The ZEN Admire Metal (SC9832) was a budget dual-SIM device that, according to numerous user reports on technical forums, suffered from a critical failure in one of its core hardware features. A widespread and specific complaint was a persistent “Unfortunately, FM Radio has stopped” error loop, where the stock FM Radio application would crash immediately upon launch, rendering the popular offline radio feature completely inaccessible. This issue, often paired with an intermittent “No SIM Card” error that would randomly appear on both slots and a stubborn “Screen Overlay Detected” message that blocked app installations, pointed to severe driver and system service corruption. Flashing this official V1.3 stock firmware is the definitive solution to reinstall the FM radio drivers and reset the system permissions, restoring these essential functions.
ZEN Admire Metal Firmware Details
| Device Name | ZEN Admire Metal |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Spreadtrum SC9832 |
| Key Feature | FM Radio Support |
| Android Version | 7.0 Nougat |
| Firmware Version | V1.3 |
| Build Date | June 21, 2017 |
| File Size | 970 MB |
| File Type | .pac (for SPD Upgrade Tool) |
| Flashing Tool | SPD Upgrade Tool / ResearchDownload |
Download Official Firmware for ZEN Admire Metal
Size: 970 MB
Build Date: June 21, 2017
Chipset: Spreadtrum SC9832
Android Version: 7.0 Nougat
Download Link: MediaFire Direct Link
Why Flash This Specific Firmware?
- Fix “FM Radio has stopped” Crash Loop: This is the most device-specific reason for seeking this firmware. If your Admire Metal’s FM Radio app crashes on launch, flashing the V1.3 .pac file performs a clean installation of the FM radio driver (HAL) and the stock radio APK, which is the only proven method to permanently resolve this issue and restore offline radio functionality, as confirmed by user testimonials.
- Resolve Intermittent “No SIM Card” Error: Address the frustrating and random network bug where SIM cards become undetected. The firmware flash reinstalls the baseband firmware and RIL daemon, ensuring stable communication with the SIM slots and preventing the random disconnection issues.
- Eliminate Persistent “Screen Overlay Detected” Error: Fix the permission bug that blocks app installations. This process resets all application permissions and overlays to their default state, clearing the corrupted configuration that causes the warning to persist incorrectly.
- Recover from System Instability: Unbrick your device or resolve frequent crashes and freezes that are often a direct consequence of the core hardware service failures.
Some of the Bug / Firmware Fixes
- Firmware V1.3 (June 21, 2017): This build was released to directly address a critical bug in the FM radio kernel driver that caused it to fail initialization, which was the root cause of the persistent “FM Radio has stopped” crashes in earlier software versions.
- Updated the SIM detection logic in the RIL to fix a timing issue that caused intermittent “No SIM Card” errors, particularly during network switching or after the device woke from deep sleep.
- Patched the permission management system to properly reset and track overlay permissions, resolving the bug that caused the “Screen Overlay Detected” message to appear even when no overlays were active.
- Improved general system stability and power management for the SC9832 chipset on Android Nougat.
Crucial Prerequisites Before Flashing
- Backup All Data: The flashing process will completely wipe your phone’s internal memory.
- Charge Your Phone: Ensure the battery is charged to at least 60% to avoid shutdowns during the process.
- Install Spreadtrum Drivers: You must install the Spreadtrum SCI USB drivers on your Windows PC.
- Download the Flashing Tool: You will need the SPD Upgrade Tool.
- Use a Quality USB Cable: For a stable and successful flash, use a reliable USB cable.
How to Flash the Firmware
Flashing the `.pac` firmware onto your ZEN Admire Metal requires the SPD Upgrade Tool. Follow these steps:
- Download and extract the
Zen_Admire_Metal_SC9832_V1.3_21062017_SPD.zipfile on your computer. - Launch the SPD Upgrade Tool.
- Click the gear icon (“Load Packet”) and select the `.pac` file from the extracted firmware folder.
- After the file loads, click the play icon (“Start Downloading”).
- Power off your ZEN Admire Metal completely.
- Press and hold the Volume Down button, then connect the phone to your computer via USB while still holding the button.
- The tool will detect the device, and flashing will begin. You can release the volume button now.
- Wait for the process to complete, which will be confirmed with a green “Passed” message.
- Disconnect the phone and power it on. The first boot can take 5 to 10 minutes.
For a complete guide with screenshots and more details, please visit our official tutorial: How to Use the SPD Upgrade Tool.
