In this guide, we will show you the steps to convert the Sony SIN stock firmware files and get their resultant partition IMG files. Numerous OEMs like to pack their firmware in different formats. For instance, the likes of Pixels have it as a normal ZIP, OnePlus has it in payload.bin, Oppo in OZIP, and Xiaomi in TGZ/TAR.
Likewise, when it comes to Sony, their firmware files are in the SIN format. But all this still begs the same question- why is there a need to extract the firmware? Well, there can be quite a few reasons why you would want to get this job done. Let’s have a look at some of the most prominent ones.
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Why Is There a Need to Convert Sony SIN Files to IMG
Here are a few noteworthy reasons why you might need to extract the Sony SIN firmware and get their resultant IMG files.
Root via Magisk
If you are planning to root your device, then you’ll need to have the stock boot.img [for devices running Android 12 or older versions] or the init_boot.img file [for devices running Android 13 or higher versions]. While you could get these files by downloading the stock firmware via the XPeriFirm Tool, however, they will be in the SIN format, which is not supported by Magisk. Hence you’ll have to convert them to IMG format so that Magisk could patch them and then you can flash them via Fastboot.
Unbrick Device
If your device is currently in a softbrick or bootloop state, then you can flash the firmware file to get your device back to a normal functioning state. However, by default, all the files will be in the SIN format, which isn’t supported in the SIN format. So you’ll have to convert them to their IMG counterpart, which in turn could then be flashed via Fastboot. [NOTE: This will only work for [SoftBrick/Bootloop devices and not if your device is hard bricked because then you wouldn’t be able to access the Fastboot Mode].
Disable Vbmeta
If you are planning to disable the verity or verification check on your device to flash a third-party binary, then you’ll need to flash the vbmeta file. Again, the said file will be in the SIN format by default, so you’ll have to convert it to IMG so that it becomes a Fastboot-flashable file.
These are just some of the important use case scenarios regarding the conversion of Sony SIN firmware files to IMG format. there are a plethora of other reasons. But without going further into that, let’s now turn our attention towards how you can carry out this conversion.
How to Convert Sony SIN Stock Firmware Files to IMG Format
There exist two different methods through which you can get this job done- using UnSin and via Sony Dump Tool. The former is the easier and shorter of the two whereas the latter is the lengthier, time-consuming, and a tad bit complicated. With that said, we have explained both these methods below, you may try out the one that is in sync with your requirements.
Before starting, please take a backup of all the data on your device. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
Using UnSin
- To begin with, download the stock firmware for your Sony device using XperiFirm Tool.
- Then download and extract the UnSin Tool to the folder where you have extracted the firmware.
- Now drag and drop the firmware SIN files over to unsin.exe, one at a time.
- It will convert and give you the resultant IMG files. You can now flash these files via Fastboot.
NOTE: The super.img file contains a few additional partition files like system, vendor, and product. While there’s no need to flash these files individually and you can directly flash the super.img file via fastboot flash super super.img, but if ever the need arises to extract this super.img, then here’s what you need to do:
- Download and install 7ZIP on the PC.
- Then right-click on the super.img file.
- Now Select 7ZIP > Open Archive > #.
- Select all the files and choose Extract.
- Once extracted, convert them to IMG.
- For that, you may use Rename option.
Using Sony Dump Tool
- Download the stock firmware for your Sony device using the XperiFirm Tool.
- Then download the Sony Dump Tool (Credits: XDA Senior Member munjeni)
- Noww extract it inside the folder where you have the firmware files.
- Within this folder, create a new folder and name it output. The extracted files will be placed here.
- Now head over to this Dump Tool folder’s address bar, type in CMD in its address bar, and hit Enter. This shall launch the Command Prompt.
- Execute the below command in this CMD window and hit Enter (replace boot/init_boot filename accordingly):
sony_dump output filename.sin
- For example, if I want to extract the boot_X-FLASH-ALL-2389, the command will be:
sony_dump output boot_X-FLASH-ALL-2389.sin
- The converted file will now be placed under the output folder that we had created earlier.
- Go to that folder, and you shall see the converted IMG file.
- However, it doesn’t have any extension as of now (we are not talking about the ‘crt’ Certificate file).
- So right-click on it and select Rename. Then add .img to the end of the file name.
- Windows will now give a popup asking if you really want to change the file extension. Reply Yes.
That’s it. These were the two different methods through which you can convert the Sony SIN files to their resultant IMG formats. If you have any queries concerning any of the two aforementioned methods, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
