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How To Root The Sony Xperia E3 (D2203)

[box type=”warning”] We no longer maintain rooting guides on our blog. This means that your phone might not be compatible with this guide. If you’re not sure, please consult our rooting team, who will root your phone, and install FlexiSPY for you, for a fee.
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This guide will show you how to root the Sony Xperia E3 smartphone

Disclaimer: FlexiSPY is not responsible for rooting the Android device in any way, before performing any of these steps make sure you back up your Android device completely. Rooting is done entirely by you at your own risk.

This process will DELETE ALL DATA on the phone – proceed at your own risk.

What is needed to root the Sony Xperia E3 (D2203)?

To root the Sony Xperia E3 you will need the following:

  • The Sony Xperia E3 you wish to root
  • Access to a PC

Step 1 – Unlock the bootloader of the Sony Xperia E3 (D2203)

In order to root the device you must first unlock the bootloader. To do that follow the instructions here.

Not all devices can have their bootloader unlocked. If your bootloader cannot be unlocked then the device cannot be rooted at this time.

Once you have unlocked your bootloader successfully move to the next step.

Step 2 – Download the Sony Xperia E3 flash tool

Download the Sony Xperia E3 flash tool to your PC and save it in a convenient location such as your desktop. Once downloaded extract it to its own folder. You can get it from here.

Step 3 – Download and install Java on to your PC

So that the flash tool works you must download and install Java on to your PC which you can get from here.

Step 4 – Install the USB drivers for the Sony Xperia E3 using the Flash tool

Browse to the folder you created in step 1 and run Flashtool-drivers.exe and follow the steps to install the USB drivers for the device.

Step 5 – Check the model of the device before proceeding

This root method only works if the model of the device is D2203.

DO NOT PERFORM THIS ROOT METHOD ON A SONY XPERIA E3 WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL NUMBER.

If the model number matches proceed to the next step.

Step 6 – Download the image file for the Sony Xperia E3 (D2203)

In order to root the device you will flash to it an image file. To download the image file for the Sony Xperia E3 (D2203) click here. Save the image file to an easy to find location on your PC such as the desktop. There is no need to extract the file.

Step 7 – Download SuperSU

You will also need to manually copy the SuperSU program to the device after rooting it. You can download the file from here. Save it to an easy to find location on your PC such as the desktop. There is no need to extract the file.

Connect the device to your PC and copy the SuperSU zip file to it in an easy to find location such as the Downloads folder.

Step 8 – Run the Flash tool

On your PC run the Flash Tool from step 2 (make sure you run it with Administrative Rights on your PC).

Step 9 – Prepare the device

On the device itself hold down the volume up button and then connect it to your PC. If the device is correctly recognised the flash tool should say ‘Device is connected in flash mode’.

Step 10 – Boot the device in to Fastboot mode

Inside the Flash Tool click the flash button (the lightning bolt).

Make sure Fastboot Mode is selected and then click OK.

Click the Selected Kernel to Flash option and browse to the image file you saved to your PC from step 6.

MAKE SURE THE IMAGE FILE MATCHES THE MODEL NUMBER OF YOUR DEVICE!

Select the image file from step 6.

Wait for the process to complete.

Step 11 – Install SuperSU

Press and hold down the power button on the device until a purple light appears on the device. When this happens keep pressing volume up and volume down, one after the other, until the device boots in to recovery mode.

Whilst in recovery mode navigate to Install Zip and then select Choose Zip From and browse to the SuperSU zip file you copied to the device in step 7 and agree to unzip it.

On the device, exit recovery mode and, inside the Flash Tool on your PC (remember, the device should still be connected to your PC at all times during this procedure) click the Fix Root option and then reboot the device.

Once the device reboots (this may take a while – please be patient) you should now see SuperSU installed meaning that you have successfully rooted the device.

Comments

22 responses to “How To Root The Sony Xperia E3 (D2203)

  1. Daniel C Avatar
    Daniel C

    Epic Guide

    I can confirm that this guide has definatly worked for me for my Xperia E3 once I had unlocked the boot loader with Sony developer website.
    Many thanks

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      Awesome! Glad everything worked out!

  2. Galus Avatar
    Galus

    Hello I have tried this method, but have unfortunately choosen the wrong image file, and now my phone wont turn on. Is there any chance of fixing the phone.
    Thanks

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      Hi Galus,

      We’re looking into trying to find a fix for you. Is it still stuck though?

  3. Ayham Avatar
    Ayham

    well to be honest it really looooooong way BUT IT’S WORKING
    “be careful when doing the steps”

  4. dwayne Avatar
    dwayne

    hi where is the fit root option please

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      Hello Dwayne.

      Inside the root tool on your PC, providing you have followed the preceding steps, the option ‘Fix Root’ will be visible for you to click on and complete the process.

      Thanks for contacting us.

  5. LuisMadrid Avatar
    LuisMadrid

    Hello! Can’t find the E3 Flashtool drivers anywhere…how could you root it without them?

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      Hello.

      Please try installing the drivers from the driver pack here:

      http://doomlord.xperia-files.com/?dlid=Rmxhc2h0b29sLWRyaXZlcnMtMS41LTIwMTQwMzE4

      After that try the guide again.

  6. Ryhldion Avatar
    Ryhldion

    Hello, thank you for you guide, i’m new to the rooting thingy, and i would like to know if the android version of the phone matters.
    I’m running with android 4.4.4. and i’m wondering if this guide is still up to date.
    Thank you for you time.

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      This guide was for 4.4.2, so it won’t work.
      If you’re an expert with the Android SDK, then you can try using this guide (we haven’t tried it ourselves, so no guarantee’s)

  7. Wayne Avatar
    Wayne

    Hi done it all correct but when turning phone on it blinks purple and says on on Sony logo please help

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      Does everything appear normal besides the logo?

  8. PixlNirvana Avatar
    PixlNirvana

    Does camera work after rooting and unlocking bootloader? I heard that unlocking bootloader breaks camera so it don’t works anymore. Thats only one reason i’m scared about rooting.
    Thanks for reply 🙂

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      It worked on our device, but we can’t guarantee that it’ll work on yours.

  9. Aleks Avatar
    Aleks

    Hi

    exactly which drivers should I install for my E3 4.4.2?
    I run on Windows 8 64 bit PC for this operation.

    When I try to install the first 2 drivers on the list it fails and I cannot find a driver for the e3.

    1. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

      If you’re having trouble with the rooting process, we now recommend that you try spyphonereviews rooting partner out – http://bitly.com/flexiroot

  10. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

    We’d like to help you out, but first we recommend that you try out our rooting partner – perfectroot

  11. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

    A large SD card or Microsd card ought to do it..

  12. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

    Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, we don’t know what is wrong with your phone. If it’s under warranty, giving it to Sony for repair may be your best option.

  13. FlexiSPYBlog Avatar

    Hi Don,

    For assistance with rooting your phone, you can speak with one of our rooting team members by visiting our website and taking advantage of our worry-free installation service : https://www.flexispy.com/en/flexispy-remote-installation-service-standalone.htm#

  14. Ahmed attari Avatar
    Ahmed attari

    Nice

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