[Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini, Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, A] mihahn:
This is a tutorial on how to Unlock the bootloader of xperia devices.

First of all: This will void your warranty and only necessary to install custom kernels or custom roms. If someone told you to unlock the bootloader for rooting, you needn't do that. Just check out my rooting guide here. So let's go on - and - read everything carefully!!!!

I accept no responsibility for any damage of your phone or pc! You do all this on your own risk!

It will void your warranty and you will loose DRM, so you can't use trackid anymore. You mustn't do updates over the air, otherwise your phone will brick!!! You won't be able to update phone via pc companion or sony update service anymore, you will have to flash the rom via flashtool!

Unlocking the bootloader will wipe your /data partition. So please save your personal data before unlocking!

First you check, if your bootloader is unlockable. For that you have to be on stock sony rom. You type: *#*#7378423#*#*

Now you are in the service menu. Go to "Service info" -> Configuration and look at the bootloader status.

If Rooting Status -> Bootloader unlock allowed: yes, you can go on :)

1. Manually like on sony's homepage

2. Automatic with the SE Bootloader Unlocking Tool by quangnhut123

3. Testpoint Method

1. Manually

For this you need the following tools/files/etc:

- Android SDK from here

- Modified android_winusb.inf-file from here

- Fastboot.exe (Just search for it on google for example)

So let's start:

Go here and click yes. After that type in your IMEI. Go to your phone and type *#06#* and you will see your IMEI. Now go back to your browser, type in your Name, Email-adress and your IMEI and click submit.

LEAVE THE WINODW OPEN, IT WILL PROMPT YOUR UNLOCK CODE. Write it down on a piece of paper and lets go on.

Now we will set up android sdk. You install it to the directory you want and start it.

Check your Android Version, the Tools, and from extras the google usb driver and install them.

Now you go to the installation folder and open tools

and paste the fastboot.exe there:

Now you go back to the installation folder and open extras > google. There you paste the modified android_winusb.inf

Now we have everything set up and can go on the phone :good:

Turn off your phone and hold the unlock button (usually the volume up button) and connect to pc. The blue led will light up.

Go on the pc and your pc will ask you for drivers. Point to the android_winusb.inf-file and your phone will be recognized. If not, download flashtool from here and install it. You go to the installation folder and open drivers and install all the drivers provided.

Now we open a command window from windows and go to the installation folder of the android sdk. Then we go in the tools folder. Use the following commands to navigate:

cd .. = one folder up

cd foldername = open folder

dir = show content of the folder

And we can see the fastboot.exe in the tools folder:

Now the unlock process begins, make sure the phone is charged (over 20% is a must have, better fully) ;)

We type in the command window:

fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version

and if we get a value like 0.3 the phone is connected and responsing.

The next step unlocks the bootloader :)

To unlock your bootloader now enter the following code:

fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY

Watch Out: You have to change KEY to the key you got earlier!

If everything goes well, you have an unlocked bootloader now! Congratulations :)

Now we are able to flash a custom kernel/rom, so check this out to know how to install the new kernel/rom ;)

This tutorial is based on the tutorial from sony. I don't own any files and if sony doesn't like me to do this tutorial, please let me know and I will delete this topic!