The All in One Guide for Xperia Z1 (Rooting/backing Up TA/unlocking bootloader/Recovering a soft bircks)

Alright! So you want to optimize your device so that you can take full control of it.Are you positive on this? If yes then lets go ahead without spending more time.

This guide will teach you how to root/back up TA mage/unlock bootloader.It is highly recommended that you keep a full backup of your device and read the full guide to get a gist of the procedure.Because I know you wouldn't like if your device is bricked.



Disclaimer: - I am a poor person :P and I won’t be held responsible for any damage to your phone. There is no guaranty that your device won’t brick. This is just a guide. So if you have a Heart of a Lion and a mind of a pirate than you can proceed with this guide

Always Back up your device!!

Lets Start with the basics:-
Rooting :- this will help you in gaining the root access so that you will be able to modify the device as per your need.
TA Partitions :- This is a partition in your device which holds the unique hardware ids and Drm key's of your phone.Every phone have their unique id and Drm keys.
Bootloader :- As the name states,The main function is to load up the operating system.When the device first starts it uses the bootloader to do the basic commands of setting up and loading the operating system. We use this in rooting to alter things in the operating system before it loads.

Rooting :- 

360 Root Method:-

1. Download the application from Here.
2. open 360 root.
3. You'll get a prompt about needing to close the following conflicting service before continuing: adb.exe
4. turn on usb-debugging in settings => developer options, and connect your phone.
5. Open 360 Root again, at this time the upper left corner shows a red font but it isn't to root.
6. Click the green button in the bottom right corner, this button is to start rooting your device.
7. Progress bar will advance automatically, it can restart a few times, just let it do it's magic! 
8. When it finished, on top there will be a message: Congratulations, rooting was successful.
9. To get Root permissions, click the green button in the bottom right corner again now.
10. Then the top left corner displays a blue font, this means you are rooted.

IF you want a different method you can try the Vroot method else skip this step.

1. Download the application from here.
2.  Install vroot (Click Next till you see finish)
3. Open up vroot and connect your Xperia Z1.
4. Click the green button to start rooting.
5. When it finished you're phone will restart.

Congratulation! You have root access.


Backup TA Partition:- 

1. Download this tool from Here.
2.  Extract the ZIP file to a folder location of your choosing.
3. Navigate to the folder location of Backup TA.
4. Make sure no other script or application which is using ADB is running.
5. Make sure the device is booted in normal mode, the way you normally use it.
6. Make sure USB Debugging is turned on.
7.  Run Backup-TA.bat
8.  Read the license.
9. Choose one of the menu options.
10. Follow the instructions given by the tool.

After doing  this you will find a folder named Backup in the extracted folder.This indicated that you have successfully backed up your TA partition.

If you have any doubts you can head over to the main thread


Unlocking BootLoader:- 
Right Now there are some known issues with unlocking the bootloader,But even if you want to  go ahead you can do it the official way head over to Sony 

Opps! I softbricked my phone by unlocking the bootloader!! Is this your reaction right now?I warned you beforehand anyways don't worry we have already backed up the TA partition so your device will work fine and it will go back to the state as if the bootloader was not unlocked.


To restore TA.img do this:-

1. click and run Backup-TA.
2.  select 2 to restore
3. select 3
4. Say Viola!! 

Using Flashtool:- 

1. Download Flashtool for your OS from here
2. Run the installer or unpack the archive for Linux and Mac.
3. [Optional] Windows uers can go to C:/FlashTool/drivers to have a nice wizard to install fastboot & adb drivers and also drivers for other devices.
4. Copy the downloaded device file archive to C:/Flashtool/devices.
5. Open up flashtool, go to "devices => manage => import" and choose the device file you downloaded.
6. Installation finished!

Some Tips before we Go ahead :-
You can enter in flashmode by connecting your powered off device while holding volume down to pc.
You can enter in fastboot(bootloader mode) by connecting your powered off device while holding volume up to pc

FTF files are the regular Sony firmware files, installing them is quite easy and powerful to recover a soft bricked/semi-bricked device.

1. You need to put your ftf file in C:/Flashtool/firmwares before flashing it.
2. You can start by clicking on the "Flash" icon, it's the left icon in the icon bar.
3. You'll get a prompt asking you to go to "Flashmode" or "Fastboot mode", choose Flashmode
4. Now click on flash to flash the phone.
5. Wait for the prompt and connect your device in Flashmode

How to use the fastboot mode:-

1.  You can start by clicking on the "Flash" icon, it's the left icon in the icon bar.
2. You'll get a prompt asking you to go to "Flashmode" or "Fastboot mode", choose "Fastboot" this time

The options you'll use most would be:
- Flask kernel
- Flash a system.img file


Recovering a soft bricked Device :-
This is very easy to do just follow along with the steps below.(Skip step 1 to 8 if you have flashtools installed)

1.  Download flashtool from here
2. Install Flashtool
3.  In the meanwhile you will have to download the Firmware that is the .ftf file for  flashtool. Click here to download .
4.  To install drivers go the drive where you have installed Flashtool for example the default destination is C drive in windows.
5. Double click on flashtools and open drivers,there you will find an application named Flashtool-drivers double click on the application and install the drivers you will get a screen somewhat like this.
6. Hit Next  see the screen below to match your screen.
7. Tick the check box of all the devices and click install,follow the instructions (you only have to hit the next button and install the drivers )  :)
8. Now Copy the .ftf file which you downloaded earlier in the firmware folder which you will find in the flashtool folder in C drive.
9. Open flashtool,click on the lightning bolt symbol in the start-menu.
10. Then once the application is running click on the lightning bolt symbol in the application
11. Select Flashmode
12. Select the firmware and click on flash.
13. You can find a firmware named on your device that is C6902_14.1.G.1.531_SG 1277-2654.ftf etc. in the firmware tab.
14. Now when you get this prompt like the one below connect only the usb cable to your computer.
15. Switch off your Phone, wait for 5 seconds then press and hold the volume down button and connect it to the usb.You will notice a quick flash of green along with red light on the device.
16. The process is started now be patience. You device is almost alive.
17. Once Flashing is completed you will see Flashing finished. in the line fourth from bottom.If you are able to see this Bingo !!! the process is completed and you can start you device
18. The initial boot will take a few minutes.

Have a look at the screen shots :- 

360 Root  :- 

Vroot:-