The ZTE Axon 9 Pro (model A2019) was a premium flagship smartphone launched in 2018. It featured a high-quality AMOLED display with HDR10 support, a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, and was one of the few phones of its time to offer an IP68 dust/water resistance rating. With features like wireless charging and stereo speakers, it was a true high-end offering. This guide provides the official China stock ROM, a low-level QFIL / EDL package, designed to unbrick a hard-bricked phone or perform a complete factory restore.
Important: This is an advanced unbricking procedure. This firmware is specifically for the ZTE Axon 9 Pro (A2019) China variant and does not contain Google Play Services. The process will erase all data and requires your phone to be in EDL Mode (9008).
Quick Device Specs
- Device: ZTE Axon 9 Pro (A2019)
- Release year: 2018
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
- Display: 6.21″ AMOLED, HDR10
- Battery: 4000 mAh, 18W wired & Wireless Charging
- Original OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
- Key Features: IP68 Rating, Stereo Speakers, Wireless Charging
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 | Build | Type | Download | Chipset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V1.0.0B07 | QFIL EDL Unbrick ROM | Download | Qualcomm |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Restoring a bricked ZTE Axon 9 Pro 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 Axon 9 Pro
- CRITICAL – China ROM / No Google Services: This is an official ROM for the Chinese market. It does not include Google Play Services or the Google Play Store and will have Chinese apps and services. This ROM is best suited for restoring a Chinese-variant device. Flashing it on a global version will remove your Google apps.
- “No Port Available” / Driver Issues: 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. 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. For a completely dead device, you may need to use hardware test points.
- 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 3.0 port on your computer, and ensure no other conflicting mobile drivers are installed.
FAQs
Q1. 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.
Q2. Will this ROM install Google Play Store on my phone?
No. This is an official China ROM and does not contain any Google apps or services. They would need to be installed manually after flashing, which can be a complex process.
Q3. My phone is the European version, can I use this ROM?
It is strongly advised against it. While it may flash, this China ROM will replace your phone’s software, remove Google services, and may have different modem configurations that could cause network issues. It is always best to use the firmware for your specific region.
Q4. Will this process erase my data?
Yes. A QFIL flash is a complete factory restore that erases all user data from the phone’s internal storage.
