[Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1  Guides, News, & Discussio] :
A/A & Welcome,

READ THE FULL GUIDE OR YOU CAN LAND IN TROUBLE

Ain't gonna work on pie official

AND DO PRESS THE THANKS BUTTON

Disclaimer

* Your warranty is now void.

* I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,

thermonuclear war, or anything that happens to your device

INTRO

This is a full guide for unlock/relock, install TWRP, Root your device and backup/restore stock OS. Each and every step is explained thoroughly with pictures and videos.

I have ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 (6GB variant) (X00TD) (ZB601KL), so I can’t test for other variants. Please report back issues, corrections, omissions, etc., though the guide should work for all devices.

THINGS TO KNOW (IMPORTANT)

~Every text written in double quotes “” means the same written without the quotes.

e.g.:- “abcd” means abcd

“zxcv” means zxcv

They (“”) help to separate usual text from the other text (like a command, file name, etc.)

~If you have not enabled file name extensions then you will see files without their extension and vice versa

e.g.:- “filename”, “mypicture” in 1st case

“filename.extension”, “mypicture.png” in 2nd case, respectively.

~Boot Partition or Bootloader:-This is the partition that enables the phone to boot. Without this partition, the device will not be able to boot.

~Recovery Partition:-Recovery partition lets you boots the device into a recovery mode to perform recovery tasks.

~TWRP: - stands for TeamWin Recovery Project. It is a custom touch recovery that is GUI based.

~Flashing: - simplest: - installing

~Fastboot Partition: - lets us reflash partitions. (On device)

~Fastboot: - is an executable used to reflash partitions. It comes with the Android SDK. (On PC)

~Rooting: - an Android phone lets owner edit system files. Thus enabling various tweaks and use of apps that require root access.

~Device driver: - determines how PC will communicate with a device.

~Unlocking/Relocking:-With a locked Bootloader, booting into custom things is not allowed is not. Unlocking lets us do so.

~Reboot: - Switching ON AND OFF (in simple terms)

Requirements

MIND, PC, USB Cable, Internet, Fully charged PC (Windows OS), and obviously Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1

The Real Steps From Here

FOLLOWING THIS GUIDE YOU WILL PROBABLY LOSE ALL THE DATA ON YOUR PHONE SO MAKE A BACKUP FIRST (Don’t worry it’s in guide too)

STEP 1.	Downloading all the necessary files

a. Here are 2 zip file with everything you will probably need following the guide :-

basic zip

extension zip

. I have tested the procedures using these files only so maybe other versions might not work. A “guide.doc” with the same text as in here (on XDA) is also present. It will be of great help if you don’t have internet connection in PC.

The basic zip file contains minium files needed.

The extension zip file contains the TWRP recovery(then one used in the guide),guide.docx ,and the videos used here too.

Copy the twrp file to unlock folder of extracted folder.

b. Extract the zip file above.

First download the zip file and Copy to PC

Then Right Click on it

Then click “Extract All”

Uncheck “Show extracted files…”

Click on “Extract”

The folder “zip” will be extracted

Done

This “zip” folder will be called extracted folder in the guide video link to extract zip

To download most up to date version of the files go to links present at last

STEP 2.	BACKUP

a. Use an apk backup tool to backup app installers

VIDEO TO BACKUP APP INSTALLERS

b. Some APPS like Whatsapp, etc. have backup to drive function use that

VIDEO TO BACKUP WHATSAPP CHATS

c. Backup SMS AND Call Logs

VIDEO TO BACKUP CALL LOGS AND MESSAGES

d. Copy each and every file from you internal storage to PC.

Video to backup each file to pc

DONE

Step 3.	UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER(Data will be wiped)

2 options:-

A. Official Method (NOT TESTED): -

In extracted folder go to “unlock” folder then “Official” folder. Install the “UnlockTool_9.1.0.3_180621_fulldpi_signed_ZB601KL.apk” in Asus and follow the steps from there.

B. Unofficial Method (Tested):-

a. Installing Drivers

Connect phone using USB cable to PC

Right click on This Pc

Go to “Manage” > “Device Manager” Or Just search for “Computer Management”/“Device Manager”

A list will appear.

Find your device (best way to do so is by disconnecting/connecting the device and notice the changes accordingly in the list)

Now right click on it>”Update Driver Software”>“Browse my computer for driver software”

Now either enter path of the driver folder or click on browse and navigate to the driver path from there.

Press Next OR

“Let me pick …”>and select the driver

video to install driver

The drivers have been installed

b. Booting into FASTBOOT

Switch Off the Phone

Hold the Volume UP and Power ON Button Simultaneously

Device buttons labbled image

You will see this on your phone

image of FASTBOOT screen

c. Unlocking Bootloader

Now connect phone using USB cable to PC

Look for the “unlock” folder in the extracted folder.

Open it

Find “unlock.cmd” or “unlock” file

(Or “unlock no erase.cmd” to keep data {not tested})

Open it

Done

d. You will see some messages in yellow/brown/white colour on your phone

You will most probably see “encrypting your device”, “warning Bootloader unlocked” messages, let phone do its work and don’t interrupt it, and keep cable connected. Phone might reboot too. The phone will at last boot into stock OS and you will see the device setup screen.

image of the warning message

e. Now if you wanted TO ONLY UNLOCK BOOTLOADER THEN THE JOB IS DONE, long press power button. If you want to root or flash TWRP then continue (Tested method to root requires TWRP flashing or you can try the untested method to root only)

Step4.	Installing/Flashing TWRP

TESTED METHOD

a. Connect phone using USB cable to PC

b. Don’t setup your device just now because possibilities are you might lose the data again

c. Boot into fastboot mode

d. Open the “unlock” folder in the extracted folder.

