yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[ONE Themes and Apps] dansou901:
For Robbie's link, try this: http://104.237.50.75/SM-CM12.0/bacon/

Works for me.
[ONE Themes and Apps] black.ic3:
Easy to port, but hard to update every day for new build(
[Android Apps and Games] expensemanager:
"Budget" is a budget planner & expense manager free app. It is based on the "Budget envelopes" system:

Create virtual envelopes of money and track each expense by taking money from these budget envelopes.

IN ORDER TO USE THIS APP YOU MUST INSTALL ALSO HANDWALLET EXPENSE MANAGER.

Watch the video:

[YOUTUBE]Rnyvb0wuIC0[/YOUTUBE]
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] csholmq:
Great writeup. I usually install it by temporarily boot up into TWRP and then flash all updates and gapps (I use gapps-kk-20141104-minimal-edition-gps038-480dpi-signed.zip). No root required.

I tried my own version of your tutorial early on when I had just bought my Mini. But I always managed to mess it up (crashing App store, missing apps, etc). I'm sure your way works better though.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] Erezc10:
I dont have root access

my phone doesnt have root access.

i use towelroot and he said i have root but when i chack it with rootchecker he said i have no access

what can i do ???
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] roland83:
Thank you for this guide, after two full hours I got root access and installed all Google Play services!

For me, towelroot did not work. I used Kingo Root instead, this worked like a charm. Just enable USB debugging, install Kingo Root on your (Windows) pc, connect the phone, and press Root.

After following this guide, everything synced fine, except the Contacts. I manually copied the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk from the gapps zip to the phone, and installed it via the file manager on the phone. After this, I turned it into a system app with Link2SD.

Finally, I have a fully Google enabled phone, with killer specs. I am a happy man now :)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
what is the best way to unroot after the procedure you mentioned? since i wish to update my OS via OTA afterwards! also will i lose the GApps after each update i get from ZTE?
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] roland83:
I cannot say whether the phone can or can not update over the air (OTA), after rooting the phone. I have the newest ROM version. When I choose "FOTA online update" in the System update section of the settings, the system checks for updates and says there are none.

System updates usually only consist of patches for the current ROM. It is not a full ROM, overwriting everything. The standard ROM from ZTE does not contain any Google apps, so updating should not touch them. This is all presuming that the base version of Android (4.4.2) remains the same. Usually, this does not change with an OTA update.

Unrooting can be done with SuperSU. In the Settings menu, there is an option "Clean up for permanent unroot". I actually don't want to try this, because I want to have my phone rooted (at least for now). I hope this option works as advertised.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
thanks for your reply but i have tried the full unroot of SuperSU but it just keep loading indefinitely and never stops. I have in fact just received an OTA update for version 1.22 and when i tried to update, it does mentioned something about root but the message being entirely in Chinese apart from the word "ROOT" and then fails the update! so i can presume that updating is not possible once i completed your procedure for rooting. Still i am eager to check out the new OS version so we look for a better way to unroot before trying again! but its clear that SuperSU's full unroot feature does not work for me.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Urgently stock recovery image for Nubia Z7(not mini nor max but Z7)

Can you please update the TWRP recovery image you used, as i have messed up mine on my nubia Z7 and did not do a backup of my stock recovery image? i did tried some available for nubia z7 mini and max but none seems to work ( just hangs at Nubia logo).
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] razahassan999:
Will this work for the firmware 1.76 As well?

I have the latest firmware. Will this work for the firmware 1.76 As well?
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] roland83:
I wish I could help you, because i did the same to my recovery image...

Is there anyone else here with a Z7 who can provide us with a stock recovery image?

The newest firmware 1.76 is for the Z7 Max only, the Z7 is a different device with different firmware.

---------- Post added at 12:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:49 AM ----------

I looked up some unrooting options. I used KingoRoot to root my device, that should also provide an unroot option. Please see their FAQ .
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Thanks my friend, i did use the KingoRoot to unroot and seems to work fine but still without a proper recovery mod on my phone i can't so an update from sd card to the zip for 1.22 but will try out to update by OTA ASAP! will let you know if it work.

I have created this thread http://xdaforums.com/zte-z7/general...k-cwm-twrp-t3010452/post58364623#post58364623 to ask for anyone who can get us a stock recovery.img or TWRP or CWm that actually work om Z7! Hoping that someone do appear as there seems to be very few actual owners of the Nubia Z7. Mostly people buys the Mini or the max :( Very unfortunate for us :(
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

so how did it go with the OTA Update after unrooting with Kingoroot ?

