How to Root the Sony Xperia Z

Sony Xperia Z is one of those rare smartphones that have got a root method before the device could actually arrive in the hands of the customers. You can call this smartphone a powerhouse as it’s got a Quad-Core 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, much more than what you would normally find in Samsung or any other smartphones. Jelly Bean comes preloaded on the device and there’s a planned upgrade to Android 4.2, a bit of more than JB. Root access has been achieved on this device by modifying the Chainfire’s custom kernel and we’ve put down the entire procedure to root the Sony Xperia Z just below. Follow it and get your device rooted.

I. Before You Begin:

1. This will void the warranty of your device. However, you can reinstate the warranty by unrooting the device if there’s any unrooting procedure available.

2. You must have unlocked bootloader of your device. You can do so from here.

3. This is intended to work on firmware version: 10.1.A.1.350.

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. Modified Kernel (Download link’s available in the first post)

2. Insecure Kernel (Download link’s given in the first post)

3. Fastboot

III. Rooting the Sony Xperia Z:

1. Place all the files you downloaded to your Desktop.

2. Extract files from the Fastboot archive to your Desktop. You’ll get fastboot.exe along with some other files.

3. Plug-in USB cable to your PC but not to your device.

4. Turn OFF your device.

5. Reboot the device into Fastboot mode. To do that, simply hold down the Volume UP button and connect the other-end of the USB cable to your device.

6. Launch a Command Prompt Window on your Desktop. To do so, hold down the Shift button on your keyboard and right-click on any empty area on the screen, then select Open command window here.

7. Type in following command into the Command Prompt Window:

fastboot flash boot Z_DooMLoRD_CF-Auto-Root-ported_FW-350.img

8. Next, issue the following command:

fastboot reboot

9. Your device should boot up and you’ll get a notification on your screen saying that the device will reboot in 10 seconds.

10. Once the device reboots, unplug it from your PC.

11. Now hard power off your device. To do that, hold down the Power button and the Volume UP button for about 15 seconds.

12. Get your device into Fastboot mode by holding down the Volume UP key and plugging-in the USB cable.

13. Open a Command Prompt Window on your Desktop. It’s simple, just hold down the Shift button on your keyboard and right-click on any empty area on the screen, then choose Open command window here.

14. Issue the following command using Command Prompt Window:

fastboot flash boot Z_DooMLoRD_insecure_FW-350.img

15. Once it’s done, issue the following command:

fastboot reboot

16. Once your device boots up, head over to Google Play and download the BusyBox app.

17. You’re rooted now!