[ZTE Axon 7 Guides, News, & Discussion] Whoooo?:
About

Hi there,

I created this guide not so much as a substitute for the other guides or because this would be the best way to do it.

When I looked into rooting my new Axon 7 (international) I studied all the other guides first, but then did it very differently, mainly

because

- I am on Win 7 32-bit and some of the tools used in the other guides don't work for that

- since the other guides were created the Axon7Toolkit came along - that simplified a lot of steps.

The guide is actually very similar to this one for the 2017U:

https://xdaforums.com/axon-7/how-to/complete-guide-to-unlocking-installing-t3561128

Only now with the toolkit it pretty much works for the 2017G as well without the need for tenfar's TWRP (see comments). In case I left out anything, this guide will be of help, too.

So this guide is for you if

- You want to root or flash a custom rom and don't mind unlocking the bootloader OR

- You are on Win32 and cannot use the axon7tool command line tool OR

- You want to use the Axon 7 Toolkit for the job to keep things simple

Please read all the notes below before attempting anything...

Disclaimer

- This worked well for me - no claims it does for anyone else. For the record: I was on Stock 6.0 MM B08 A2017G, no fingerprint/lock etc and went straight to RR.

- Use at your own risk, if you are unsure what you are doing stay stock - I'm not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, Donald Trump, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed...

Regarding Drivers

- Qualcomm ones for MiFlash (link below)

- QUSB_BULK if going with eg the axon7tool commandline version (edl mode)

- You can use the Toolkit to install (some of) the needed drivers

- ZTE drivers - phone is set up to install them upon connect to the PC. Don't.

- Uninstall incorrect drivers, just installing the correct ones won't necessarily do the trick.

MiFlash

- right click & 'run as admin' (flashing didn't work for me without this)

- Correct driver: Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 when in edl (check with device manager open)

Boot modes

- power phone down and boot into

- EDL by holding Volume UP/DOWN & POWER simultaneously

- recovery/TWRP (once installed) by holding Volume UP & POWER simultaneously

- fastboot: Not enabled in A2017G Stock

Windows

- 32-bit: MiFlash needed, commandline axon7tool not working

- The toolkit seems to run on Mac/Linux using a Windows emulator/virtual machine (not tested, Wine helps I guess)

TWRP

- versions: Signed tenfar TWRP 3.0.2 that is used in a lot of other guides is buggy and can do a lot of harm - not needed if you unlock

the bootloader first. You can (and should) use the latest official TWRP version.

- dm-verity: https://twrp.me/devices/zteaxon7.html

- USB OTG: Axon 7 supports this, so does TWRP - no need for SD cards. Simply use a thumbdrive with a OTG cable (with included Adapter if needed), boot into TWRP (thumbdrive needs to be connected beforehand) and click 'Mount' in TWRP, then select USB storage

Bootloader

- Afaik DO NOT lock again with custom rom installed or rooted (brick)

Root/Unlock

- Can create problems with Android Pay, playstore etc - see https://www.xda-developers.com/tag/safetynet/

- Root disabled by default in Lineage, needs flashing Magisk or SU - see other guides

- Some features root provides on Android 6.0 MM won't work in Nougat (so far anyway, eg xposed)

Links

- Axon7Toolkit: https://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/tool-axon7toolkit-t3573108

- TWRP: https://twrp.me/devices/zteaxon7.html

- Zadig (if needed): http://zadig.akeo.ie/

- Qualcomm driver: https://build.nethunter.com/misc/axon7/Qualcomm_QUSB_BULK_Drivers.zip (link from https://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/edl-emergency-dl-mode-twrp-unlock-t3553514)

- Lineage Os thread: https://xdaforums.com/axon-7/development/unofficial-lineageos-14-1-zte-axon-7-t3545679

- Modem & bootloader from Lineage Os thread: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=148464

- OpenGApps: http://opengapps.org/?arch=arm64&api=7.1 (arm64 version for OS version to flash, e.g. 7.1 Nougat)

Thanks

bkores (for the tool), dnlilas (help in the forum), DrakenFX, Unjustified Dev, Controllerboy & all the guide/rom creators etc in this forum. (And the poor souls who came first and discovered all the ways not to do it, preventing my fall)

1) Prep

- Note down IMEI(s) from your settings/about phone/status/... just in case

- Unlock developer options (Phone settings > "About Phone" > Click "Build Number" 7 times...)

- Check "Allow OEM unlock" and "USB Debugging" there

- Connect your Axon 7 to your PC with the original USB cable - do not disconnect with MiFlash/Toolkit running.

- Open device manager to check your drivers (will show up differently depending on the boot mode)

- Run Axon7Toolkit

- Select Option 1 - Install/Test Drivers

2) Unlock

- This will RESET your device, did you save your data? (using Toolkit etc)

- Select option 6-unlock on toolkit main screen -

- MiFlash launches and one has to select the folder with the files to flash, following the instructions of the toolkit

- Check Device Manager lists your Axon 7 as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, if not uninstall wrong drivers and install Qualcomm ones

- The unlock files the Axon7Toolkit offers are in a folder 'A2017U_FASTBOOT_UNLOCK_EDL' - works for A2017G

(- Axon7Toolkit preview version offers different folder content to flash - have not checked that)

- One can restart MiFlash (e.g. to 'run as Admin') anytime and try again, but after the flash was succesful, do not disconnect the phone but

- Finish off with the Toolkit 'press a key to continue' (or one will have only fastboot enabled)

- A message will appear on the phone: Confirm that you want to unlock the bootloader (using volume & power buttons to navigate)

- Done. From now on you will get an annoying message on booting the phone about your device being unlocked. Just ignore and wait for a re-boot...

3) TWRP

- Unlock developer options - AGAIN etc as device was reset. And - again - enable debugging...

- In the toolkit (main screen) go to '11 Advanced Options', select <Flash boot/bootloader/modem/recovery<choose recovery partition

- In 'Open' dialog select C:\Axon7Development\Axon7Toolkit\twrp\twrp-3.1.0-ailsa_ii.img (or newer version)

- Flash as 'recovery'

- Reboot, check system boots up fine

4) Flash Custom Rom etc.

- Generally: Follow instructions provided with the custom rom you are going to flash (as they might differ)

- Boot into recovery/TWRP (Volume UP + Power after shutdown)

- No need to swipe to 'Allow system modification' - this can actually brick things...see https://xdaforums.com/axon-7/help/a2017u-stuck-zte-screen-boot-factory-t3584062

- Mount/Select storage (for OTG USB)

- Backup boot, recovery, data(if needed), HLOS, System image or System (image was recommended but that did not work in my case, so I backed up system)

- Wipe/Format

- ***If you like to avoid your data partition to be encrypted, follow that thread: ( format your data partition to ext4 instead of f2fs (wipe -> advanced)????)

- Install Bootloader & then modem (or Nougat won't install if coming from MM) - A2017X_B15_Universal_Bootloader.zip & A2017G_N_Modem.zip

- Rom & Magisk/SuperSU

- GAPPS (version)

- Re-boot: Unlocked message, long first time boot - After RR, my phone show up as 2017U... well, who cares...

Any comments to correct errors in this guide or fill out any blanks are highly appreciated... :)