The ZTE Axon 20 5G (model A2121G) is a historic smartphone, famous for being the world’s first commercially available device with an under-display camera (UDC). This groundbreaking innovation allowed for a truly uninterrupted, notch-less and hole-punch-less full-screen experience on its massive 6.92-inch OLED display. Powered by the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset, it was a showcase of futuristic technology. This guide provides an official 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 20 5G (A2121G). The flashing process requires your phone to be in EDL Mode (9008), and the process will erase all data. Proceed with caution.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: ZTE Axon 20 5G (A2121G)
- Release year: 2020
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G
- Display: 6.92″ OLED, 90Hz, Under-display camera
- Battery: 4220 mAh, 30W fast charging
- Original OS: Android 10, MiFavor 10.5
- Key Feature: World’s First Under-Display Camera
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global / EU / Canada | V1.0.0B07 | QFIL EDL Unbrick ROM | Download | Qualcomm |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Restoring a bricked ZTE Axon 20 5G 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 20 5G
- “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. 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.
- Under-Display Camera Performance: The first-generation UDC on this device is a technological marvel, but its image quality is a known compromise. Selfies may appear softer or hazier than on phones with traditional cameras. Flashing the latest available stock ROM can ensure you have all the latest software algorithms designed to improve UDC image processing.
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 unlock my phone from its carrier?
No. Flashing the stock firmware restores the phone’s original software, but it does not remove the SIM/network lock put in place by a carrier.
Q3. What is an under-display camera?
An under-display camera (UDC) is a camera that is placed underneath a special transparent area of the screen. This allows the display to be a true, uninterrupted full screen with no notches or hole-punch cutouts.
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.
