It Professional

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Unlocking the bootloader allows you to put custom ROMs, kernels and boot images on your Xperia devices which cannot be done otherwise. Say you want to install an AOSP based ROM on your Xperia Z which need to change the boot image on the device to be compatible with the AOSP code then it can only be done by unlocking the bootloader on your device.</div>
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Generally, rooting and custom recovery installation also requires an unlocked bootloader, but thanks to the developer community of Xperia Z for achieving root without the need to unlock bootloader.</div>
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Also thanks to Sony for having their entire range of Xperia devices released since 2011 to be bootloader unlockable. Not every Android manufacturer does that, at-least not so easy.</div>
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The bootloader unlocking process on Xperia devices is fairly simple. And with our step by step instructions with screenshots below, even noob users will be able to do it easily.</div>
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Two methods of unlocking the Bootoader</h3>
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There are two methods you could choose from to unlock the bootloader on your Xperia Z</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: square outside; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Unofficially using Flashtool</strong>: You can unlock the bootloader on your device using a program called Flashtool. Getting the bootloader unlocked through flashtool is painless and very quick compared to Sony’s offical way of doing it. And on a plus note you also save yourself from letting Sony know that you tried to unlock your device’s bootloader (which voids warranty)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: square outside; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Officially from Sony’s website </strong>(<a href="http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">link</a>): You can follow Sony’s official way of unlocking the bootloader which is also simple and easy to follow but a little bit lengthy. However, in the official way you’ve to get the bootloader unlock key from Sony’s website, which lets the manufacturer know that you intended to unlock your bootloader (which voids warranty) by provding them your phone’s IMEI number to get the key.</li>
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Below are full step by step installatiion instruction for both the methods discussed above. So proceed with whatever method you think is best. In our opinion, go with the Flashtool method. It’s much easier to unlock bootloader using Flashtool.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">Warning!</span></h4>
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You’ll void the warranty of your Sony Xperia Z by unlocking its bootloader.</div>
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Backup your important data!</h4>
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Every single file on your device will be deleted once you unlock the bootloader. So make sure you backup all your important data before proceeding with the guide given below and also make sure to move your backup files to your PC or Cloud storage because even any backup file kept on the phone will be deleted.</div>
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Check out the link below if you need any help with backing up your Xperia Z</div>
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Method 1 – Unlock Bootloader using Flashtool</h3>
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Flashtool is a multi utility program for Xperia devices that does a lot of tasks in much easier ways compared to Sony’s official ways. Here in this guide we’ll be using flashtool only for the purpose of unlocking the bootloader.</div>
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Download and install Flashtool</h4>
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→ <a href="http://www.flashtool.net/download.html" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Download Flashtool</a> (113MB)</h5>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: square outside; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;">Install Flashtool to the directory of your choice</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: square outside; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;">Once installed, start flashtool either by searching on the Start screen (or start menu) on Windows or open the directory where you installed flashtool and double-click the Flashtool.exe file. For e.g., if you installed flashtool on C drive on your computer, then open the directory “C:\Flashtool”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Note</strong>: If you’re running a 64-bit windows installation then make sure you start the Flashtool64.exe file</li>
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Instructions for unlocking bootloader using Flashtool</h4>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Start/Open Flashtool</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Click on the bootloader unlock icon as shown in the screenshot below<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Click-on-bootloader-unlock-icon.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Click on bootloader unlock icon" height="182" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Click-on-bootloader-unlock-icon.png?resize=623%2C182" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="623" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">You’ll see a window asking you to connect your device in Flashmode. Ignore the animated instruction on the screen as it’s not meant for the Xperia Z, instead follow the instructions given below to connect your Xperia Z to your PC in Flashmode<ol style="box-sizing: border-box; counter-reset: li 0; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 7px 28px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Switch off your phone</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Now while holding down the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Volume Down key</strong> on your phone connect it to PC using a USB cable</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Your device should now be connected in Flashmode and Flashtool should show a “Device selector” pop-up window</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Select your device (Xperia Z) from the list of devices<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Select-Sony-Xperia-Z.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Select Sony Xperia Z" height="446" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Select-Sony-Xperia-Z.png?resize=301%2C446" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="301" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">In a few seconds after selecting your device from the list, Flashtool will show you a “BootLoader Unlock Wizard” pop-up window<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Bootloader-Unlock-Wizard.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Bootloader Unlock Wizard" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44301" height="195" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Bootloader-Unlock-Wizard.png?resize=298%2C195" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="298" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Click the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Unlock button</strong> to begin bootloader unlocking process</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Check Flashtool log to confirm status of bootloader. If successful, it should look like the screenshot below<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Flashtool-log.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Flashtool log" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44302" height="288" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Flashtool-log.png?resize=800%2C317" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="728" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Have fun!</li>
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Method 2 – Unlock bootloader using Sony’s website</h3>
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Unlocking bootloader using Sony’s website would require you to first get the unlock from Sony’s website and then run a couple of fastboot commands using command propmt on your PC.</div>
