How to root Sony Xperia ion LTE (LT28at, lt28i)

Labels: Sony, Xperia ion LTE

Posted by Unknown at 2:58 AM

Jelly Bean FTF now available: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...
DE-SELECT baseband if flashing the ah version onto an LTE phone.
Jelly Bean root for (some) Xperia devices: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...

2012-12-19 UPDATE: Xperia Ion LT28i/LT28h, 6.1.E.3.7, pre-rooted, any bootloader: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...

2012-09-14 UPDATE: There's now a direct ICS/JB rooting method courtesy of the one and only Bin4ry: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...


In this video, I show how to update the Xperia Ion (AT&T LT28at, Rogers LT28i, LT28h, etc.) to Ice Cream Sandwich as well as root using a method similar to the Xperia S. This method works on ANY bootloader (locked, unlocked).

Original Xperia S ICS update and rooting video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJFVd...

The detailed guide is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...
READ THE GUIDE BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS!

To use this method, you MUST be running an original/stock GINGERBREAD firmware (v2.3.x). If your device already has Ice Cream Sandwich, flash it back to Gingerbread.
You also require all of the following:
- FlashTool: http://androxyde.github.com/
- rooting toolkit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...
- an ICS firmware (as of 2012-08-18, only a Chinese ICS firmware has been released -- however, ANY Ion firmware can be flashed onto ANY other Ion including full HSPA (3.5/H), LTE support): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...
- an original Gingerbread firmware to flash back the radio for 3G/LTE support: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showt...

As always, you MUST have BOTH Sony PC Companion and Update Service installed for your computer to recognize the phone (much easier than installing the Android SDK):
PC Companion: http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/tools/pc...
Update Service: http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/tools/up...
Mirror: http://jp1.ca/androidstuff

While this method shouldn't wipe any user data, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS backup your phone before modifying it. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
SMS Backup+: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...
SMS Backup/Restore: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

To get into flash mode, turn OFF the phone, hold the VOLUME DOWN button and plug in the phone.

For 3G/HSPA/LTE settings, make sure you write down or backup you APN settings: http://www.osimood.com/2012/05/news-a...

Once the phone is rooted, you can remove/reinstall the Japanese & Chinese keyboards using SuperManager: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

Device Available on AT&T as Sony as Sony Xperia ion LT28at
Also known as Xperia ion LTE lt28i