Now Two Different ways to opt for from here:-

i. THE LAZY METHOD (Tested)

a. Open “flash_recovery.bat” or “flash_recovery” in the “unlock” folder of the extracted folder.

b. You can flash the tested or any other recovery using this script.

c. Follow the steps from the script

video of how to use the script

d.Then go to step of Flashing ZIPS of The Manual Method

e. Done

OR

ii. The Manual Method (Tested)

a. Keeping Shift Key pressed, right click {with mouse} in the blank white space of the “unlock” folder’s explorer window.

b. From the menu select “open command window here”

c. A CMD window will be opened

open cmd video

d. Now type “fastboot devices”

e. See if your device is connected. You will see something like this

f. Now type “fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.2.3-0-X00TD-20181024.img”

If you want to flash any other recovery instead of “twrp-3.2.3-0-X00TD-20181024.img” write the file name of your recovery file. Make sure it’s in “unlock folder”. Though this recovery is the only tested one (by me).

g. Now keeping the phone connected to PC, boot into TWRP/Recovery by pressing the Volume Down and Power ON Button Simultaneously.

h. The usual warnings, messages and recovery boot screen will flash:-

warning image

twrp flash screen image

i. It may take some time to load so wait for at least 2 minutes.

j. Now if touch is not working press power button 2 times (on and off the screen)

video showing how to enable touch in twrp

k. If it shows “Swipe to Unlock” do so. If it shows “Swipe to Allow Modifications” then wait and continue reading …

swipe to allow image

swipe to unlock

l. “Swipe to Allow Modifications” means you allow TWRP to modify system. This will make sure TWRP remains in the phone and not just vanish after a reboot but it also means you will have to flash some other files to be able to boot into stock rom back.

m.

2 ways from here:-

i. Now after swiping, Decrypt Screen will appear just press cancel.

decrypt screen image

OR

ii. If you have data on the device then enter pin/password or try default_password.

If you had kept pattern then either go back and change it or try this:-

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

these no’s correspond to pattern dots.

Say you kept pattern “third row left to right” then the password is 789 .

If all these fail then you will have to lose your data.

n. As we don’t have any precious data in our phone we will (or you are compromising)

Press “Wipe”

Press “Format Data”

TYPE “yes”

Press “tick” or “enter key”

Done

wipe data video

>Flashing ZIPS

o. Now Copy these 2 files

i. “decrypt.zip” or “decrypt”

ii. “Disable_Dm-Verity_ForceEncrypt_12.16.2018.zip” or “Disable_Dm-Verity_ForceEncrypt_12.16.2018”

From extracted folder to your phones internal storage.

p. Go to Install>select the zip>swipe to flash (flash dm_verity… then decrypt…)

If you don’t see your device storage connected then try reconnecting using USB cable and also check if MTP is enabled.

enable mtp video

>Done

Want to root? Then continue…

or >

Now reboot to system Go to Reboot>System

video to show how to rebbot to system in twrp

Step 5. Rooting

We will be using Magisk to root you can use any other method but this is the only tested method.

a. Copy “Magisk-v18.0.zip” or “Magisk-v18.0” to your phones internal storage from extracted folder.

b. Go to Install>select Magisk…>swipe to flash

Done

c. Now reboot to system Go to Reboot>System

reboot video

e. To use Magisk properly you may need to download latest apk. (Link at last)

Step 6. Relock (NOT TESTED)

a. Connect phone using USB cable to PC

b. Boot into fastboot mode

c. Open “Relock” folder from extracted folder

d. Open “relock.cmd” or “relock” file

Done

Step 7. RESTORING

a. First setup the Device again

b. Copy each and every file back to the phone storage

c. Now to restore messages see the restoring part of this video here

d. WhatsApp messages will be automatically restored after you install the app with same number as before.

Tips

After rooting don’t just go on and flash a custom rom. Take a backup first (of all partitions) using TWRP and keep it safe somewhere so you won’t need to find unbrick tutorials later. Plus you will have your most stable and tailored rom with you.

Also don’t just go on and flash xyz mod. Research and then Flash.

Magisk is our best friend. It lets you do modifications without hurting the system. The Magisk modules are most safe mods as they can be reverted back easily.

And don’t just go on and debloat stock OS. In Magisk there is a module called Debloater use that. You can easily revert back if anything goes wrong.

Other good Magisk modules: - Energized, Systemizer, MidnightCore & Advanced Charging Controller (acc) but do read their XDA guides first.

Sources/Credits:-

Dm_Verity.zip Official XDA:-

link

Original unlocking XDA:-

link

Magisk XDA:-

link

Original Decrypt Data XDA:-

link

TWRP Used XDA:-

link

Credits to the authors of the above guides

Plus sorry for bad editing of videos. I am facing some problems. Will try to post better videos.

I thank all the members who have made the previous guides for their hard work. This guide by no means disrespects their hard work. This guide is just an Addition instead of an Alternative.

Read the full guide

Press the thanks button