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Root ZTE ZMAX Pro (Z981) root discussion

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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
 
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
Customer service is decent they just dont support rooting for this device. MetroPCS is not allowed to discuss rooting functionality.
 
i have notices that when root its trying to take place and open door it gets back into recovery mode puting the phone into bootloader. im trying to get ro.bootmode=recovery change to fastboot
 
Hi all. I just purchased this phone about an hour ago and I actually like it. I was on my Galaxy Mega for the last 3 or 4 years. Anyway, would a bounty for achieving root entice some people to try harder? I'm willing to chip in $40 just to get things going. Everybody could donate via Paypal. Once this thing is rooted she's gonna be a beast of a device.
 
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.​
Hey, get a replacement at metro. You have a defective device, and need to have it replaced. I have non of those issues. My phone is flawless.
 
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Hi all. I just purchased this phone about an hour ago and I actually like it. I was on my Galaxy Mega for the last 3 or 4 years. Anyway, would a bounty for achieving root entice some people to try harder? I'm willing to chip in $40 just to get things going. Everybody could donate via Paypal. Once this thing is rooted she's gonna be a beast of a device.
People tried that with the original ZMAX and it didn't work.
 
Actually, you're completely wrong. There was a reward offered in the xdev forums and helped to generate the eventual root. Having a reward offered is a great idea.
So you are saying the KingRoot team gave the of ZMAX special treatment because people were offering a root bounty and that the people who promised money actually gave it to the KingRoot team after root was obtained?
 
So you are saying the KingRoot team gave the of ZMAX special treatment because people were offering a root bounty and that the people who promised money actually gave it to the KingRoot team after root was obtained?

No. There was a HUGE thread, I think in XDA? That was filled with people trying to root the original ZMAX. I think the bounty went up to like $800. I do believe there was a root method discovered by someone who collected the bounty. At least to my knowledge. I used to follow that thread every day... but can't seem to find it now. There were actually two entire threads because there were so many posts they rebooted the root thread a second time. I'll search around and see if I can find it. Perhaps it wasn't the same root method currently used.
 
I'm aware that a reward was offered. I'm saying that as far as I know it didn't make a difference. It was KingRoot that finally rooted the ZMAX and I don't think they gave the ZMAX special treatment based on a few people offering to pay for root. I also don't think they ever got any of that money. The same thing goes for jcase.
 
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I also came across this.. don't know if you guys saw it.. this guy on ZTE forum has me thinking that maybe ZTE is giving us the run around about the carrier being responsible for unlocking bootloader. He also makes a firm statement that root is coming without bootloader unlock soon like he has inside info..
 
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:

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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.”
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Justin H.: Hello, my name is Justin. How can I help you with the bootloader?
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Erik S.: Hi Justin, I was hoping you could provide me with some assistance in unlocking the bootloader on my ZMAX Pro today.
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Justin H.: We do not provide information for unlocking the bootloader on the Zmax pro.
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Erik S.: Okay. Why is that?
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Justin H.: It would void the warranty.
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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.
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Justin H.: I understand, however we do not have information on how to unlock the bootloader on the device.
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Erik S.: What about access to adb and fastboot?
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Justin H.: It would be the same thing we do not have information for those items.
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Justin H.: You can always search the internet for information on how to unlock the device.
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Erik S.: Okay, someone at ZTE must have that information. Who would I need to speak with?
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Justin H.: We do not have that information.
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Erik S.: Someone does. You can't develop and mass produce Android devices without someone in your company knowing about the bootloader.
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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.
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Justin H.: Here is our z community page: https://community.zteusa.com/welcome
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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?
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Justin H.: I understand that you are wanting to have us unlock your device.
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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.
So in other words he's saying.YOUR NOT GETTING ROOT UNLESS YOU BUY OUR MOST EXPENSIVE FLAG SHIP PHONE. LOL
 
How many ppl have tried turning off the RO from a PC terminal ADB shell connected to the device?
 
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I also came across this.. don't know if you guys saw it.. this guy on ZTE forum has me thinking that maybe ZTE is giving us the run around about the carrier being responsible for unlocking bootloader. He also makes a firm statement that root is coming without bootloader unlock soon like he has inside info..
It's always the carrier that is responsible for locked bootloaders. And you honestly have to take what you hear from unofficial sources with a grain of salt. Things are said, and then they are quoted, and re quoted, and re quoted. The translation gets lost over time. Plus some people just like to talk shit as well. I trust the word from ZTE, because honestly to this point, and as with other ZTE devices they haven't given me a reason not to believe what they say.
 
Me? No, I'm running the Warp Sync. But it worked for the original Zmax also, which removed the requirements for swapping boot/recovery partitions. I recommend using a PC terminal.
Check it here:
http://androidforums.com/index.php?posts/7317521
Cool, lots changed since those phones came out, lollipop/marshmallow brought a lot of features, would cool to hear if it works, looks like it just enables a system wide "root" if I'm right? Unless I have a incorrect idea of root it more or less just a set of privileges to modify normally system protected directories and memory spaces. Just for some info but this does allow the phone to Boot with a unprotected system partition right? I'll give it a shot later since it seems promising
 
Cool, lots changed since those phones came out, lollipop/marshmallow brought a lot of features, would cool to hear if it works, looks like it just enables a system wide "root" if I'm right? Unless I have a incorrect idea of root it more or less just a set of privileges to modify normally system protected directories and memory spaces. Just for some info but this does allow the phone to Boot with a unprotected system partition right? I'll give it a shot later since it seems promising
That command does nothing for this device without root
 
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