:)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] flamery:
stock recovery (google is your friend)

http://nubiaforums.com/showthread.php?tid=18
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Well the unroot does seem to have work but unfortunately and strangely, just after the unroot, any time i try to do an OTA update, it just tell me that i am already using the latest version and no update is available! Since no recovery mod is working up right now, i wonder if this is not linked to that issue. :( So for now i am stuck with a bad recovery mod and version 1.99 on my new Nubia Z7! :(

---------- Post added at 07:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:21 AM ----------

My friend, i did go throughout Google all over but still no stock recovery image is available for the Z7 and the one you mentioned is for the Z7 Mini or max but this does not work for the Z7! i tried so many of them but none work! ( just stuck on Nubia Logo on recovery mod) :(

So i still hope someone having a Z7 can do a backup of his/her recovery image and send it our way!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

You're not on Stock Recovery ?

If you're on stock recovery and the unroot procedure is successful, you should be able to do OTA update i think...

I don't recall there's already a custom recovery for Z7...
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] flamery:
If you have installed gapps then ota updates will no longer work. It's possible when you first bought the phone it was already 'modded' meaning ota updates are a no go. I would suggest starting a post in the forums I linked earlier they will likely have stock ROM and stock recovery for you. Also get on Google translate and go on the official Nubia .can forums they will definitely have it posted somewhere.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
There isn't any custom recovery for Z7 but i was stupid enough to believe that the CWM customer recovery for Z7 MINI would work and have flashed my recovery to the CWM MINI one but had not done any backup of my stock one. :( :crying: Now i am stuck with a rooted Z7 with no working recovery. but since i have unroot it with Kingo root, the OTA keep telling me that i have already the latest OS and no update is required. while in the about phone it is clearly mentioned that i am still on v1.99! :( Now i did also download the update from the official Nubia site but without a working recovery i cant even do an update from SD! :( So whatever i try i am right now stuck :( Desperately hoping to see someone able to share his/her Z7 stock recovery with me!

---------- Post added at 10:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 AM ----------

No i had bought my phone directly from ZTE China store in China, and the phone came without any Gapps nor root. What i did was to first root my phone, and install Gapps but then i stupidly flashed my recovery to a custom CWM one for Z7 mini thinking it would work but did do any backup of my stock one. then i was surprise to see that no one was providing the stock recovery for Z7 and no other Z7 max nor MINI worked. but its only then that i got the notifications for OTA update which i had tried a lot of time but was sure that the root was blocking it! Thats when i did an unroot from superSU settings but it failed then i did the Kingo root unroot which worked but now no more OTA is possible as it is telling me no update is available! :(:(:crying::crying:

BTW i already open a thread on nubia forum but still no good replies yet!

http://nubiaforums.com/showthread.php?tid=124

:crying::crying::crying::crying:
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] flamery:
You can do OTA updates with some non stock Recovery's!! If you read the forum link I posted Nubia also posted instructions that say cwm recovery is fully supported and ota will work. Your problem is that you installed gapps which broke your ota abilities. you need to reflash official ROM to get updates back your recovery should be fine as it is! Good luck bro!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Do you know where can i get the stock rom for nubia z7? And how can i reflash my mobile without a functional recovery mode on my mobile? As OTA still telling me that no uodate available for my mobile right now!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

In your previous reply you mention something about updating from SD?

Does your Z7 have a SD card slot?

I just ordered Z7 and only after ordering did i read somewhere that it does not have a card slot... I feel quite bummed about it since the lower spec z7 max and mini all have it...

In the item description of my seller it says that it has a card slot...

I wonder which is true...

Anyway, when i receive my unit i will try to make stock recovery backup....

If i succeed i will post it here...

Keep your fingers crossed!

:)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
OHHH My!! that would be great indeed! thanks in advance!!

Now concerning the SD card slot, i can fully confirm you that the Z7 does not have a SD card slot, but it partition its internal 32GB memory into 2 partition: one for the OS and one for storing apps, media etc and this one is called SD by the OS. i have attached a screenshot showing the memory partitions.

For the stock recovery, do use flashify to backup and create a .img file and send it my way! thanks again in advance! :D (of course after rooting the device)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] flamery:
You can get the official ROMs off Nubia.can official site. If you install latest version you need not worry about ota update anyway :) im no expert but I think its impossible to have no recovery image at all?? Try power on while holding volume down and hope you get to see some form of recovery then install update from sdcard. Also after installing the ROM it will prompt whether you want to keep custom recovery or reflash stock recovery image (recovery image is bundled inside the ROM file) so you should select yes. Also lollipop is due any day now for us nubes!!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Did you really succeed of having Gapps installed without rooting your device? but does that mean that OTA still works for you? :confused:

---------- Post added at 09:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------

Well my friend, my mobile can go to recovery mode but it just get stuck on NUBIA logo so i cannot do anything else but reboot the phone manually ( pressing power button). this have been happening even since i flash the recovery so i very much doubt i can flash my rom even to a stock rom. i did download the latest update file from NUBIA official site but i have no way of installing this stock rom! that why i was asking if there exist a third party software that could do this flashing directly from a desktop PC for example? :confused:

Else i am stuck waiting for a stock recovery image! Have great hope that scums_off can get me this! then all my issue would be resolved ( hopefully ) :)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

I see...

