Posted on Jun 14 2014 - 12:31am by Shem

Ever wished you could unleash the full potential of your Sony Xperia Z1? With root access you will be able to install various mods and try custom roms that could potentially make your device run a lot faster and also extend the battery life.  If you wished you could have 4K recording and the cool Timeshift Video known from Xperia Z2 thanks to various developers that will be possible as well.  So what are you waiting for?

Sony recently rolled android 4.4.2 14.3.A.0.761 firmware update on Xperia Z1 and if you are looking for a method to root Xperia Z1 we have got one. This rooting method does not require unlocking of the bootloader and you will be able to easily revert to stock. Kindly note rooting voids warranty and as soon as you revert back to original firmware you get warranty back.

[VIDEO] Root Xperia Z1

Before we start

  • This guide will remove all data on your phone so make sure you perform a BACKUP first!
  • Answers to most commonly asked questions to root Xperia Z1 ( FAQ ) can be found in below video.

Necessary downloads:

  1. Xperia Z1 Drivers, download here.
  2. Newest FLASHTOOL, download here.
  3. Newest Recovery installer by NUT (file name: Z1-lockeddualrecovery(…)installer.zip ), Download here.
  4. Any .534 firmware corresponding to your model number from here, get from here.
  5. Check your phone model by going to Settings > About Phone > Model Number and download the right files from below:

C6902 files:

Flashable zip – C6902_14.3.A.0.757.flashable.zip

Stripped ftf – C6902_14.3.A.0.757_Stripped.ftf

C6903 files:

Flashable zip  – C6903_14.3.A.0.757.flashable.zip

Stripped ftf – C6903_14.3.A.0.757_Stripped.ftf

14.3.A.0.761 firmware files, get them here.

C6906 files:

Flashable zip – C6906_14.3.A.0.757.flashable.zip

Stripped ftf – C6906_14.3.A.0.757_Stripped.ftf

C6943 files:

Flashable zip – C6943_14.3.A.0.757.flashable.zip

Stripped ftf – C6943_14.3.A.0.757_Stripped.ftf

If in any doubt to root Xperia Z1 kindly put your comments below XDA user shem2409 will surely answer it. Drop your comments below.

Source – XDA, Thanks to [NUT]RyokonRHBH



About the Author

Medical Student from Poland, YouTuber and Tech Reviewer who loves everything about Android. Active Xda-Developers forum member (shem2409) that can't live without root and the newest mods. Loves Sony Xperia "Z" series. Follow him at Twitter.

31 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Henrique June 14, 2014 at 3:31 am - Reply

    Great Tutorial,I rooted my Z1(C6943) and install 4K video and timeshift video with tutorial XDA.Sorry my english,I’m brazilian.

  2. Saleh Zwai June 14, 2014 at 6:08 am - Reply

    I’ve only 1 Q: Will I still receive updates OTA after rooting?

  3. Vikash Anand June 14, 2014 at 3:34 pm - Reply

    Hi Anurag,
    How can I update my Xperia ION in 4.4?

  4. Saleh Zwai June 15, 2014 at 5:55 am - Reply

    I’m confused about 761 files that I should download! There are many links in the xda page…my phone is on 757 BTW.

    • Shem June 15, 2014 at 4:03 pm - Reply

      .761 is a very insignificant update and [NUT], the developer of the method decided that he is not going to waste his time on preparing all the modded files.
      There is a link to c6903 flashable files above. They are not available for any other model version.
      I would advise you to just get root and recovery on .757.

  5. csk June 15, 2014 at 7:31 am - Reply

    will it work on unlocked bootloader

    • Shem June 15, 2014 at 4:00 pm - Reply

      This method is for a locked bootloader. It should also work on unlocked but the question is why would you go through all this trouble if you can just flash a custom kernel and get root and recovery immediately in one step.

  6. RV June 16, 2014 at 7:38 pm - Reply

    1 Q: Is the same process for z1c?? just need change files?

    • Shem June 16, 2014 at 7:40 pm - Reply

      No, there is a more complicated method for Z1C. You can find a video on my (SHEM) YouTube channel. I am still waiting to varify that it works without problems and I shall place it on Gizmo Bolt soon

      • RV June 16, 2014 at 9:21 pm - Reply

        Thanks, then i´ll wait for the video.

  7. frank June 17, 2014 at 1:25 pm - Reply

    Great tutorial, worked like a charme, first time root on my C6903 Z1. Thanks.

  8. Aamir June 26, 2014 at 11:09 pm - Reply

    ERROR – invalid stored block lengths while flashing .534
    What to do?

