How to Root the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V (MT11i) running Android 4.0.4 with a locked bootloader

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo recently got updated to Android 4.0 and while that is great news, it broke root access for many users.  This guide will show you how to fix that and regain root – read on to know how.

I.  Before You Begin

1.  This procedure works on the Xperia Neo V with a locked bootloader running Android 4.0.4.  If you have an unlocked bootloader, look to our post on the same to know how to root it.

2.  Remember to back up your data before you proceed any further!

3.  Make sure you have set up ADB before you proceed with this guide.  If you haven’t, read up on our post on how to do this.

II.  Necessary Downloads

1.  .431 Firmware (download the .431 ftf firmware for your device and save it to your computer)

2.  Flashtool v0.8.6.0.

3. .562 Kernel tft (download the .562 ftf firmware for your device and save it to your computer)

3. Root zip (download the .zip file under downloads)

III.  Flashing the .431 Firmware

1.  Double-click on flashtool .exe you downloaded above and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

2.  Copy  both .ftf files you downloaded above to C:\Flashtool\firmwares on your harddrive.

3.  Open the Flashtool application after installation and click on the Flash icon (the one with the thunder symbol).

4.  You should be presented with two options:  Flashmode and Fastboot Mode.  Select Flashmode.

5.  Choose the kernel with the version number .431 in it and click on OK.  Follow the on-screen instructions on how to boot your device into fasboot mode and connect your device. Also, make sure”No Final Verification” is marked

6.  Reboot device.

This will have flashed your kernel back to .431 which is rootable.

IV.  Flashing the MT11i_4.1.A.0.562 Kernel

1.  Follow the same steps as described in Section III above until Step 5.

2.  On Step 5, select MT11i_4.1.A.0.562 instead of MT11i_4.1.B.0.431.

3.  Continue with the rest of the steps as in Section III.

You should now have an Xperia Neo running the .431 firmware but running a .562 kernel.

V.  Rooting the Xperia Neo V

1.  Enable USB Debugging on your device.  You can do this by heading to Settings > Applications > USB Debugging and checking the tickbox next to it.

2.  Enable installation of non-Market applications.  To do this, go to Settings > Applications and check the Unknown Sources tickbox.

3.  Connect your device to your Windows PC.

4.  Extract the DooMLoRD_v1_Xperia-2011-ICS-ROOT-emu-busybox-su.zip that you downloaded above to a folder on your desktop.

5.  From the extracted folder, double-click on runme.bat to run the DooMLoRD tool.

6.  Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the process to be complete (your device will reboot several times during the procedure).

All credit goes to Madfysh on XDA for providing us the stock kernels and to DooMLoRD for working on the root tool!  Donate or thank them if you liked their work!!

VI. Flash a Custom Recovery (Optional)

1. To flash a custom recovery, head to our recovery procedure here.

This is part of our Android How To’s. We have how to’s on rooting, loading ROMs, and tons of other tips and tricks for your specific device or for Android devices in general! For all of our Android How To’s, head here.

94 thoughts on “How to Root the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V (MT11i) running Android 4.0.4 with a locked bootloader”

  1. Which is the latest MT11i_4.1.A.0.562 and MT11i_4.1.B.0.431 because after I upgraded to ICS 4.0.4 from sony it show MT11i_4.1.B.0.431?

    1. MT11i_4.1.A.0.562 is the latest , unfortunately i am having the same issue… my phone is rooted and is not getting flashed to the latest kernel even thought he flash tool says its done , on the phone settings it still shows MT11i_4.1.B.0.431

  2. I have MT11i_4.1.B.0.431 installed, but when I run DoomLord script it says it cannot copy needed files and change permissions. Any idea why?

  3. Ok, I restarted Windows and I managed to root my phone, but still cannot flash MT11i_4.1.A.0.562 in the 5th step.

  4. My xperia neo v flashed with MT11i_4.1.A.0.562…but doomlord not copying the file and my device is not rooted …what i do?..sorry for bad english…plz do some thing anybody

