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How to Root Sony Xperia Z3 Plus: Step-by-Step

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How to Root Sony Xperia Z3 Plus: Step-by-Step

Rooting your Sony Xperia Z3 Plus grants you superuser access to the Android operating system, allowing you to remove bloatware, install custom ROMs, use root-only apps, and tweak system settings for better performance or battery life. This guide walks you through unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recovery, and flashing the SuperSU package to gain root. Before you begin, back up all important data, as the process wipes your device.

What You’ll Need

  • A Sony Xperia Z3 Plus (E6533/E6553) with an unlocked bootloader (see Step 1).
  • A Windows PC (or a Mac with Android SDK tools) and a USB cable.
  • Backup of all personal data (photos, contacts, etc.).
  • Download the following files:
    • Sony USB drivers (from Sony’s official support site).
    • Flashtool (for Windows) or Android SDK platform-tools (for any OS).
    • TWRP recovery image for Z3 Plus (e.g., twrp-3.x.x-xxxx.img).
    • SuperSU ZIP (e.g., BETA-SuperSU-v2.82-20170526223451.zip).
    • ADB and Fastboot binaries (included in platform-tools).
  • Enable Developer Options on your phone (Settings > About > tap Build Number 7 times).
  • Enable USB Debugging (Settings > Developer Options > USB Debugging).

Step-by-Step

  1. Unlock the bootloader – Sony allows bootloader unlocking on most Xperia devices. Go to Sony’s official unlock page, enter your device’s IMEI (dial *#06# to get it), and receive an unlock code. Then, power off your phone, hold Volume Up and connect to PC via USB (this enters fastboot mode). Open a command prompt in the platform-tools folder and run: fastboot oem unlock [YOUR_CODE]. This wipes your device.
  2. Install TWRP recovery – After unlocking, still in fastboot mode, flash TWRP: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-xxxx.img. Then reboot to recovery by holding Volume Down + Power (or via fastboot command fastboot reboot and immediately press Volume Down).
  3. Copy SuperSU to your phone – While in TWRP, select Advanced > ADB Sideload, then on PC run: adb sideload BETA-SuperSU-v2.82-20170526223451.zip. Alternatively, you can push the ZIP to internal storage using adb push filename.zip /sdcard/ before entering recovery.
  4. Flash SuperSU – In TWRP, tap Install, select the SuperSU ZIP, and swipe to confirm flash. Wait for the process to complete.
  5. Reboot and verify root – After flashing, tap Reboot System. Once booted, install a root checker app from the Play Store (like Root Checker) and run it to confirm root access. You should see a SuperSU app in your app drawer.

Common Mistakes

  • Skipping the bootloader unlock – Without unlocking, TWRP and root will not stick. Ensure you have the unlock code and have run the OEM unlock command.
  • Using the wrong TWRP image – The Z3 Plus (E6533/E6553) requires a specific TWRP build; using a Z3 (D6603) image will cause a bootloop.
  • Not enabling USB Debugging – ADB commands will fail if USB Debugging is off. Double-check Developer Options.
  • Forgetting to back up – Bootloader unlock wipes data; not backing up means permanent loss of photos, messages, etc.
  • Interrupting the flash – Do not unplug the USB cable during flashing; it can brick the device.

Tips

  • Use a high-quality USB cable and a direct USB port on your PC to avoid connection drops.
  • Keep your phone charged above 70% to prevent shutdown during flashing.
  • If you plan to install custom ROMs later, consider backing up your TA partition (DRM keys) before unlocking, as unlocking permanently loses them.
  • After rooting, you can install Magisk instead of SuperSU for systemless root, which is easier to hide from banking apps.
  • Always download files from XDA Developers or official sources to avoid malware.

Troubleshooting

  • Fastboot device not recognized – Install Sony USB drivers, try another USB port, or use a different cable. On Windows, check Device Manager for unknown devices.
  • Bootloop after flashing – Boot into TWRP (Volume Down + Power), wipe cache/dalvik, and reboot. If still stuck, reflash the SuperSU ZIP and then wipe cache again.
  • Root checker says no root – Reboot into recovery and reflash SuperSU, ensuring you selected the correct ZIP. Also, verify that the bootloader is indeed unlocked (fastboot getvar unlocked).
  • ADB sideload fails with ‘device not found’ – Ensure USB Debugging is enabled, and the phone is in TWRP’s sideload mode. Run adb devices to see if it lists as ‘sideload’.
  • Phone stuck at Sony logo – This often indicates a corrupted boot image. Reflash the stock firmware using Flashtool (download the appropriate FTF for your model) and start over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does rooting void my warranty?

Yes, unlocking the bootloader and rooting will void your Sony warranty. You can restore it by relocking the bootloader and flashing stock firmware, but the TA partition (DRM keys) will remain lost.

Will I still receive OTA updates after rooting?

No, OTA updates will fail because the system partition is modified. You’ll need to flash updates manually via TWRP or use a custom ROM that supports OTA.

Can I unroot later?

Yes, you can unroot by flashing the stock firmware via Flashtool. This will also relock the bootloader if you run the fastboot lock command, but it won’t restore DRM keys.

Is rooting safe for my data?

The process itself is safe if followed correctly, but the bootloader unlock wipes your device. Always back up before starting.

Will rooting improve battery life?

It can, if you use root apps like Greenify or amplify wakelocks. However, poorly configured root apps can also drain battery faster. It’s not guaranteed.

Can I use banking apps after rooting?

Many banking apps detect root and refuse to work. You can try hiding root with Magisk’s MagiskHide, but some apps still detect it. SuperSU does not have a reliable hide feature.

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