Using the Towelroot application directly on your device, you can root the Sony Xperia Z1 Tablet with just one-click. Geohot made the Towelroot tool for the Samsung Galaxy S5, but it ended up being compatible with a large number of devices, including the Z1 tablet.

The only problem with Towelroot is that the patch was later shut down by Google developers, since it presented a large loop-hole in the Android security. For that reason, you need to downgrade your device to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean if you want to root your device using the Towelroot app.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z1

Files You Need

  1. During the guide, you need to point your Sony Xperia Z1 web browser to here: http://towelroot.com.
  2. You still void the Sony warranty when you root the Z1 with the Towelroot one-click rooting tool, just like you would with any other tool. Towelroot does not come with a unroot option, so you’ll need to flash a stock ROM back on your device if you want the warranty working again.
  3. The following guide only works on the Sony Xperia Z1 tablet running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Rooting the Sony Xperia Z1 Tablet running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

  1. On your tablet, navigate to the Menu > Settings > Security and then check the box that is there for the Unknown Sources option.
  2. Open the web browser you normally use to surf the internet on your Z1 tablet and enter the URL you can see in the files section above.
  3. Tap your finger over the red Lambda you can see from the Towelroot homepage.
  4. Follow the prompts to install that file on your device.
  5. Open the file once it’s finished downloading.
  6. Tap your finger on the “Make it Ra1n” button.
  7. Do not press any buttons until you can see the “you should have root, no reboot required” message.
  8. Now your Sony Xperia Z1 tablet technically has root access and you can start installing your new apps. However, we strongly recommend you continue the guide.
  9. Open the Google Play Store and download the SuperSU app by Chainfire. The SuperSU app does not give any malware access to your device and that’s why you need it running.
  10. Open the Google Play Store app one last time and install the root checker app.
  11. Follow any prompts you might get about updating the SU binary.

Now you have root access on the Sony Xperia Z1 tablet, the SuperSU and the root checker app to make sure your device does have root access. You are ready to start installing your root-requiring apps.