Hmm it sucks....

I didn't think to check it because they basically use the same frame with z7 max (that has lower spec), and z7 max has a card slot that supports up to 64 GB...

Why it's missing in the flagship is beyond me...

But anyway i still prefer QHD screen, 3 GB RAM, and camera with OIS everytime compared to the card slot...

It just such a pity, because otherwise it would be a perfect phone...

Now it's near perfect only...

And please be patient because i use regular postal service, not DHL or UPS

So it will take some time before i'm able to post it...

:)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
No worry! i already feel better knowing someone is kind enough to help me! :) I also totally agree with you that the Z7 do pack a hell more better specs and even if the sd card slot is missing, its still the best you can get to the perfect phone ever! i have been using mine for 2 months now and absolutely no regrets so far! maybe apart from the lack of support from XDA but once we get more and more people buying and using it, i am sure to see more support! :)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] flamery:
You can extract recovery.IMG from the official ROM/firmware file. Its in there its not too hard to get it out http://howtorootcherrymobilesnap.weebly.com/adb/how-to-extract-img-files-via-adb-ex-bootimg

Edit. That link is to extract it directly off the phone. It may be as simple as opening the ROM file in winrar to extract the recovery. Have a look under optional header, believe that's what u needhttp://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2450045
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Well my friend, i did extract the update.zip that one get from the nubia.cn site for the official rom but no recovery.img is present in it as as per the threads you shared, some heavy work are in the place so as to retrieve the recovery from it! the only img file present in the update.zip file is the boot.img and the splash.imag and i have already tried to have both set as my recovery and none works! so i doubt these are the required files. there is an recovery folder but no .img file in it! so i do seem to have alot to research before i get the concept of extracting the recovery off that update.zip file! :(\

Still thanks a lot for your help in this but i think by the time, i grap the concept, i may get the recovery.img from scums_off.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

:D

Good things come to those who wait...

Be patient, they just send the tracking number this morning... but because i choose Singapore Post and not DHL or UPS, it may take a while before i get my hand on the phone... usually up to 3 weeks...

I specifically ask the chinese seller to leave the phone as it is without any mods in recovery or ROM.

Yeah I agree, so far the community support still sucks...

But let's not forget that the flagship Z7 just made available for preorder in China only in 20 November 2014...

( http://cngadget.info/2014/11/20/nubia-z7-open-for-pre-orders/ )

Most people who preordered get it at the beginning of December 2014...

In fact, if you see several stores at Aliexpress, some still have preorder status in its item description...

Meanwhile Z7 Max and Z7 Mini available directly after their announcement in July 2014...

So no wonder the big difference in the amount of users and community support... besides of course the price tag difference...

Let's keep our fingers crossed that it will soon get more community support here or at nubiaforums/nubia.cn as more people using it...

It just got announced (again) also at CES 2015 mid-January so let's hope that it soon will enter other markets outside China too...

Price of being an early adopter... I think we in this thread are among the handful of people to have this phone outside China at the moment... hehe... :)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Totally agree with you my friend! And concerning using the stock rom provided from nubia.cn, its just useless, no recovery.img in neither the v1.19 nor the V1.22 available for download! And so far, i dont see anywhere explaining how the recovery can be retrieve from those update.zip files. So my only hope right now is you, my friend.

Do hope you don't do the same mistake i did and do get to do a backup of your recovery.img before doing anything else concerning tweaking. :p
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

If i were you i will start looking for usb and/or adb drivers for this phone...

In case you cannot flash the recovery through flashify or other on-the-phone method...
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
No fear, i got this covered, the first time i flashed my recovery was while using adb and usb drivers so i know for sure it work. :) just need the proper recovery.img now.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
Hi,

I manage to root my Z7 and installed with Google Play store following your method (V1.22 firmware). But now I have issue with YouTube and Google+.

For YouTube, I can't watch any video using either Wi-Fi or 4G, it just mentioned "connection to server lost. Touch to retry".

While for google+, the Google Play store say my device not compatible.

Anyone has a clue?
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Friend could you please do a backup of your recovery mode using flashify and post it here?

