[Asus Zenfone 5 (2018, ZE620KL) Guides, News, & Dis] Conobipe:
[ZE620KL/Android 9][TREBLE] COMPLETE GUIDE: Unlocking, Rooting & Flash GSI + Fixes

Unlocking bootloader to Flashing GSI (Asus Zenfone 5 [ZE620KL] / Android 9.0)

/*
* Your warranty is now void.
*
* I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns about features included in this ROM
* before flashing it! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
* you point the finger at me for messing up your device, I will laugh at you.
*/

About :

The last guide could leads to soft brick, as the instructions were not clear nor the files not supported for Android 9.0.

Here is a complete guide with TWRP 3.3.0 for Android 9.0, clear instructions and multiple fixes for GSI.

It has been tested on stock version v16.0615.1903.92.​

Requirements :

- A stock version V16.0610.XXXX.XX or higher

-

A phone on Android 9.0

(not 8.0!)

- A fully working USB cable

- Latest ADB / Fastboot drivers

- Bootloader unlocker (download latest from Asus website or from here)

- TWRP 3.3.0 image

- Android9EncryptionDisablerZE620KL.zip

- Magisk v19.3​

Instructions :

Unlocking Bootloader

1. Backup all your important data.

2. Install the bootloader unlocker APK, and follow the steps.

You will loss your warranty here, and it will factory reset your data

3. If there is any issue here, go into your stock recovery (volume down + power button) and factory reset.​

Installing TWRP

4. Shutdown your device & boot in fastboot mode using volume up + power button.

5. Check that the connection between your device and your computer by typing this in your command line :

fastboot devices

6. Flash TWRP recovery using :

fastboot flash recovery <twrp_name>.img

7. Now reboot in recovery mode using :

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

8. In TWRP, select Wipe > Format Data > enter "yes" and confirm

9. Return to the main menu, select Reboot > Recovery

10. Do 8. & 9. and again

11. Using TWRP or ADB, install Android9EncryptionDisablerZE620KL.zip (on TWRP, go into Install > find Android9EncryptionDisablerZE620KL.zip > Install zip)

If everything has gone successfully, you now have a custom recovery.

As for some GSIs, a patched boot partition may cause bootloop, you should try installing Magisk after installing the GSI. If you want to keep your stock ROM, go directly to "Magisk Installation" section.
​

Installing a GSI

This step may vary depending on the different GSIs distribution. I assume you install Havoc OS v2.7 GSI which actually works on this device.

1. Backup all your important data using TWRP backup.

2. Select the arm64-aonly GSI image you want, and move it on your external SD.

3. Wipe Data, Dalvik, and Cache.

4. Go back in the main menu of TWRP, and reboot to recovery.

5. Remove Magisk if it was previously installed, by using its uninstaller script.

6. Flash the GSI to system partition.

7. Boot and perform a factory reset.​

Installing Magisk

1. Add the Magisk zip archive to your external storage.

2. Boot into TWRP recovery, and install the zip.

3. Enjoy!​

Bug fixes:

Insufficient storage in the system partition to flash GApps : Download your OpenGApps archive on your external SD, and use MagicGApps 2018.9.23 to install GApps.

Auto-Brightness doesn't work: Download framework-res__auto_generated_rro.apk from here.

Using a root explorer or command-line, push the APK to /vendor/overlay.

Then run the following command in a rooted terminal or ADB shell:

chcon u:object_r:vendor_overlay_file:s0 /vendor/overlay;chcon u:object_r:vendor_overlay_file:s0 /vendor/overlay/framework-res__auto_generated_rro.apk

My camera doesn't work well (green tint on face camera) and/or the app doesn't boot: If Asus Camera doesn't launch on your GSI, you should probably edit your /system/build.prob file.

You need to edit ro.product.model, ro.product.brand, ro.product.name, ro.product.device, ro.product.manufacturer & ro.build.product properties to be:

ro.product.model=ASUS_X00QD
ro.product.brand=asus
ro.product.name=WW_Phone
ro.product.device=ASUS_X00QD
ro.product.manufacturer=asus
ro.build.product=ZE620KL

You can instead use Google Camera mod (port from Arnova8G2 & modded by 5Z community, thanks to them!), which works well (edit: there is a bug on HavocOS, we can't access settings).
​

Bonus:

- You can reinstall DTS Headphone:X here.

- For booting your kernel in Permissive mode, check here

Sources:

TWRP 3.3.0 : On GitHub

If you need help or if you want to help on ZE620KL development go here:

https://t.me/Zenfone5Dev

(We will continue to update & help here though.)

Many thanks to all of the Zenfone 5 community (particularly Emincan, Pandolfi and Lmajkej),

Phhusson & Erfan for their works on GSI, and Shakalaca for its work on TWRP 3.3.0!​