Tuesday, December 31

How to root your C6903 Sony Xperia Z1 with 14.2.A.0.290 firmware

UPDATE : Please check out my latest post on updating and rooting the new 14.3.A.0.757 firmware
How to root your Sony Xperia Z1 with C6903 14.3.A.0.757 firmware


Hi all,

thanks for dropping by. This will be a really short post as the instructions to do this are pretty much same as the previous update. In fact please refer to my previous post for a more detailed process.

Basically all you have to do is flash the previous .534 version firmware. Root it with Kingo Root or whatever root software that works, then upgrade via OTA with the survival mode in SuperSU ticked to "preserve root". Do make sure you factory reset the phone before doing the OTA, otherwise there is a chance that like my phone, the OTA update failed.

That aside if you do get the OTA installed successully over the rooted .534, then you end up with a partial root. You can access root priviledges for certain things, but like for example if you want to edit system files like build.prop then it doesn't work.

Of course to obtain absolute root is still possible. You just gotta get your bootloader unlocked which in version .290 the camera still works. Unfortunately unlocking bootloader risks voiding your warranty with Sony..

So my advice is if you have .257 still rooted and working, then forget about upgrading to .290 as there is not much improvement with a loss of the root. 4.3 is pretty much same as 4.2.2. The default sony camera app still sucks ass as much, so you still have to install a third party app like Camera Zoom FX or alternative camera app from samsung or LG.

Will post up a pic of my upgraded OS and how to root to .290 without unlocking bootloader if that happens.

==== UPDATE 19/1/2014 ====
Root with .290 is now possible without unlocking the bootloader, unfortunately so far only one version of FTF has been released for rooting which means I will be skipping this for now.

However in a couple days time I will be downloading the .290 FTF(firmware file) for Singapore and unlocking my bootloader to get root the more normal way. This method needs an extra step of backup of the TA partition before unlocking bootloader so as to be able to relock the bootloader after rooting, in case of future warranty issues.




  1. Cool update...been hacking my brain to maintain root on Z1 4.3 soo I can edit my build.prop..change my DPI..it seem still no way to do the changes unless you unlock you bootloader... ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I been looking high and low for a solution too, guess have to wait for a pro from XDA to crack this nut..

      Delete
  2. Bricked my phone by flashtool where now my phone is a prototype sample now... meaning less rights then a non rooted phone, Not even able to call people with it. Not able to flash. Not able to stick it up my ass, its too big. Any help?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NVM i somehow fixed it (3 Generic firmwares did not work on my phone even if i used one of them before with no problem) (for anyone whose IMEI resets to 000000000000000 just try the branded firmwares :( )

      Delete
    2. thanks for the extra info on this problem.. :D

      Delete
  3. So, do you have the root for 257 ? im using C6906 does works? im from mexico thats why its 06 ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. unfortunately the old method to root .534 then update via OTA to .257 no longer works as the OTA now updates to .290 will not give full root anymore. need to unlock bootloader first to root

      Delete
  4. Any update to rooting Z1 with 14.2.A.0.290 firmware and without unlocking the bootloader?

    ReplyDelete
  5. yes there is a way, you have to downgrade to .534 version and root, then install a recovery program then use that to install the firmware from this link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2572988

    unfortunately unless you use their firmware version to flash which may not be optimal for your region. Like for me, I need the chinese keyboard but its not on that firmware.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Will you please post the link for the rooted .290 ftf?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. firmware for latest 14.2.A.1.136 version is out. You can check out my other post on how to root for that. In either case you will have to unlock your bootloader so might as well unlock and flash it with the latest firmware rather than .290.

      Delete

If you feel my blog post was interesting or need more information, please feel free to comment.

Plankton Hits