[Xperia Z5 General] _LLJY:
Hey friends! I was looking at this thread: http://xdaforums.com/xperia-z5/general/guide-rooting-unlocking-bootloader-t3354307 and I decided to create my own thread about the same topic, however this thread is much more simplified and is for those people who are new to rooting Xperia smartphones.

So without further ado here are the steps

Part One: downloading prerequisites

in order to flash .ftf firmware files to downgrade your phone to lollipop for TA backup you will need.

1. Java JDK :

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

2. XperiFirm(not neccesary if you plan to stay on LP)

http://xdaforums.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/pc-xperifirm-xperia-firmware-downloader-t2834142

3. Flashtool

http://www.flashtool.net/downloads.php

4. Android SDK

http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html#downloads

5. iovyroot(not necessary if you do not want to backup DRM)

http://xdaforums.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/iovyroot-temp-root-tool-t3349597

other prerequisites:

Patience

Mountain Dew or Starbucks

A small bit of knowledge on command line interfaces

Part Two: Downloading firmware

1. Open up XperiFirm

2. Select your device from the list

3. Select your model number(can be checked in Settings > about phone > Model Number

4. Pick your country and carrier(does'nt really matter, best firmware to use is UK customised and Singapore customised)

5. Click the latest release in 'available releases'

6. A dialogue should pop up, tick 'automatic unpack'

7. Wait for download to complete

Part 2.5: Creating FTF

Open up Flashtool

1. Click on tools > bundles > Create

2. Select the firmware folder

3. Double click on the Device section and select your device

4. Type in the firmware build number(at the end of the folder name) as for branding type in the country and carrier from which you downloaded the firmware from.

5. Go to file explorer and delete 'fwinfo.xml' from the firmware folder

6. IMPORTANT DO NOT TRANSFER THE FILES WITH A .TA FILE EXTENSION IT WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE with that disclaimer out of the way go back to flashtool, transfer all the files using the arrows (except those with a .ta file extension)

7. Click create, you should be able to sit back and relax while it does its thing

Part Three: Downgrading firmware

Download the firmware here: http://www.xperiablog.net/forum/resources/xperia-z5_e6653_32-0-a-6-152_central-europe-5_generic.477/

1. Place the file in c: Users/*account name*/.flashtool/firmwares

Open up Flashtool

2. Press the lightning bolt icon

3. Choose Flashmode and click ok

4. choose the firmware you downloaded(Do not choose the one you created)

5. Tick "user data" in the box at the top right hand corner

6. Press flash and wait

Part Four: DRM backup and unlock

1.Extract iovyroot

2. make sure USB debugging and unknown sources are enabled

3. Open up backupdrm.bat and wait

4. make sure there are no errors before proceeding(this usually takes a couple of tries)

5. IMPORTANT keep a safe online backup of your DRM keys.

6. Open up flashtool

7. click on BLU

8. Go to http://developer.sonymobile.com/unlockbootloader/unlock-yourboot-loader/

9. Select your device and follow the instructions

9. after getting the unlock key, paste it inside the BLU dialogue in flashtool

10. wait, then profit!

11. now flash the .FTF that you created

12. boot your device into fastboot(plug in power cable and press vol down when your phone is switched off)

13. Download androplus kernel v23 and above from here: https://kernel.andro.plus/

14. Extract boot.img and put it in the android SDK inside of 'platform-tools'

15. Press shift+right click inside of the same folder

be sure to install xperia z5 fastboot drivers)

16. click 'open command window here'

17. run fastboot devices and make sure it detects your device

18. run this command here : fastboot flash boot boot.img

19. Reboot and DONE