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Getting the bootloader unlock key from Sony’s website</h4>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Open this link in a new tab or window → <a href="http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/unlock/step1" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/unlock/step1</a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Click on “Yes, I’m sure” button on the page opened with the link provided above</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Read the warning in Legal terms carefully, tick the two checkboxes and then click on “I accept” button to confirm that you accept the legal terms mentioned on the page<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Accept-the-legal-terms1.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Accept the legal terms" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44304" height="356" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Accept-the-legal-terms1.png?resize=533%2C356" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="533" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">On the next page there will be three fields asking you your Name, your phone’s IMEI number and your E-mail address. To get IMEI number of your phone, open the phone dialer app on your phone and <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">dial *#06#</strong>. This will you the 15 digit IMEI number of your phone, but remember to<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">insert only first 14 digits of your IMEI number</strong> in the IMEI field of the form<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Fill the form as described in the image below<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Fill-the-form1.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Fill the form" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44305" height="465" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Fill-the-form1.png?resize=536%2C465" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="536" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Check for new mail on the E-mail address you provided in the form above with the subject line “Your requested unlock boot loader key”. Open the mail and you’ll see your bootloader unlock key</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Save your bootloader unlock key in your Notepad, a text file or just anywhere you could remember and refer back quickly.</li>
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Unlocking bootloader using the Unlock Key</h4>
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Now we’ll run some fastboot commands on your PC and for that you’ll need to download some files on your computer. Below is the download link:</div>
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→ <a href="http://d-h.st/Z11" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Download fastboot files</a> (807 KB)</h5>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Extract the fastboot file you downloaded from the link above and open the folder where you extract it</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Now open command window inside the folder. Press “<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Shift + Right click</strong>” on any empty white space inside the folder and then select “<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Open command window here</strong>” option from the context menu<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Open-command-window-inside-the-folder.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Open command window inside the folder" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44335" height="676" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Open-command-window-inside-the-folder.png?resize=800%2C743" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="728" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Now connect your phone in <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">fastboot mode</strong><ol style="box-sizing: border-box; counter-reset: li 0; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 7px 28px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Switch off your phone</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Hold the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Volume UP key</strong> on your phone and connect it to PC using a USB cable</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">The LED notification light on your phone should turn blue. If it doesn’t — do the above step again<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Fastboot-mode-2.jpg" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Fastboot mode 2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44333" height="414" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Fastboot-mode-2.jpg?resize=800%2C487" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="680" /></a></li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">On the command prompt window we opened in Step 2 type the command given below and hit enter. This is to verify that your device has connected properly (check the screenshot below for reference)<pre style="background: url(http://www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/themes/gNex/assets/images/pre.png) repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #21282e; font-family: Consolas, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 40px; margin-top: 45px; overflow: auto; padding: 21px 20px 19px 16px;">fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version</pre>
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<a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Verify-Fastboot.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Verify Fastboot status" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44291" height="157" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Verify-Fastboot.png?resize=790%2C170" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="728" /></a></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Now you’re going to run the main bootloader unlock code. So make sure you’ve backed up your important data on the phone because once you unlock the bootloader every single file on your phone will be deleted<ol style="box-sizing: border-box; counter-reset: li 0; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 7px 28px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Paste/write the following command in the command prompt window. Do NOT hit enter yet<pre style="background: url(http://www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/themes/gNex/assets/images/pre.png) repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #21282e; font-family: Consolas, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 40px; margin-top: 45px; overflow: auto; padding: 21px 20px 19px 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'courier new', courier;">fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY</span></pre>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Replace the last word in the command (KEY) with your bootloader unlock key that you received from Sony via E-mail. Your command should look like this<pre style="background: url(http://www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/themes/gNex/assets/images/pre.png) repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #21282e; font-family: Consolas, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 40px; margin-top: 45px; overflow: auto; padding: 21px 20px 19px 16px;">fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0x636FF374683A24EF</pre>
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<a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Insert-your-bootloader-unlock-key.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Insert your bootloader unlock key" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44293" height="105" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Insert-your-bootloader-unlock-key.png?resize=800%2C123" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="680" /></a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #262626; line-height: inherit;">Important note!</strong> The key used in the command above is for illustration purpose only. You must NOT use this key. Every single device has its own unique bootloader unlocking key.</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Hit enter once you’ve put your unique bootloader unlock key in place</li>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">If the bootloader unlock process goes well. You’ll see a message like this on your command prompt screen<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Bootloader-unlock-successfully-done.png" rel="lightbox" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #33b5e5; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="How to Unlock Bootloader on Sony Xperia Z"><img alt="Bootloader unlock successfully done!" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44292" height="157" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.theandroidsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Bootloader-unlock-successfully-done.png?resize=800%2C173" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 40px 0px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="728" /></a></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 20px; position: relative;">Have fun!</li>
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