Hi Team,
I’m hitting a wall trying to enroll some Sony Xperia 5 (SO-01M) devices running Android 11. We’re trying to use the Android Enterprise > Device Owner method.
Everything I’ve read says to tap the “Welcome” screen 6 times after a factory reset to trigger the QR reader, but on these specific Sony models, nothing happens. No scanner, no prompt, just the same setup screen staring back at me.
Is there a trick to this specific model, or am I just not tapping fast enough?
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Hi Luke!
It’s definitely not your tapping speed. While the Sony Xperia 5 technically supports QR enrollment, the SO-01M is a regional variant (often associated with carriers like NTT Docomo). Sometimes these regional firmwares don’t include the “Google QR Provider” in the setup wizard, which is why the 6-tap gesture isn’t doing its job.
Since the gesture is a no-go, let’s try these “plan B” methods to get those devices into Device Owner mode:
1. The “afw#hexnode” Method (Highest Success Rate)
If the QR trigger fails, this manual bypass is usually the most reliable way to force the enrollment:
Reset the device to factory settings.
Connect to Wi-Fi.
When prompted to Add a Google Account, type afw#hexnodemdm in the email field.
Follow the on-screen instructions. This tells the device to skip the personal account setup and download the Hexnode MDM agent directly as the management controller.
2. Manual QR Trigger via Wi-Fi Settings
On some Android 11 builds, Google “hid” the QR scanner inside the network settings instead of the main screen:
Proceed past the Welcome screen to the Wi-Fi selection screen.
Look for Add New Network.
Check if there is a QR Code icon next to the network name or within the “Share Wi-Fi” settings. Scanning the Hexnode QR code from here can sometimes trigger the Enterprise setup.
3. Check for “Stale” Firmware
Since these are regional models, check if there are any pending system updates. Sometimes the Android Enterprise modules are only fully “unlocked” after the latest security patch is applied.
A quick heads-up: If the afw#hexnodemdm method also fails, it usually confirms that the carrier-specific firmware has stripped out the DPC (Device Policy Controller) modules entirely. In that rare case, you might be limited to a standard “Profile Owner” enrollment.
Give the afw# method a shot and let us know if it sticks!
The afw#hexnodemdm method worked like a charm! It went straight to the Hexnode download. Looks like the Japanese carrier firmware was indeed the culprit blocking the 6-tap gesture.
Thanks for saving me from a very long afternoon of troubleshooting!
Happy to help, Luke! Glad those Xperias are finally behaving.
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