  5. This is wat i got wen i used the rooting kit my phone is not able to gain root acces.
    —————————————————————
    Xperia 2011 ICS Easy Rooting toolkit (v1.0)
    created by DooMLoRD
    “andorid emulator” trick
    Credits go to all those involved in making this possible!
    —————————————————————
    [*] This script will:
    (1) root ur device using “andorid emulator” trick
    (2) install Busybox (1.18.4)
    (3) install SU files (ICS specific)
    (4) do some checks for free space, tmp directory
    (will remove Google Maps if required)
    [*] Before u begin:
    (1) make sure u have installed adb drivers for ur device
    (2) enable “USB DEBUGGING”
    from (Menu\Settings\Developer Options\Development)
    (3) enable “UNKNOWN SOURCES”
    from (Menu\Settings\Security)
    (4) [OPTIONAL] increase screen timeout to 10 minutes
    (5) connect USB cable to PHONE and then connect to PC
    (6) skip “PC Companion Software” prompt on device
    —————————————————————
    CONFIRM ALL THE ABOVE THEN
    Press any key to continue . . .
    — STARTING —-
    — WAITING FOR DEVICE
    * daemon not running. starting it now *
    * daemon started successfully *
    — creating temporary directory
    mkdir failed for tmp, File exists
    — cleaning
    — symlinking tmp directory
    failed on ‘/data/local/tmp’ – Permission denied
    link failed File exists
    — Rebooting
    — WAITING FOR DEVICE TO RECONNECT
    — PLEASE WAIT, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE
    if it gets stuck over here for a long time then try:
    disconnect usb cable and reconnect it
    toggle “USB DEBUGGING” (first disable it then enable it)
    — DEVICE FOUND
    — enabling emulator hack
    /system/bin/sh: cannot create /data/local.prop: Permission denied
    — Rebooting
    — WAITING FOR DEVICE TO RECONNECT
    — PLEASE WAIT, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE
    if it gets stuck over here for a long time then try:
    disconnect usb cable and reconnect it
    toggle “USB DEBUGGING” (first disable it then enable it)
    — DEVICE FOUND
    — pushing busybox
    3669 KB/s (1075144 bytes in 0.286s)
    — correcting permissions
    — remounting /system
    mount: permission denied (are you root?)
    — checking free space on /system
    73 KB/s (439 bytes in 0.005s)
    — Free space on /system : 66392 bytes
    — no cleanup required
    — copying busybox to /system/xbin/
    /system/xbin/busybox: cannot open for write: Read-only file system
    — correcting ownership
    Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory
    — correcting permissions
    Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory
    — installing busybox
    /system/bin/sh: /system/xbin/busybox: not found
    — pushing SU binary
    failed to copy ‘files\su’ to ‘/system/bin/su’: Read-only file system
    — correcting ownership
    Unable to chmod /system/bin/su: Read-only file system
    — correcting permissions
    Unable to chmod /system/bin/su: Read-only file system
    — correcting symlinks
    rm failed for /system/xbin/su, Read-only file system
    link failed File exists
    — pushing Superuser app
    failed to copy ‘files\Superuser.apk’ to ‘/system/app/./Superuser.apk’: Read-only
    file system
    — cleaning
    rm failed for /data/local.prop, No such file or directory
    rm failed for /data/local/tmp, Permission denied
    failed on ‘/data/local/tmp.bak’ – No such file or directory
    — rebooting
    ALL DONE!!!
    Press any key to continue . . .

    1. Can anyone answer the above post? That happened also to me after following the steps. I’ve downloaded Root Checker Pro and confirmed that SuperUser and busy box was installed but the problems is that SU binary not found or not operating properly. Please do answer. Thanks a lot if someone responded.

  6. while updating my phone the power was suddenly off now what i have to do it not working and showing an empty symbol

  7. thank you man!……you should specify to install flashtool drivers…..and also only 562 version supports doomlord

  8. Hello Sir,
    Can you please suggest me that how may i suppose to reboot my Neo V as it is not working. it got hanged and now i am not able to unlock the screen even. i opened the battery ,sim ,memory card but its not reacting but on other side i am able to recieve calls on it but couldnot answer it so what should i do now?

    1. are you saying all this happened after you followed the procedure above or is this an entirely different problem? as far as I know, rooting your device should not cause the problems you are facing.

  9. Hello i followed the procedure several times the problem is my kernel is flashed but in the flashtool it says phone will reboot and it doesn then it again says for flashtool unknown sources and debugging must be checked in and phone connected in flash mode ive checked both the setting of debuggin and unknown sources still cannot flash the kernel ive officially updated to 4.0.4 .431 firmware plz help

  10. I FLASHED THE FIRMWARE AS WELL AS THE KERNEL BUT WHEN I USED THE ROOTING TOOLKIT ITS SHOWING
    adb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully */system/xbin/busybox: cannot open for write: Read-only file system— correcting ownershipadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory— correcting permissionsadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *Unable to chmod /system/xbin/busybox: No such file or directory— installing busyboxadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully */system/bin/sh: /system/xbin/busybox: not foundadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *— pushing SU binaryadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *failed to copy ‘filessu’ to ‘/system/bin/su’: Read-only file system— correcting ownershipadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *Unable to chmod /system/bin/su: No such file or directory— correcting permissionsadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *Unable to chmod /system/bin/su: No such file or directory— correcting symlinksadb server is out of date. killing…* daemon started successfully *rm failed for /system/xbin/su, Read-only file systemadb server is out of date. killing…
    AT THE END NOTHING HAPPENS AND MY PHONE IS STILL UNROOTED….WHAT SHOULD I DO???..PLS HELP

    1. Mahesh Makvana

      Make sure that you’ve setup ADB properly and everything’s working fine. Then, try rooting your phone again.

      1. Hw can I check if my adb is working properly…i installed adb dummies.exe from xda n an adb kit came with flashtool

    1. follow the DoomLorD link in the post above for the updated procedure, which works on both locked and unlocked bootloaders, gody!

