ZMAX4EVER
Well-Known Member
How did you get to the screen that allowed you to select the T-Mobile or MetroPCS network?
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Root ZTE ZMAX Pro (Z981) root discussion
- Thread starter Masterchief87
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How did you get to the screen that allowed you to select the T-Mobile or MetroPCS network?
Masterchief87
Android Expert
If that is so then T-Mobile will probably sell it too. I remember walmart family mobile version of the first ZMAX came with T-Mobile firmware.Sorry Supergear... That is NOT correct..
Walmart here on the West Coast.. now carries the Zmax Pro for $149.99 under the "Walmart-Family-Mobile" banner.. would have taken a pic of it but trust me.. they now have it as well.. just priced $110.00 higher than you can get it on MetroPCS if you buy and port a number..
Jimmy Dixx
Well-Known Member
Well, it has gotten to that point. This phone is a piece of crap. Without root, that is exactly what it is. A piece of trash. It has constantly started freezing/rebooting on me, the keyboard is inaccurate as hell, and constantly changes words I do not want changed, and it never reports storage space accurately. I hate to say it, but I am switching back to my properly working (albeit dated) rooted Galaxy S3 with a crack on the screen. If this phone ever gets root I may start using again, if I haven't sold it by then.
ZMAX4EVER
Well-Known Member
Wow.. the S3 is one of the worst phones I've ever used. Hahaha. I love my ZMAX PRO. Zero problems on mine. Great phone.
Jimmy Dixx
Well-Known Member
Good for you. My S3 has been great to me. It has been heavily abused over the course of several years, and it STILL WORKS LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.. and better. Sure it is a bit slow for today, but it works. Properly. And has root. And as an added bonus, PDANet works on the S3 the way it is supposed to work, USB and all.
Elgindelta
Newbie
Well i jumped right in ready to brick if need be, the second I saw a z981 listed on srsroot. I know nothing of this art, so this is what I did. I pre loaded SuperSU, a real time directory called davik something and an exe reader. When I DL it my phone I uploaded it to Google drive, then re dld it back through the exe reader. It's been about 20 minutes and although I have not gotten any messages to confirm I know for certain that after launching the root attempt, the bloat traffic is GONE. I checked with super su but it said not rooted yet. I don't know what the time frame is. But I'll check in am and update. PS, I'm on the unit now. Soo, we will see
JayBondzeWell
Android Enthusiast
Are you able to access the root folders?
elogikal
Newbie
So I chatted with ZTE today and it's not looking good for unlocking the bootloader. I know we've already kinda known this, but I wanted to find out for myself. I am not a developer in any way, shape or form, I just enjoy root and all things root. I could tell this guy was just giving canned responses but, anyway, here is the transcript:
Justin H.: “Thank you for contacting ZTE’s Chat customer service, we appreciate your business and value our relationship. At the end of this session you will receive a brief three question satisfaction survey on the support you received. Please take the time to provide your feedback on your experience today. Thank you.”
Justin H.: Hello, my name is Justin. How can I help you with the bootloader?
Erik S.: Hi Justin, I was hoping you could provide me with some assistance in unlocking the bootloader on my ZMAX Pro today.
Justin H.: We do not provide information for unlocking the bootloader on the Zmax pro.
Erik S.: Okay. Why is that?
Justin H.: It would void the warranty.
Erik S.: That's fine, I'm not concerned with the warranty. I am a developer and need access to the bootloader. If the bootloader is unlocked, barring any hardware issues I can fix any software related issues myself.
Justin H.: I understand, however we do not have information on how to unlock the bootloader on the device.
Erik S.: What about access to adb and fastboot?
Justin H.: It would be the same thing we do not have information for those items.
Justin H.: You can always search the internet for information on how to unlock the device.
Erik S.: Okay, someone at ZTE must have that information. Who would I need to speak with?
Justin H.: We do not have that information.
Erik S.: Someone does. You can't develop and mass produce Android devices without someone in your company knowing about the bootloader.
Justin H.: The best you can do is to go onto our Z community and see if anyone would be able to to give you that information.
Justin H.: Here is our z community page: https://community.zteusa.com/welcome
Erik S.: Lol. C'mon now, Justin. You know that effort is futile. Is there a way I can chat with or call your development team?
Justin H.: I understand that you are wanting to have us unlock your device.
Erik S.: Yes, sir.
Justin H.: We do not unlock the Zmax pro.
Justin H.: The only device currently that we are working on unlocking the bootloader for is the Axon 7.
Erik S.: You've mentioned that before. How can I get in touch with your development team?
Justin H.: You can post on the z community forum.
Erik S.: I'm sure the development team isn't very active there. There has to be a way to get in touch with your development team directly.
Justin H.: The development team is not readily available to talk to customers.
Erik S.: I understand if they're not readily available. They are very busy people. They can get in touch with me whenever they have the chance...
Justin H.: You can also see about emailing mobile@zte.com.cn to see if they can route your question to the development team.
Erik S.: Or if you guys want to swap my ZMAX Pro for an Axon 7. I am specifically working on an application that is having bugs with ZTE handsets in particular and need need access to the bootloader to pull the logs.
Justin H.: Since the Zmax Pro is a carrier device, you would need to return the device to MetroPCS and then order a Axon 7.
Erik S.: You've been an incredible help, Justin. Thank you so much for your insight.
Justin H.: Are there any other questions I can answer today?
Erik S.: Not at all. You have a stupendous day!!!
Justin H.: Thank you for choosing ZTE. Have a nice day and don't forget the short survey at the end of the chat. Just tap on disconnect at the top of the chat.
You have disconnected.
Justin H.: We do not unlock the Zmax pro.
