[Asus ZenFone 3 Questions & Answers] anterus:
This thread will be for the Canadian version of ZE552KL, and will be updated with specific info relevant to Z012DC model found in Canada (Canada Computers, Staples, other retailers). It has WW SKU number.

It took me a while and some searching to figure all steps out. I also modified Asus N and M firmware to remove version checks. Without this step - i was stuck with error 7 in TWRP. The only difference between Z012D and Z012DC seems to be in Fastboot and ADB drivers, TWRP recovery, system images seem to work well so far.

Steps:

1. Download Fastboot and ADB Drivers. For me usb driver on ZE552KL Asus download page didn't work. Select "Only install driver", you do not need to update your drivers via DRP.

Fastboot driver (for Vendor VID_18D1&PID_D00D): http://drivers.drp.su/Telephone/Hua...03.00/Huawei-FORCED-Allx64-2.00.03.00-drp.exe

ADB Driver (for VID_18D1&PID_D002): http://drivers.drp.su/Telephone/Leshcat/WinAll/Leshcat-WinAll-drp.exe

2. Save the following files on your External SD Card:

Modified M image UL-ASUS_Z012D-WW-13.20.10.152-user.zip

Modified N image UL-ASUS_Z012D-WW-14.2015.1701.8-user.zip

SuperSU - latest version from here

no-verity-opt-encrypt-5-1.zip. Give thanks to [MENTION=8127111]kaffeine1[/MENTION] , without him - we would all be stuck with black screens :)

3. Save ADB and Fastboot files on your computer, and extract; give thanks to [MENTION=2447659]snowwolf725[/MENTION]

4. Download newer recovery (TWRP 3.1.0) from here

5. Unlock bootloader via unofficial unlock method; give thanks to [MENTION=2447659]snowwolf725[/MENTION]

6. Get into fastboot by turning off the phone, and pressing volume up + power. Install recovery that you downloaded in step #4:

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.1.0-0-Z012D.img

7. Follow the steps this guide by [MENTION=8127111]kaffeine1[/MENTION] . Skip the steps of downloading Nougat and Marshmallow firmware from Asus site, as you have already downloaded and saved both firmwares in Step #2 . Also skip the last step - do not reboot into Nougat, but go back to fastboot mode.

8. Root Nougat - follow steps under #2 here:

https://xdaforums.com/zenfone-3/how-to/twrp-recovery-3-0-2-root-zenfone-3-t3569926

How to update to the latest version of OS:

1. Go to Asus Site, download latest WW image UL-ASUS_Z012D-WW-14.2020.1703.28-user.zip

2. Extract UL-ASUS_Z012D-WW-14.2020.1703.28-user.zip\META-INF\com\google\android\updater_script , edit, remove first two lines, and put back into the zip file (e.g. using 7zip)

3. Extract from above zip file boot.img , and flash it via: fastboot flash boot boot.img

4. Flash recovery: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.1.0-0-Z012D.img

5. Reboot into recovery, and flash:

- Firmware that you modified in #2

- no-verity-opt-encrypt-5.1.zip

- Latest SuperSU

- Rooted.zip (from step #8 above)

6. Reboot mobile, and enjoy new version!

Phone info as purchased:

Model Number: ASUS_Z012DC

Android version: 6.0.1

Baseband version: M3.10.42-Libra_080001

Build number: MMB29P.WW_Phone-13.20.10.152-20161222

Manufacture date (on the box): January 2017

Latest version - UL-ASUS_Z012D-WW-14.2020.1703.28-user.zip

Model Number: ASUS_Z012DC

Android version: 7.0

Baseband version: M3.10.47-Libra_080001

Build number: NRD90M.WW_Phone-14.2020.1703.28-20170410

Special thanks to:

- [MENTION=5672995]jcadduono[/MENTION] for TWRP recovery

- [MENTION=2447659]snowwolf725[/MENTION] for guide unlock bootloader

- [MENTION=8127111]kaffeine1[/MENTION] for guide how to upgrade to N from M