Concerning your YouTube issue, you need to uninstall the YouTube app and installed and older version, as its the only way to have a working YouTube app! Else you have to wait for google to update and provide a fix for this!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
YouTube issue solved after I disable the adsblock in LBE apps.

Stock recovery as attached. Hope it helps.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Thanks a lot! you are my savior! :D

Recovery works fine! Thinking of updating to v 1.22 now!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
Thanks to know that the recovery help. Please let me know if u manage to install google+.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Unfortunately, since i updated to V1.22, i cant seems to follow this tutorial for installing the Gapps. The service frameworks mentioned do not work. i have just did a wipe date of my phone and is basically searching for a proper version that should be working. Are you sure you used the same version provided in this post's tutorial?
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
I actually using the file from my ZTE Star 1. You can try the file from the bbs.nubia.cn website: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1bnAkfYB
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Thanks but got the rooting work fine after trying a couple more times! been quite difficult compared to before i upgrade well now still getting the google+ issue you mentioned though! Can you please let me know what you meant by LBE for the youtube issue? i am having the same no connection issue with youtube app.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
I have installed the LBE Security apps, there is one feature that block ads from the apps installed. I have enable to ads block feature for YouTube which causing the video not being view. U may check whether any ads block apps installed in your phone. Try disable or uninstall it and check whether it solve the issue.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Just wipe my phone after the update to 1.22 and doubt to have any ads blocking apps but still the YouTube app don't work :s
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
What about the "nubia niudun" app? Try exit the app and have a reboot see whether it works or not.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Already removed a lot of the useless Chinese apps, but the YouTube app have the same issue! :(
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
Which version u are using? Mine is 10.03.5.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Yeah I have the same version too! I downloaded from play store directly but it won't work! Am running out of options for this! :(
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

so glad that you've got the stock recovery already...

meanwhile i'm still waiting patiently for my Z7 :(

what root method you used to root v1.22 ?

[MENTION=4425061]ko_wei13[/MENTION]

bro do you mind telling me how to install the google play store from the baidu link that you gave before ? it's in a zip file while currently we don't have stock recovery
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
Just extra the zip file and install using the method mentioned in this thread. For example, click the apk file to install and then use the link2sd to move it to system. No recovery needed.

Been using this phone for a week now. Discover new features everyday. Like it.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION] [MENTION=4425061]ko_wei13[/MENTION]

I read that you can install Gapps easily on Z7 Max using GMS Toolkit apk.

You can read and download the apk here :

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3309302/+120

or here :

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=55738603&postcount=127

Assuming that it works for Z7 too, if it contains google+, it may solve your problem with google+ earlier
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION]

About the youtube problem, i read somewhere :

*** YouTube issue (Posted by Leo_83)

- uninstalled/reinstalled and then cleared cache for YouTube app

maybe it can help
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Will try this but pretty much doubt it! As I have just reinstall the all after updating to V1.22 and still the issue was the same. But try!

---------- Post added at 05:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:33 AM ----------

I used towelroot and it does seem to work very well so far!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
What the app did is just install the Google Play service framework, Play store and contact sync adapter.

I try install using this app but fail. Maybe due to that I already install later version for those file. You can try when you receive your phone.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Well for my part, YouTube app still does not work. Have tried all mentioned methods and even got an update from play store and still after uodate, issue persists! :( Google+ too dont installed! well apart from that mobile working great!
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
YouTube issue found in Z7 Max and Mini as well. Seems like old version of YouTube don't have this issue. Try find an older version and try again. I have re-install YouTube app for few times to get it works.

For google+ and other apps, looks like it restricted due to country. I try google around see editing the build.prop will help or not.

Agree with you, nice phone. Just not much development for Z7 compare with Max and Mini.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] scums_off:
[MENTION=5642024]LordTao[/MENTION] [MENTION=4425061]ko_wei13[/MENTION]

I found some reading material on the youtube problem :

http://www.guidingtech.com/26816/fix-youtube-android-connection-server-lost-error/

http://www.alltechflix.com/youtube-fix-connection-to-server-lost-touch-to-retry/

worth to try :)
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
Mind to try this approach see whether can solve the YouTube issue or not?

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=3309302&view=findpost&p=72968001

The keypoint is click the "Skip" button instead of "Next".

I'm exploring the Google+ issue. My bank mobile apps also fail to install. Most probably due to country restriction. I have tried change the build.prop for locale and language but no go.
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] LordTao:
Works great man!!! Confirmed! :D Still no solution for Google+ though :(
[ZTE Z7, Z7 Max, Z7 Mini] ko_wei13:
It's either wait for stable CM12 ROM or ZTE to release global version of Nubia UI ROM. Kind of love the special features in this ROM. CM12 does not include all this cool features.