[ZTE Axon 7 Guides, News, & Discussion] rczrider:
This place has gotten a bit messy with all of the threads out there and it's especially confusing for those who are new to unlocking and rooting. Or, heck, to those who weren't around as the threads were being written and referenced. I've reposted my consolidated step-by-step list half a dozen times so far - and the steps seem to be working for folks - so I'm going to post it here. You're still going to have to visit the original threads, but hopefully this will serve as a clear outline for you.

Maybe we can also try to keep general unlocking and rooting questions ("I don't know where to start, help me!") to this thread to avoid cluttering up the other ones. Reserve questions in those threads for those specifically related to the OP ("I received ABC error after doing XYZ, what does it mean?"). If anyone sees general unlocking or rooting questions in other threads, maybe direct them here as a place to start. Make sense?

A list of FAQs can be found here in the second post.

Many thanks to [MENTION=540283]tenfar[/MENTION] and [MENTION=3044858]DrakenFX[/MENTION] (among others with their help and suggestions!) for the tools and files they provided to make all of this happen.

Unlocking and Rooting your Axon 7

This set of steps has worked successfully for multiple folks (including myself) on the US/NA variant (A2017U) and stock B29. Folks with EU/global variant (A2017G) may have issues and as of right now, should proceed with caution. If you see any problems and/or have a different variant and need additional (or different) steps added, let me know. I will update the thread as necessary.

Copy everything off your internal storage that you don't want to lose.

Get all of the files you need from the steps below and put them on your microSD card.

Backup your boot and recovery (just in case) using the tool found here: http://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/wip-axon-7-root-bootloader-unlokced-t3441204

Using the same tool as above, flash TWRP (recovery) found in that thread. You do not need to flash the boot image!

Unlock the bootloader: http://xdaforums.com/axon-7/how-to/guide-how-to-unlock-bootloader-stay-t3461165

Flash the bootstack and ROM for your variant: http://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/rom-guide-updates-to-stock-files-via-t3469484

Boot phone, set it up, whatever

Reboot to TWRP, go to Advanced > Terminal and type: reboot disemmcwp

This will leave you with an unlocked bootloader, fully functioning TWRP (no data encryption issue), and a rooted phone. You will no longer be able to receive OTAs!

Putting Your Axon 7 Back to Stock

If you want to revert back to stock and re-lock your bootloader (eg. sending the phone in for warranty work or are selling it), you should be able to do that using the steps below. It worked for me, anyway, exactly as written below.

Copy everything off your internal storage that you don't want to lose. If you're not rooted (so already stock, but with unlocked bootloader), skip to step 6 below. Otherwise, continue.

Grab the "StockSystem" zip for your variant from this thread and place on your microSD card: http://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/rom-guide-updates-to-stock-files-via-t3469484

Reboot into TWRP and wipe system, data, dalvik, and cache

Flash the StockSystem zip and power off (doing so will restore stock boot but does not appear to restore recovery)

Boot into EDL mode and flash stock recovery only: http://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/wip-axon-7-root-bootloader-unlokced-t3441204

Power off the phone, plug from computer, and then boot into stock recovery (hold Vol+ and press Pwr, continue holding Vol+ until recovery comes up)

Select "Wipe data / factory reset" and then "Yes"

After that finishes, select "Reboot to bootloader"

Plug in your phone into your computer and do: fastboot oem lock (see second post if this doesn't work and says <waiting for device>)

Your phone will reboot and should have been totally wiped (including internal storage) by doing the above

This should leave you with a stock, locked, and unrooted phone that can take OTAs. Note: it's possible (in fact, likely) that an OTA could break the ability to unlock your bootloader and gain root again, so be careful about going back to stock if you think you'll want to unlock/root later on!

If you need any stock files for B20 or B27 (stock recovery for re-locking, for example), you can get them here: http://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/untouched-b20-boot-recovery-files-t3443818