Some say rooting Android operating systems is becoming obsolete. And it’s true that a number of apps are meaningless for various devices now, like the SDFix application that was once a key app for people running Android KitKat and Android Lollipop — two operating systems that some of the flagship devices are no longer running, after since being updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. But that’s not to say that rooting in general is coming to a close. From statistics on our end, it’s as healthy as ever.

There are many reasons why rooting is still popular. Think of all the great applications that are still useful: Servicely, ROM Toolbox, ROM Manager, BusyBox, SuperSU, Titanium Backup just to name a few. These are apps that are not dependent on any one platform of Android, and they will continue to thrive heading into the future as key apps that will never likely be incorporated into the stock Android operating system simply because they cannot without them creating additional risks for the average user Google developers will never compromise.

By rooting the Sony Xperia Z5 Dual handset, you are opening the floodgates to the aforesaid apps on the list, and still a great quantity more.

REQUIREMENTS

• You must have the Sony Xperia Z5 Dual that has the E6683 model number, or the E6633 model number. No other model number is to be used with this guide or you risk bricking that device.
• The guide will install a custom recovery for you. You do not need to have a custom recovery installed before you start this guide.

BEFORE WE BEGIN

• Enable the USB Debugging Mode from the Developer Options menu by tapping on the Z5 Dual’s menu > Settings > Developer Options > USB Debugging Mode.

HOW TO ROOT SONY XPERIA Z5 DUAL E6683 AND E6633 AND INSTALL A CUSTOM RECOVERY

1. Set up adb on your computer so you can flash the files with fastboot.
2. Download your recovery and SuperSU from here.
3. Copy the recovery file and have it in the same folder as your adb so they are within the same directory.
4. Connect the Xperia Z5 Dual to the computer with the USB cable and copy the SuperSU over to the root of the internal storage SD card.
5. Hold the Shift key and right-click the mouse where it shows the white background and choose to open a new command window here from the menu.
6. Type the first command to reboot the device to bootloader mode: adb reboot bootloader
7. Type the next command to flash your recovery: fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
   – or change the name of recovery.img to the real name of your recovery file.
8. Hold the button combination for recovery mode directly after you apply the last command: fastboot reboot

The Sony Xperia Z5 Dual is now booting to the recovery that you just flashed. Choose the ‘Install’ option from the recovery menu and browse the SD card for the SuperSU.