  11. I am having the same problem as sachin, getting the same error. I checked and verfied that adb drivers are properly installed. still its not working, I rooted my GB within 5 mins using Doomlord’s kit, but now for this ICS Shit, its just not working.

    Please suggest

  12. I followed the instructions to a tee but now my xperia neo only shows the Sony and Xperia logos with a black background and it wont turn on…..HELP!!!

    1. did this happen after you completed everything or somewhere during the procedure? at exactly what step did this happen Rachel?

  13. cant get to flash the kernel….the kernal remains the same…and there is no runme.bat in the doom lord kit also…what to do?
    kernal doesnt get flashed

  14. Hello Sir,I wanna root my xperia neo V,
    I wanna know whats a BOOTLOADER??
    and after i root my phone can i get it unrooted again??
    i know its kinda stupid but i cant help it 🙂

  15. help me. this is what happened to me when i did the DoomLorD
    ————————————————————— Xperia 2011 ICS Easy Rooting toolkit (v1.0) created by DooMLoRD “andorid emulator” trick Credits go to all those involved in making this possible!————————————————————— [*] This script will: (1) root ur device using “andorid emulator” trick (2) install Busybox (1.18.4) (3) install SU files (ICS specific) (4) do some checks for free space, tmp directory (will remove Google Maps if required) [*] Before u begin: (1) make sure u have installed adb drivers for ur device (2) enable “USB DEBUGGING” from (MenuSettingsDeveloper OptionsDevelopment) (3) enable “UNKNOWN SOURCES” from (MenuSettingsSecurity) (4) [OPTIONAL] increase screen timeout to 10 minutes (5) connect USB cable to PHONE and then connect to PC (6) skip “PC Companion Software” prompt on device————————————————————— CONFIRM ALL THE ABOVE THENPress any key to continue . . .— STARTING ——- WAITING FOR DEVICEThe system cannot find the path specified.— creating temporary directoryThe system cannot find the path specified.— cleaningThe system cannot find the path specified.— symlinking tmp directoryThe system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.— RebootingThe system cannot find the path specified.— WAITING FOR DEVICE TO RECONNECT— PLEASE WAIT, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILEif it gets stuck over here for a long time then try: disconnect usb cable and reconnect it toggle “USB DEBUGGING” (first disable it then enable it)The system cannot find the path specified.— DEVICE FOUND— enabling emulator hackThe system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.— RebootingThe system cannot find the path specified.— WAITING FOR DEVICE TO RECONNECT— PLEASE WAIT, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILEif it gets stuck over here for a long time then try: disconnect usb cable and reconnect it toggle “USB DEBUGGING” (first disable it then enable it)The system cannot find the path specified.— DEVICE FOUND— pushing busyboxThe system cannot find the path specified.— correcting permissionsThe system cannot find the path specified.— remounting /systemThe system cannot find the path specified.— checking free space on /systemThe system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.— copying busybox to /system/xbin/The system cannot find the path specified.— correcting ownershipThe system cannot find the path specified.— correcting permissionsThe system cannot find the path specified.— installing busyboxThe system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.— pushing SU binaryThe system cannot find the path specified.— correcting ownershipThe system cannot find the path specified.— correcting permissionsThe system cannot find the path specified.— correcting symlinksThe system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.— pushing Superuser appThe system cannot find the path specified.— cleaningThe system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.The system cannot find the path specified.— rebootingThe system cannot find the path specified.ALL DONE!!!Press any key to continue . . .

  16. Hey, can i Unroot my MT11i after i follow this procedure? Also, is .562 android 4.0.3 or 4.0.4?
    Please help i’m a complete beginner.

  17. Moch. Iqbal Fauzan

    Hello administrator, is this method take a long time with a device with an 8 gb external memory inside and has a lot of data inside?

  18. Thank you soooo much for this tutorial! I unlocked successfully my neo V.
    One question. My phone displays a notification from Sony Ericsson that there is the 587 upgrade available. If I do this upgrade through PC Companion will my phone return to locked state? Thank you in advance!

  19. Now I’m done doing this all! And I think it works fine, but I got instantly a message: New system update available!

    4.1.B.0587 Would this b a smart thing to do, to update?

  20. Hey! I can’t thank you enough for this How-To. Finally found a clear rooting guide for the Neo V. I’m gonna root my phone in just a bit, but I just wanna know if during the process of rooting, the bootloader gets unlocked too? Because from whatever I’ve read, the bootloader needs to be unlocked if I want to flash custom recoveries and ROMs.

    1. The root procedure doesn’t unlock the bootloader and you don’t require unlocked bootloader to root the device.

      But if you’re planning to get a custom recovery, you’ll require the bootloader to be unlocked.

      Hope it helps!

  21. i have a sony ericsson xperia neo v running a 2.3 android and with unlocked bootloader , and ia want to know how to root it

  22. Done everything and succeeded. But couldnt get the super user request. The app is there but I can’t even update it. Always with the “Instalation failed” memo. Rebooted. Still nothing. Help please. I feel like I’m almost there.

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