[GUIDE] [Root] How to Unlock, Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo ZUK Z1

[hackerh2]

The Zuk Z1 is a budget smartphone by Lenovo which packed with advanced features.
Zuk Z1 running on the latest CyanogenMod OS. The bootloader of Lenovo ZUK Z1 is unlockable means you can easily Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo ZUK Z1. Also, we know that TWRP 3.0.0 released recently means you get the latest TWRP on Lenovo ZUK Z1.
The process of Lenovo ZUK Z1 root is very easy all you need to follow the steps.
But before you root ZUK Z1, you need to unlock its bootloader (check How to Unlock Bootloader of Lenovo ZUK Z1).
So before we explain to you how to root and install TWRP recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1, you can check why you should root your device.

Some benefits of Rooting –

• You can install custom ROM and custom kernel on your device for faster and better performance.
• Block Ads in apps with the help of ad blocker.
• Increase performance and battery life by killing background process automatically.
• After you root Zuk Z1 and install custom recovery you can install Xposed Framework to customize your device
• You can use Titanium Backup to restore all of your apps and data.
• You can uninstall bloatware (Pre-installed Apps)

Note:-

• Rooting may void your phone warranty, and you won’t claim it back.
• Follow the steps correctly otherwise you may brick your device. We are not responsible for any damage of your phone.
• It will erase all your phone data, so we advise you first to take a complete backup of your phone and then proceed.
• Ensure that your phone has at least 50-60% charged to prevent the accidental shutdown in-between the process.

Files required to Root Lenovo Zuk Z1 and Install Custom Recovery –

• Download ADB and fastboot driver for windows or ADB and Fastboot for Mac and install it on your PC. This will also install your device driver.
• Download and install Drivers for Lenovo ZUK Z1 if above doesn’t work.
• Download TWRP Recovery for Zuk Z1 and place it in the folder where ADB installed and rename it to ‘recovery.img’.
• Download SuperSu to root Zuk Z1 and copy it to your phone sd card.

How to Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1 –
Install TWRP on Zuk Z1 –

1) First enable USB debugging from setting>developer option>. To enable Developer Options, go to About phone and tap the Build Number 7 times.

2) Now go to installation directory open ADB folder and open the command window thereby pressing and hold the ‘shift’ key and right-clicked anywhere in that folder.

3) Now connect your phone to PC and reboot the device into fastboot mode by typing

adb reboot bootloader

4) You are in Fastboot mode now to check your connection by entering below command in command prompt. It will return your device serial number means your device properly connected. Check your driver if the above command is not responding.

fastboot devices

5) Type the below command correctly in command prompt and then press enter. It starts flashing recovery on your phone.

fastboot -i 0x2b4c flash recovery recovery.img

6) With above command you installed the custom recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1.

Root Zuk Z1 –

1) To Root Lenovo Zuk Z1 first, Open the TWRP and Root Tool folder.

2) Now save the SuperSu.zip file to your phone.

3) Boot your device into Recovery mode (TWRP) by pressing ‘Volume Up + Power‘ button.

4) In TWRP recovery navigate to Install Zip and select ‘SuperSu.zip’ to root Zuk Z1.

5) Swipe to install SuperSu and reboot your device. That’s it, you root Zuk Z1 and install custom recovery on Zuk Z1 successfully.

So this is the complete guide of how to Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1 with easy steps. If you have any questions, then comment below.

 

[nishdroid]

Thank you @hackerh2 for this wonderful guide on rooting and installing custom recovering.
I have a few questions to you or anyone else:
1. Is this the only method to ROOT ZUK Z1? (If there are alternative please specify)
2. Is the recovery in the download link different from the one in android development?
3. Has anyone tried this method with success (No offence just playing safe)

 

[fayizct]

How to unlock bootloader

The Zuk Z1 is a budget smartphone by Lenovo which packed with advanced features.
Zuk Z1 running on the latest CyanogenMod OS. The bootloader of Lenovo ZUK Z1 is unlockable means you can easily Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo ZUK Z1. Also, we know that TWRP 3.0.0 released recently means you get the latest TWRP on Lenovo ZUK Z1.
The process of Lenovo ZUK Z1 root is very easy all you need to follow the steps.
But before you root ZUK Z1, you need to unlock its bootloader (check How to Unlock Bootloader of Lenovo ZUK Z1).
So before we explain to you how to root and install TWRP recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1, you can check why you should root your device.

Some benefits of Rooting –

• You can install custom ROM and custom kernel on your device for faster and better performance.
• Block Ads in apps with the help of ad blocker.
• Increase performance and battery life by killing background process automatically.
• After you root Zuk Z1 and install custom recovery you can install Xposed Framework to customize your device
• You can use Titanium Backup to restore all of your apps and data.
• You can uninstall bloatware (Pre-installed Apps)

Note:-

• Rooting may void your phone warranty, and you won’t claim it back.
• Follow the steps correctly otherwise you may brick your device. We are not responsible for any damage of your phone.
• It will erase all your phone data, so we advise you first to take a complete backup of your phone and then proceed.
• Ensure that your phone has at least 50-60% charged to prevent the accidental shutdown in-between the process.

