The original ZTE Axon (model A2015) was a premium flagship smartphone launched in 2015. It was designed with a unique aesthetic, featuring decorative grilles and a metal alloy body. The Axon was a powerhouse for its time, boasting a sharp Quad HD (2K) display and the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, along with a dual-camera system for depth effects. 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 for a classic device. It is not a standard update. Flashing this firmware 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 (A2015)
- Release year: 2015
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
- Display: 5.5″ IPS LCD, Quad HD (1440 x 2560)
- Battery: 3000 mAh, Quick Charge 2.0
- Original OS: Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)
- Key Features: Dual Rear Camera, 2K Display, Hi-Fi Audio
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic / Unspecified | V1.0.0B07 | QFIL EDL Unbrick ROM | Download | Qualcomm |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Restoring a bricked ZTE Axon 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 (A2015)
- “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.
- Overheating (Snapdragon 810): The Snapdragon 810 chipset in this phone is well-known for running very hot. During normal use, especially with demanding tasks, the phone can become hot to the touch, leading to performance throttling. A clean flash of the stock ROM can help if rogue background processes are contributing to the heat, but be aware that this is a characteristic of the hardware.
- 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 connection sound, and the port will appear in QFIL.
- Using an Older QFIL Tool: For a classic flagship like the Axon, the latest versions of QPST might have issues. If you encounter errors like ‘Sahara Fail’ or ‘Firehose Fail’, try using a stable, older version of the tool in conjunction with the correct drivers.
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. My phone overheats a lot. Will this fix it?
The Snapdragon 810 chipset is known for overheating. While a clean software flash can help by eliminating rogue apps or processes that add to the thermal load, it cannot change the fundamental hardware characteristic of the processor.
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.
