Setting free my Sony Blu-ray DVD playback — 13 Nov 2011

Believe it or not, I bought my first Blu-ray disk not long ago. It was the evening we went to see Pina Bausch's "Für die Kinder von gestern, heute und morgen" at the BFM.

Enthralled by what we'd just seen, I noticed books and the Blu-ray version of the movie were on sale after the show. I checked them out online when we got home and ordered my first Blu-ray disk, driving me to order a Sony BDP-S480 Blu-ray player alongside.

I thought it was a clever move: bring in a new multimedia player, get rid of the old one. Silly me. I almost fogot we lived in controlled world, and that DVD region codes were still alive and kicking. I realise we have switched to digital media and that the last DVD I bought was a long time ago. We rent (and rip), but I don't buy anymore. My previous DVD player was region free, and I simply forgot about this whole issue when ordering my shiny new player.

Until I slipped my old "Buena Vista Social Club" region 1 DVD into it last night..

Silly me.

So I dug around and found the Sony BRP-S480 unlocking procedure that I've reproduced below. Use it at your own risk.

Currently playing in iTunes: Someone Like You by ADELE

Requirement: Until a dedicated code is researched using the player's own remote, programmable OneForAll remotes can be used. These controllers can be purchased very cheaply from most electrical retailers.

Setting up the OneForAll remote control

Note: if your controller doesn't have a 'Magic' button, use 'Setup'.

1. Press DVD
2. Hold the magic button until the DVD button flashes twice.
3. Press 0533 or 20533 or 1516 to set your controller to 'talk' to the DVD player (only this code works!)
4. Hold the magic button until it flashes twice.
5. Press 994
6. Press Magic Key (don't hold)
7. Press 00189 (if your OneForAll remote uses 4 digit or 3 digit codes, use less leading zeros)
8. Press 1 (this sets it to key 1 - it flashes twice)
9. Hold the magic button until it flashes twice.
10. Press 994
11. Press Magic Key (don't hold)
12. Press 00255
13. Press 2 (this sets it to key 2 - it flashes twice)
14. Hold the magic button until it flashes twice.
15. Press 994
16. Press Magic Key (don't hold)
17. Press 00095
18. Press 3 (this sets it to key 3 - it flashes twice)
19. Hold the magic button until it flashes twice.
20. Press 994
21. Press Magic Key (don't hold)
22. Press 00221
23. Press 4 (this sets it to key 4 - it flashes twice)
24. Hold the magic button until it flashes twice.
25. Press 994
26. Press Magic Key (don't hold)
27. Press 00079
28. Press 5 (this sets it to key 5 - it flashes twice)

Make your BDP player region free

1. Use the Sony remote to bring the player out of standby, make sure there isn't a disc in it;
2. Press 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 on the OneForAll remote. The light will start flashing;
3. Put the player back into standby with the Sony remote.

Next time you turn on the player it will be region free for DVD playback.

Addendum: apparently, this procedure also works for the following Sony Blu-ray players:

• Sony BDP-BX1
• Sony BDP-BX2
• Sony BDP-BX37
• Sony BDP-BX57
• Sony BDP-BX58
• Sony BDP-CX7000ES
• Sony BDP-CX960
• Sony BDP-N460
• Sony BDP-S1
• Sony BDP-S2000ES
• Sony BDP-S270
• Sony BDP-S280
• Sony BDP-S300
• Sony BDP-S301
• Sony BDP-S350
• Sony BDP-S360
• Sony BDP-S363
• Sony BDP-S370
• Sony BDP-S380
• Sony BDP-S383
• Sony BDP-S470
• Sony BDP-S480
• Sony BDP-S5000ES
• Sony BDP-S500B
• Sony BDP-S550
• Sony BDP-S560
• Sony BDP-S570
• Sony BDP-S580
• Sony BDP-S760
• Sony BDP-S770
• Sony BDP-S780