Files required to Root Lenovo Zuk Z1 and Install Custom Recovery –

• Download ADB and fastboot driver for windows or ADB and Fastboot for Mac and install it on your PC. This will also install your device driver.
• Download and install Drivers for Lenovo ZUK Z1 if above doesn’t work.
• Download TWRP Recovery for Zuk Z1 and place it in the folder where ADB installed and rename it to ‘recovery.img’.
• Download SuperSu to root Zuk Z1 and copy it to your phone sd card.

How to Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1 –
Install TWRP on Zuk Z1 –

1) First enable USB debugging from setting>developer option>. To enable Developer Options, go to About phone and tap the Build Number 7 times.

2) Now go to installation directory open ADB folder and open the command window thereby pressing and hold the ‘shift’ key and right-clicked anywhere in that folder.

3) Now connect your phone to PC and reboot the device into fastboot mode by typing

adb reboot bootloader

4) You are in Fastboot mode now to check your connection by entering below command in command prompt. It will return your device serial number means your device properly connected. Check your driver if the above command is not responding.

fastboot devices

5) Type the below command correctly in command prompt and then press enter. It starts flashing recovery on your phone.

fastboot -i 0x2b4c flash recovery recovery.img

6) With above command you installed the custom recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1.

Root Zuk Z1 –

1) To Root Lenovo Zuk Z1 first, Open the TWRP and Root Tool folder.

2) Now save the SuperSu.zip file to your phone.

3) Boot your device into Recovery mode (TWRP) by pressing ‘Volume Up + Power‘ button.

4) In TWRP recovery navigate to Install Zip and select ‘SuperSu.zip’ to root Zuk Z1.

5) Swipe to install SuperSu and reboot your device. That’s it, you root Zuk Z1 and install custom recovery on Zuk Z1 successfully.

So this is the complete guide of how to Root and Install TWRP Recovery on Lenovo Zuk Z1 with easy steps. If you have any questions, then comment below.

So no need to unlock boot loader? Also pls provide a guide to revert back to stock.

 

[shravanm]

How to check the bootloader unlock status on the device?

 

[ishan_189]

Thanks, It is working on my ZUK Z1 (Indian retail version)

 

[akvpappan]

How to check the bootloader unlock status on the device?

Boot into bootloader of your device. Open command prompt in the adb and fastboot folder. Execute the following command :
fastboot -i 0x2b4c device-info

check the status of "device unlocked". If it is true, your device is unlocked else it is locked.

 

[snkshukla]

Phone not rooted.

I flashed the supersu zip, the supersu app was installed but still there is no root access. The apps show that the root access was not found.

 

[saurav007]

I flashed the supersu zip, the supersu app was installed but still there is no root access. The apps show that the root access was not found.

Which recovery you're using and what was the SuperSU version you flashed?

 

[94siddharth]

unable to unlock bootloader

even after doing all the things mentioned i get an error stating that the "device not found":crying:

 

[saurav007]

even after doing all the things mentioned i get an error stating that the "device not found":crying:

You can follow this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/zuk-z1/help/guide-unlock-bootloader-zuk-z1-wiping-t3251801

 

[sunny`123]

error device not found

when i started this the code came was this "error device not found"
what is the solution

 

[giaur]

What is that code after -i? Why not fastboot oem unlock? This looks weird for me.

 

[wiikii]

can u give the link for usb driver ..coz above link opens in other language which i cant read ..for zukz 1

 

[wiikii]

it is showing nothing in fastboot devices??
wat to do??
drivers are installed correctly

 

[ganoliya]

flashed recovery.img, but device still booting to stock cyanogen recovery.

Hello
I followed the complete process, but when I boot the device into recovery, then instead of twrp, it is stock cyanogen recovery.
Help me.

 

[srprashant2705]

The links are down

 

[GimpTech]

***I had myself a moment and didn't realize I had doubled up the .img in the recovery file name, everything's good now ***


So, I've gotten a fair way into this - it took quite some time to get the drivers to play nice for this to all work, but now I'm running into a snag.

Using either the TOOL ALL IN ONE or the command prompts, any time I go to actually flash the TWRP recovery, all I get is "< waiting for device >" and it hangs. This happens with any device specific command other than the checks to see if the bootloader has been unlocked. The drivers are sound, the developers settings are as they're supposed to be, I just can't seem to get the recovery to flash. Using the command prompt, I receive a different error, "error: cannot load 'recovery.img' "

I'm not sure if it's worth noting, but when using just the command prompt from the folder, the fastboot devices command does not list any devices, however it lists my device in the TOOL ALL IN ONE. I'm not sure why that would be, either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[someoneelse999]

If it's any help I installed CM13 manually yesterday, and had to jump through a hoop in Windows 10 to get the driver to apply properly.

If you have device manager open when using the command prompt to reboot into fastboot, the phone will disappear then reappear with an error icon.

You then have to manually assign the driver.

Hope this makes sense, I can maybe add screenshots if that helps.

As an aside, I installed CM13 snapshot, from April. It's missing a few things like setting individual sims on/off and the hidden engineer mode (to recalibrate sensors). Is anyone using nightlies with everything working?

Uri

 

[Akhil916]

Reboots to bootloader but fastboot devices gives nothing. The drivers are all fine.

 

[someoneelse999]

How does the zuk show up in Windows device manager once it boots in to fastboot?