The ZTE Blade A3 Joy (model Z6201V) is a basic 4G LTE smartphone designed for US prepaid carriers like TracFone. It focuses on providing an accessible Android experience for essential tasks, featuring a 5.5-inch display and powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) processor. This guide provides the official US stock ROM, which is essential for unbricking the device, fixing software bugs that cause freezing or bootloops, or removing a Google FRP lock by restoring the phone to its original factory state.
Important: This firmware is specifically for the ZTE Blade A3 Joy (Z6201V). As a MediaTek device, it requires the SP Flash Tool for flashing. Flashing this on a different model will cause a hard brick. This process will erase all data on your device.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: ZTE Blade A3 Joy (Z6201V)
- Release year: 2020
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761)
- Display: 5.5″ IPS LCD, HD+
- Battery: 2650 mAh
- Original OS: Android 9 Pie
Required Downloads
To flash a MediaTek device, you will need the specific drivers and flashing tool. You can find the downloads for these in our main guide linked below.
- SP Flash Tool
- MediaTek VCOM USB Drivers
Stock ROM (Firmware)
| Region / Carrier | Build | Android | Type | Download | Chipset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA (TracFone) | V1.0.0B06 | 9.0 | SP Flash Tool Firmware | Download | MediaTek |
How to Flash the Stock Firmware
Flashing the stock ROM onto your ZTE Blade A3 Joy requires a Windows PC and the SP Flash Tool. The process involves installing the MediaTek VCOM drivers, loading the MT6761_Android_scatter.txt file from the firmware into the tool, and then connecting your powered-off phone to start the flash. This will completely restore your device to its original factory software.
For detailed, step-by-step instructions with screenshots and tool download links, please follow our comprehensive pillar guide: How to Flash Firmware with SP Flash Tool.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for ZTE Blade A3 Joy
- Correct Driver Installation: The most common failure point is incorrect drivers. If the tool doesn’t see your phone, you must install the MediaTek VCOM drivers, which often requires you to disable ‘Driver Signature Enforcement’ in Windows first.
- Using the “Boot Key”:** To initiate the flash, power the phone off completely. Press and hold the Volume Down button, and *while holding it*, connect the phone to your PC. The tool should then detect it and begin the process. If that fails, try holding both Volume Up and Volume Down together.
- Fixing Google FRP Lock:** If you’re locked out of your phone by Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP), flashing this stock ROM will perform a complete wipe and remove the locked account.
- SP Flash Tool Auth/DA Error:** Some MediaTek devices with Secure Boot require a special ‘Download Agent’ (DA) file. If you get an authentication or DA error in SP Flash Tool, you may need to find a custom DA file specific to the MT6761 chipset and load it into the dedicated field in the tool before loading the scatter file.
FAQs
Q1. What is a “scatter file”?
The scatter file (e.g., MT6761_Android_scatter.txt) is a crucial map for MediaTek firmware. It tells SP Flash Tool the name, size, and location of every partition on the device’s storage, ensuring each part of the software is flashed to the correct place.
Q2. Will this unlock my phone from the TracFone network?
No. Flashing the official carrier firmware will restore the phone’s software, but it will not remove the SIM/network lock. The device will still be locked to its original carrier.
Q3. My phone is stuck on the TracFone logo. Will this fix it?
Yes. Being stuck on the carrier logo is a “bootloop,” which is a very common software issue. A clean flash of the official stock ROM is the most reliable way to fix it by completely resetting the operating system.
Q4. Will this process erase my data?
Yes. Flashing the stock ROM with SP Flash Tool will perform a full factory reset and completely wipe all personal data, apps, and settings from your device.
