Sony, downloading the Android SDK from Google, Fastboot, and more. With detailed steps in the video, Sony has tried to make users understand the process. In its video (see below), the company used the Sony Xperia Z2 as an example for demonstration. The list of supported Sony devices ranges from smartphones, tablets and even the few older Sony Ericsson devices that were discontinued ages ago.

Last month, Sony had released the AOSP source code for its Xperia smartphones, namely - Sony Xperia Z3, Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, Sony Xperia Z2, Sony Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. Developers can use this to build custom Android 5.0 Lollipop AOSP ROMs for Sony handsets, which can be downloaded from company's developers channel as well.

LG recently revealed it was considering providing the bootloader unlock option for some of its handsets, but did not mention exactly when or which model it will be starting with.

Earlier this year, Motorola gave the Moto E official bootloader unlock support, once again paving the way for third-party ROMs and other customisations.