How To: Root the HTC Aria (Unrevoked Method) 

I. Before You Begin

1. This is the easiest method available to root.

2. This method will also flash a custom recovery image so you can start flashing ROMs immediately.

3. On your computer, go to Start > Control Panel > Programs > and Uninstall HTC Sync if it is installed before you continue.

IMPORTANT UPDATE 04.12.11 -

If you run into issues with the procedure please read these issues/solutions a reader left in the comments and see if that helps:

I ran into a few issues, but tweeked a few steps and was able to successfully root my Aria.My phone is running v2.1, and I used Unrevoked 3.2.

Some issues that I read other people ran into (which I did too, but was able to get around):

- Issue #1 – First of all, Unrevoked won’t work if Sync is installed. HOWEVER, some people may need to install it initially because it comes with two drivers which may be essential to recognizing your device when you plug it in. So if your computer isn’t recognizing your Aria, then yes, Install the HTC Sync package. After it is successfully installed, uninstall HTC Sync ONLY (leave the HTC Driver and BMP USB Driver installed.)

- Issue #2 – If HTC Sync won’t install properly when you plug in your phone: For me, my ADB driver couldn’t be updated, so the automatic install didn’t work. I had to manually install Sync. You can do this one of two ways: 1) copying the HTCSync.exe file from your SD card(what HTC support tells you to do) or 2) Download the file directly from HTC support (don’t just Google HTCSync.exe to install it! You never know what kind of bad stuff is out there. Go to HTC’s website for it.) If you want to go with #1, when you plug your phone in, choose “Disk Drive”, open the removable disk folder, copy HTCSync.exe to your computer and run it. If you want to download the file directly from HTC, go to HTC’s website –> support –> Choose your device (Aria) –> go to the downloads tab, download the “HTC Sync for all HTC Androidphones.”

- Issue #3 – After you turn on your phone to the Hboot screen, and connect the USB, there’s no option for “Hboot USB”: For me, this option never came up. But if you pay attention to the highlighted “Hboot”, it becomes
“Hboot USB Plug” after you connect it to your computer. This means its already in Hboot USB mode, so you can proceed with the rest of the rooting instructions.

- Issue #4 – Unrevoked reboots your phone….several times, when it’s finally “Done”, instead of the ClockworkMod Recovery screen, you phone reboots to your Home screen: Don’t freak, just check your apps to see if “Superuser Permissions” is part of your programs. If it is, Unrevoked worked; but wait, you’re not done. You still need to backup your phone via the ClockworkMod Recovery screen. I got to this screen by turning off my phone via the power button. Instead of powering down, the ClockworkMod screen popped up for me, and I was able to proceed with the rest of the rooting instructions.

Hope this helps.

Big thanks to Toes for these additions!

II. Root and Flash a Custom Recovery Image

1. Download the Unrevoked Rooting App

Unrevoked (Updated 09.20.10)

2. Double click the Unrevoked program you downloaded. If using Windows, then click on the file that appears called Hboot Driver and follow it’s instructions to install the modified HBoot drivers OR click here and download the drivers and install them manually.

3. Follow ALL of the instructions on that how to install the hboot drivers page. (If your phone doesn’t have an option for HBoot USB though, Hboot is fine)

4. Once the driver program is successfully installed (and your phone should be sitting in Hboot mode at the end of that procedure), take out the battery and put it back in then hit the power button to get it back to the normal home screen.

5. On your computer, right click the Reflash file and run as administrator. It should open Unrevoked and say “waiting for device”.

6. On your phone, click Menu > Settings > Applications > Development > and make sure USB Debugging is checked ON.

7. Plug in your phone into your computer via usb cable.

8. It should automatically locate your phone that is plugged in and you can just follow the prompts to continue.

9. Done! You are rooted and have a custom recovery image!