The ZTE Grand X 3 (model N928DT) was a popular budget phablet released for the Cricket Wireless network in the US. It offered a large 5.5-inch HD display, a generous 3080 mAh removable battery, and a modern USB Type-C port, which was notable for an entry-level device in 2016. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor, it was a reliable daily driver. This guide provides the official stock ROM, a low-level QFIL / EDL package, designed to unbrick a hard-bricked phone, resolve persistent software errors, or bypass a Google FRP lock.
Important: This is an advanced unbricking procedure. This firmware is specifically for the ZTE Grand X 3 (N928DT). The flashing process requires your phone to be in EDL Mode (9008), and the process will erase all data.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: ZTE Grand X 3 (N928DT)
- Release year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 (MSM8909)
- Display: 5.5″ IPS LCD, HD
- Battery: 3080 mAh (Removable)
- Original OS: Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)
Required Downloads
To flash a Qualcomm device in EDL mode, you will need the specific QPST suite and drivers. You can find the downloads for these in our main guide linked below.
- QPST & QFIL Flash Tool
- Qualcomm QDLoader USB Drivers
Unbrick Firmware (QFIL)
| Region / Carrier | Android | Type | Download | Chipset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA (Cricket Wireless) | 5.1.1 | QFIL EDL Unbrick ROM | Download | Qualcomm |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Restoring a bricked ZTE Grand X 3 requires a Windows PC and the QFIL tool. The process involves installing the correct Qualcomm drivers, forcing your phone into EDL Mode by holding Volume Up + Down and connecting the USB cable, loading the firehose programmer and XML files from the firmware, and then starting the download.
For a detailed, step-by-step guide with screenshots and tool download links, please follow our comprehensive pillar guide: How to Use QFIL to Flash Qualcomm Devices.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for ZTE Grand X 3 (N928DT)
- “No Port Available” / Driver Issues: This is the most common problem. If QFIL doesn’t see the “Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008” port, your drivers are not installed correctly. You must disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows before running the driver installer. Reboot your PC after installation and try again.
- Entering EDL Mode: Ensure the phone is completely powered off. Since it has a removable battery, taking it out for a few seconds is a good idea. Re-insert the battery, then press and hold both Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. While holding them, plug the USB cable into the phone. The screen will stay black, but your PC should make a sound, and the port will appear in QFIL.
- QFIL “Sahara” or “Firehose” Error: This error points to a communication failure. Use a high-quality USB-C cable, connect directly to a reliable USB 2.0 port on your computer, and ensure no other conflicting mobile drivers are installed.
- Cricket Wireless Firmware: This is official firmware for the Cricket Wireless network in the US. After flashing, your device will be restored to this specific software, which will include carrier branding and applications. It will not remove the SIM lock.
FAQs
Q1. My phone is stuck on the Cricket Wireless logo. Will this fix it?
Yes. Being stuck on the carrier logo is a “bootloop,” which is a classic software issue. A clean flash of the official stock ROM using this guide is the most reliable way to fix it by completely resetting the operating system.
Q2. Will this unlock my phone from the Cricket Wireless network?
No. Flashing the stock firmware restores the phone’s original software, but it does not remove the SIM/network lock put in place by the carrier.
Q3. The filename mentions “XFT”, what does that mean?
“XFT” likely stands for “Xiaomi Flash Tool,” which is an incorrect label added by whoever archived the file. This is a ZTE phone with a Qualcomm chipset, so the correct tool is QFIL, not a Xiaomi tool.
Q4. What is a QFIL / EDL firmware?
QFIL (Qualcomm Flash Image Loader) is a tool used to flash firmware in EDL (Emergency Download) mode. This is a very low-level mode, a step below fastboot, designed to recover Qualcomm devices from a “hard brick” state where they are otherwise unresponsive.