  9. Felipe June 27, 2014 at 4:03 am - Reply

    I’m looking for 14.3.A.0.761 for C6943.. Can you help me where can I find it. thanks

    • Shem June 27, 2014 at 4:35 am - Reply

      You can find a list of all FTF’s here. Try to install .757 Generic for C6943 and you should get an update notification for .761. There is no flashable zip prepared for .761 firmware. It is a minor update and does not bring any significant improvements

  10. Eduardo July 3, 2014 at 10:29 am - Reply

    I downloaded the ftf for my z1 (C6906), the only one posted (CA ROGERS), but its recognized by flashtool as a C6909 ftf. I tried looking for others .534 ftf but amazingly they´re only available for c6902 and c6909, so i don´t know what to do. If you could please link me to a working C6906 .534 FTF i would really appreciate it. Thank you very much

  11. fiiish July 5, 2014 at 9:06 pm - Reply

    I have read that some methods of rooting the Z1 will mess with the camera operation. Anyone have comments on their experiences?

    thanks
    fiiish

    • harsha July 6, 2014 at 12:10 am - Reply

      just rooted now. i tested no problem in camera every thing normal ,effects are working too, no force close.

  12. harsah July 6, 2014 at 12:05 am - Reply

    Awesome thanks a lot sir, rooted successfully. the only time took in the process is in installing the sony drivers .inf finally figured it out and rooted.

  13. Eduardo July 8, 2014 at 1:04 pm - Reply

    Thanks a lot, i rooted my terminal at last.
    IMPORTANT: Now pc companion offers me the update from .757 to .108. Will we lose root ?
    In some forums they´re saying that sometimes root doesn´t fade after a stock updates, but some says that it does.
    Thanks!

  14. Eduardo July 8, 2014 at 1:07 pm - Reply

    I finally rooted. Thank you very much.
    IMPORTANT: Now PC companion is offering me an update from our rooted .757 to stock .108. Will I lose root after updating ?
    Some guys says it updated without losing it, but others say they did lose it, so i don´t know. Thanks.

  15. Eduardo July 8, 2014 at 1:15 pm - Reply

    Hello, i rooted succesfully, with no camera problems. I also flashed 4k and timeshift video perfectly, and it runs smoothly on a class 10 sd.
    Now Pc companion offered me the .108 stock update, and i want it ! Will i lose my root for updating? Some people say you won´t from .757 to .108, but others say you will. Regards!

    • Shem July 9, 2014 at 2:24 pm - Reply

      Yes, you will loose root if you update using PC Companion. There are now prerooted files available for .108 firmware.

      Go to the video description on Youtube and you can download them there. Once you have the flashable.zip and stripped FTF, flash the .108 flashable zip in recovery and then without rebooting, power off the device and flash the stripped FTF.
      This will not wipe data on your device.

  16. Eduardo July 8, 2014 at 11:03 pm - Reply

    Sorry for the message storm, the site didn´t refreshed properly =P.

  17. Eduardo July 9, 2014 at 10:21 am - Reply

    Shem, please answer…

  18. Helmar August 15, 2014 at 12:57 am - Reply

    Shem… you´re my last hope to solve this. I have a C6943 w/ .757 Firmware. After rooting using Towelroot tr.apk my calendar doesn’t sync. This is the most important app for my day-to-day activities. Please help me. Resetting factory installation also doesn’t work. If I follow through this process will I be able to solve this problem?

    Thanks a lot

    • Shem August 15, 2014 at 1:01 am - Reply

      Your calendar app not synching has nothing to do with root access. Most likely the synchronization for the app is switched off. What calendar app are you using? Try to clear data for the app and check your synch options.

  19. Helmar August 15, 2014 at 1:14 am - Reply

    Thanks for replying Shem. Forgive my terrible English I’m a Brazilian guy. The calendar issue started after rotting my phone. I already have tried to clear app data, clear account, reset to factory settings, reinstall calendar app. I use aCalendar+ but the app just uses the Google Calendar sync settings so I think it doesn’t matter what app I choose to manage my calendars, the sync problem is in my account. Something is strange in my phone because although Root Checker says me that I’m running as root I can’t overwrite any file at \system\app neither uninstall pre-installed apps using Clean Master i.e.: Facebook Xperia. Should my phone rooted or not? Any tip will be welcome. Thank you

    • Shem August 15, 2014 at 1:19 am - Reply

      I am not sure where the problem is coming from. Are you sure that the app itself (aCalendar+) has not been updated recently? Maybe it is something to do with the app and not with the state of your device.
      If Root Checker states that you have root than 99.9% you do. You might need to update binaries inside your SuperSU or SuperUser apps. If you want to overwrite files in system/app you need to use a root capable File Manager such as Root Browser. Normal file managers will not work

      For uninstalling apps try System App Remover: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jumobile.manager.systemapp

  20. Helmar August 15, 2014 at 1:57 am - Reply

    aCalendar+ has nothing to do with it. The problem is that Calendar even doesn’t appears in my sync account screen. The Account screen that shows Sync App Data, Sync Chrome, Sync Gmail, etc… there is no Sync Calendar there like used to have before. It’s like if the phone doesn’t recognizes the installed Google Calendar app. If I install aCalendar+ and try to
    How do I update the binaries inside my SuperSU?
    Thanks in advice

  21. Helmar August 15, 2014 at 1:58 am - Reply

    I’ve cut the message above. Sorry. If I install aCalendar+ and try to sync from it it shows me no calendar on calendar list.

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