[Sony Xperia M] SharpnShiny:
Hi guys,

Get Jellybean 4.3 now without unlocking the bootloader. No major hacking, you only need root.

If you haven't received the 4.3 Jellybean update yet then you can switch a region code in your phone to get it via PC Companion or Sony Update Service. You do not need to unlock the bootloader for this, so this is a very safe method.

I bought my phone in Germany. The 4.3 update is not available yet for Germany models as you can see in the image underneath here. I checked for a country with the 4.3 update available, changed the SI and now I have the update (no more need to wait or click check new update on PC Companion 50,000 times which nearly drove me mad).

Pick the code of one of the countries that has the 4.3 update and use it to get 4.3.

These are called SI codes. If you want to do this, you do it via a file called the build.prop which is found in device/system/build.prop. You need root before you can edit this file. This file tells the update program like PCC or SUS which region your software is. If you change the codes in this, you tell PCC or SUS to install/repair/update to a different region - of your choosing. You should always create a backup copy of your build.prop as it is an essential file related to how your phone works. This is a fairly safe thing to do, this has been done for years in the Xperia sections of phones from 2010-2013, we've done it ever year when new Sony updates were available.

Note:

Changing or modifying a phone in any way has the possibility of damage. Adding other modifications to your phone increases the chance of issues relating to freezing, booting, rebooting, bricking. If you choose to modify your phone, know the risks and understand the proceedure! You are responsible for your own phone, as is normal with these mods.

How to Edit the Software Region Codes

Safety level: Easy

To change your region codes, you need to open the build.prop file and edit three files:

ro.product.name

ro.semc.version.cust

ro.semc.version.cust_revision

So I bought my Xperia M in Germany, so it has German/European software and is unbranded. My codes from above read like this:

ro.product.name=C1905_1274-5576

ro.semc.version.cust=1274-5576

ro.semc.version.cust_revision=R1A

If you wish to switch to the German unbranded then you simply change your codes to these above. You click save, then you restart your phone. When you connect your phone to SUS or PCC it will recognise it as German unbranded and update/repair using that new software.

I have started requesting users to post their codes (called SI codes or customization codes) to create a list which users can use to choose their new software.

If you have any questions ask them! Please mention your SI code to add it to the list! Have fun!

Europe

Germany unbranded 1274-5576_R1A (C1905)

UK unbranded 1274-5523_R3A (C1905)

Poland unbranded 1274-5505_R1A (C1905)

Asia

India unbanded 1274-3888_R7A (C1904)

Hong Kong 3 network (no obvious branding) 1274-8182_R4A (C1905)

Vietnam (branding unknown) 1274-5468_R3A

Russia

Unbranded 1274-5551_R3A (C1905)

Narnia/Mordor/Hogwarts

branded fawn/elf/wizard 1234-5678_A12 (C1904)

How to Quickly View the Codes Without Editing

If you want a quick way to find the codes in your phone, you can find them via a service menu:

1. Open the dialler app, type *#*#7378423#*#* (It is SERVICE in text speak)

2. You will see a Sony service menu on your phone.

3. Go to service info, software info, you will see 'Customization version'.

4. Please do mention model info e.g. C1904/C1905 that may be important later.