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How to Convert Sony SIN Stock Firmware Files to IMG Format: Complete Guide

By Sandeep Gautam
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Sony SIN is a unique file format used in Sony devices, unlike other manufacturers who typically use formats such as ZIP, payload.bin, OZIP, or TGZ/TAR which are unpackaged with SIN files. SIN format came into the firmware files of Sony. It is very common a quote for the quality of the content of these files. The guide here will also present you with these two very effective methods: UnSin and Sony Dump. So you can download the only tools you need, and you’re articles contain the same content you pasted in the link. You can access the content solely through the link. Otherwise, there is no other way to download the articles.

Why Convert Sony SIN Files to IMG?

As an example, you can get the boot.img file, which is the most essential partition of your stock ROM, using Sony SIN firmware. This file together with others such as system.img and recovery.img are those that you will get for a complete Sony ROM update. Besides, SIN files contain other essential partitions like boot.img, recovery.img, and vbmeta.img. Moreover, more than a few other essential documents which can be required for this specific job can also be found in the process of updating your ROM by applying these mosaic images directly to your device. Moreover, other important documents, such as system.img and recovery.img, that are necessary for the successful ROM update of your device are available from these SIN files. Fortunately, developers have made our lives easier by providing instructions in various forums and websites on how to fix all these kinds of problems with Sony smartphones.

Rooting via Magisk

Rooting a Sony device requires the boot.img (for Android 12 and older) or the init_boot.img (for Android 13 and newer). These files need to be patched using Magisk. The good news here is that XPeriFirm holds the recognized stock firmware files in SIN, but these are not scarce in other forums as well. Since the stock firmware files downloaded from tools like XPeriFirm are in the SIN format, they need to be converted into the IMG format for Magisk activities.

Unbrick a Soft-Bricked Device

In case your Sony device has stopped working due to a boot loop or has been soft-bricked, then you are only left with the option of re-flashing the correct stock firmware to make it functional once again. Nevertheless, you must load them on the phone via Fastboot to process the flashing. In addition, up to you to do the plugging/unplugging part anymore but if you just let it finish flashing it should start with custom recovery, and you may resume the operation just as before. To convert SIN files to IMG, you have the option of using the required partitions for recovery.

Disable Vbmeta Verification

To get the device verified you will not be able to flash the phone with anything other than the original binary codes or disable verification checks. You may need to modify or replace the vbmeta.img file to flash custom binaries or disable the device’s verification checks. Typically, this file is in the SIN format by default, which is why you need a conversion to an IMG file so that the flashing can be done through Fastboot.

How to Convert Sony SIN Stock Firmware Files to IMG

The beginning of the procedure involves extracting the firmware files by using either the UnSin tool or the Sony Dump Tool. Detailed information about both techniques is presented, allowing you to choose the one that is best suited for you.

Method 1: Using the UnSin Tool

Using the UnSin tool makes the whole conversion of the SIN files to IMG format a little easier. Here are the steps needed:

  1. Download the Firmware
    • Use the XPeriFirm tool to obtain the actual firmware for your specific Sony model from the web. Next, you need to unzip the files into a separate folder.
  2. Download and Set Up the UnSin Tool
    • Get the UnSin tool and put it in the folder where SIN files are located. Then extract the file there.
  3. Drag and Drop SIN Files
    • Now move each SIN file (i.e., boot.sin, recovery.sin) to the unsin.exe application. The process will move the files to IMG format automatically.
  4. Locate the Converted Files
    • Once the conversion finishes, the boot.img, recovery.img, or other partition images you need will be in the same folder. These files can be utilized with Fastboot and other tools in a very straightforward process.

Note: Whenever you come across a super file.img, remember that it may have three partitions (system, vendor, product). You could just as easily brighten the whole file by Fastboot or take out 7-Zip contents. Multiple partitions (system, vendor, product). You can either flash this entire file via Fastboot or extract its contents using 7-Zip.

Extract super.img:

  • Install 7-Zip on your PC.
  • Right-click on super. img and select 7-Zip > Open Archive.
  • Select all partition files and extract them.

Method 2: Using the Sony Dump Tool

The Sony Dump Tool is a method on a high plane, and it is best used by users who desire to extract and convert an explicit partition file. Here’s here: The Sony Dump Tool is a software that is designed to facilitate the user who commands the system or those who are power users and wants to extract or convert an existing file. Here’s the list of steps:

  1. Download the Firmware
    • As with the UnSin method, download the firmware using the XPeriFirm tool and extract it into a dedicated folder.
  2. Download the Sony Dump Tool
    • Download the Sony Dump Tool (credited to XDA Senior Member munjeni) and extract it into the same folder as the firmware files.
  3. Create Output Folder
    • Inside the firmware folder, create a new folder named output. This is where the extracted files will be saved.
  4. Open Command Prompt
    • Go to the Sony Dump Tool folder. Point to the location bar, type cmd, and click Enter to open a Command Prompt window there.
  5. Run the Extraction Command
    • Use the following command to extract a specific SIN file:
   sony_dump output filename.sin

Replace filename.sin with the actual name of the SIN file (e.g., sony_dump output boot_X-FLASH-ALL-2255.sin).

  1. Rename the Extracted File
    • The converted file is deposited in the output folder without a delimiter. Select the file by right-clicking on it, then hover on Rename, and click on the .img extension (e.g., boot.img). Confirm the file extension change when prompted.
  2. Use the IMG Files
    • The converted IMG files and the screen is prepared by the user for the flashing process by opting to use fastboot or similar utility files.

Conclusion

Changing Sony SIN files to IMG format gives you advantages in flexibility in managing your device, for instance, for rooting, recovery, or customization purposes. While the UnSin tool is the more straightforward option, the Sony Dump Tool provides more control over the process of extraction. These detailed procedures will help you to get the IMG files you need easily from your Sony phone’s stock firmware. Read the steps carefully to stay out of any data loss situations, and then, moreover, try to back up your important files before you make any changes. If you find any problem, don’t hesitate to ask for help by commenting or contacting us.