Sony has released a video on its Sony Mobile Developer website that details how users can unlock the boot loader for a long list of Xperia devices manufactured by the company, albeit with warnings on the risks of doing so.

Unlocking a device's boot loader will allow users to install custom ROMs on the devices. However, Sony recommends that users should not do so, as being able to do so is not necessary.

Sony said that there are great software offered to its users, all of which have been properly tested and come as official software. However, for the users that would like to squeeze a bit more out of their devices with custom ROMs, the tutorial that Sony released is the first step to doing so.

The video begins by having users enter the Xperia model that they wish to unlock the boot loader for. There is a test to be done to make sure that the particular device may have its boot loader unlocked. Once the user confirms that the process is possible, the rest of the instructions are sent through the user's e-mail, which the website will request for.

What follows is a series of instructions on commands to input and Android SDKs to download and run, leading to the unlocked boot loaders for the devices.

Unlocking the boot loader, Sony warns, could lead to the voiding of the device's warranty, depending ion the details written in the device's warranty statement. In addition, because unlocking a device's boot loader will modify its software, the repair network of Sony will most likely need to replace major components of the device before testing and repair can proceed. As such, warranty repairs for devices with unlocked boot loaders might require a significant service charge for the additional work required due to software modifications.

Sony also states that the company will not be able to ensure the safety, nor will it be responsible, for unsigned custom ROMs that are installed into devices with the unlocked boot loader. An unsigned ROM, or one that is not approved by Sony, may not have been run through the proper tests to make sure that it works properly with the Xperia devices and its software.

In addition, unsigned custom ROMS could lead to functions of devices to cease working, and could also lead to the performance of the device being affected, possibly causing permanent damage. Even worse, such ROMs that are installed through the unlocking of the boot loader may cause physical damage, such as due to overheating of the device.