Justin H.: The only device currently that we are working on unlocking the bootloader for is the Axon 7.
Erik S.: You've mentioned that before. How can I get in touch with your development team?
Justin H.: You can post on the z community forum.
Erik S.: I'm sure the development team isn't very active there. There has to be a way to get in touch with your development team directly.
Justin H.: The development team is not readily available to talk to customers.
Erik S.: I understand if they're not readily available. They are very busy people. They can get in touch with me whenever they have the chance...
Justin H.: You can also see about emailing mobile@zte.com.cn to see if they can route your question to the development team.
Erik S.: Or if you guys want to swap my ZMAX Pro for an Axon 7. I am specifically working on an application that is having bugs with ZTE handsets in particular and need need access to the bootloader to pull the logs.
Justin H.: Since the Zmax Pro is a carrier device, you would need to return the device to MetroPCS and then order a Axon 7.
Erik S.: You've been an incredible help, Justin. Thank you so much for your insight.
Justin H.: Are there any other questions I can answer today?
Erik S.: Not at all. You have a stupendous day!!!
Justin H.: Thank you for choosing ZTE. Have a nice day and don't forget the short survey at the end of the chat. Just tap on disconnect at the top of the chat.
You have disconnected.
Elgindelta
Newbie
Alas, I am not. As far as the bootloader. You can unlock that in developer options. That's what I did.
That sounds like you're just toggling the Settings -> Developer options -> OEM unlocking which would enable you to then unlock the bootloader from fastboot--provided that (bootloader unlocking) was actually supported by the bootloader.
Toggling that in the Settings app does not actually unlock your bootloader.
Masterchief87
Android Expert
We really don't know if the bootloader is locked or not. Maybe it is locked and maybe it isn't.
If you contact ZTE customer service and ask for information about unlocking the bootloader they will assume it is locked because that is what you are implying and they really don't have any idea.
If you contact ZTE customer service and ask for information about unlocking the bootloader they will assume it is locked because that is what you are implying and they really don't have any idea.
Masterchief87
Android Expert
If anyone can think of additional information that I should add to the first post let me know. To be honest I haven't been paying much attention and will probably be selling my ZMAX pro once I have enough money to replace it with something better.
I bought it knowing full well that it might never get root but it to me is just a hold me over until I can get something better.
I bought it knowing full well that it might never get root but it to me is just a hold me over until I can get something better.
Elgindelta
Newbie
Sneaky bastards, it is a thing that says OEM "allow the boot loader to be unlocked". So the theory is that it cannot be? Why ad the OEM option in if that were the case? OmG, did they troll us? Remember this is the same company that left the back door open a few years ago. The prevailing theory is accidentally, not so sure though. And why produce an almost great unit, and attach the stygma of non rootability. Zte don't got no time for that. And how could a 1 button root be claimed if it's not bypassable
Elgindelta
Newbie
And further more, how...in the world did some @$$hat get programs on my phone that seem rooted? I was reading the activity logs last night and mine is outright giving itself permissions to run, collect data, send that data, and then erase the action entirely save the logs. So much so that I literally disable the download app unless I'm using it and restrict background data.
Elgindelta
Newbie
Awww yea, here we go. And post the binaries. Gonna need that
I know there are newer posts on here. I am a little scared to try this myself as i do not have the money to replace my phone right now if i brick it, but as of Oct 6th and article on http://kidapso.com/how-to-root-zte-zmax-pro/ says that Autoroot tools v 4.7.1 will root our Z981.
I normally would have already downloaded it and tried it out before posting, however like i said right now i do not have the money to replace a bricked phone.
I normally would have already downloaded it and tried it out before posting, however like i said right now i do not have the money to replace a bricked phone.
Elgindelta
Newbie
Hmmm what we need is someone who is so fed up with the snarky concept of manufacturers selling phones thinking that they still belong to said company. Willing to brick a bloatfloat and ready to purchase a rootable phone in that event...wait! I got it. I'll do it. Lemme research the Intel first, I'll up date in a bit
Elgindelta
Newbie
The screen in the demo says samsung? That sounds off. Not to mention I tried to get zte to confirm the bootloader unlock, they confirmed it is locked.
That sounds like you're just toggling the Settings -> Developer options -> OEM unlocking which would enable you to then unlock the bootloader from fastboot--provided that (bootloader unlocking) was actually supported by the bootloader.
Toggling that in the Settings app does not actually unlock your bootloader.
I have a few questions, how do you unlock the bootloader from fastboot? also what should happen after you unlock the bootloader? do you get write permissions into the boot partition and you are able to change the bash script that mounts the system partition?
I have rooted a RemixOS system image, is that procedure similar at what you need to root and android phone?
5318008
Well-Known Member
Looks like copy/paste clickbait bullcarp to me. They talk about what to do if you're on versions of Android earlier than 6, which doesn't apply to this phone, and at the bottom they have a link to another copy/paste article on how to upgrade your Pro to android 6, which it's already on. So, I'm guessing they just have a bunch of generic pages they make and fill in a bunch of different phone models, just for clicks and ad money. Same thing with the sadroid and rootoreviews hits, all the non-forum results when you google "Zmax Pro Root" are just clickbait sites with no valid info.
Elgindelta
Newbie
Agreed. Way to sketchy looking of a site.
5318008
Well-Known Member
Have you read the thread much? We can't get into fastboot.
MustangLife
Well-Known Member
I stayed 2 years on a KitKat ZTE Boost Max before going to this phone 3 weeks ago. Sadly I miss root functionality. Xposed, Gravity Box, etc. If MetroPCS sales rep told me this phone is not rooted and probably won't ever be than I wouldn't have purchased the phone. ZTE customer service seems horrible to be honest
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