You might no longer be able to unlock the bootloader and hence root your Asus Zenfone 9 and 10. Before stepping into the custom development, the first prerequisite that you need to checkmark is to unlock the device’s bootloader. However, as opposed to other OEMs that just require you to execute a single line of Fastboot Commands, Asus requires you to download a dedicated app that is specially meant for your device. However, all that might no longer be possible.
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Unlocking Bootloader on Asus Zenfone 9/10? Forget About It!
As per the discussion that one of the Zenfone 9 users had with the Asus Spain Support Team, they have explicitly mentioned that “unlocking the bootloader is not possible and will no longer be possible in the future. Both Zenfone 9 and 10 models cannot be unlocked“.
The same has been confirmed by another user who got in touch with Asus Czechia Team. For the unaware, Asus was planning to release the Unlock Tool for its 10th iteration in the third quarter of this year but now that looks like a distant dream.
There might still be light at the end of the tunnel
It seems that all is not lost yet. According to one of the Redittor, their Telegram channel listed out three important points:
- They have clarified that their dev liaison has no knowledge of any such development.
- The unlock tool server is in maintenance and will resume in Q3.
- This is accentuated by Asus still seeding devices to developers.
So in the current stage, we could only see conflicting reports from numerous with the one from the Asus Spaon team being unfortunately the most trusted one.
Droidwin’s take on this matter
Well, it just doesn’t make any sense. Once a user has bought their device, then they have complete control over the same. Whether they unlock the bootloader, root their device via Magisk, flash custom binaries or custom ROMs- it’s completely their choice and they have every right to carry the modification that they deserve [just look at the current state of the OnePlus 10 series, thanks to the fiasco that Oppo has created].
At the very most, Oppo could give out a warning message to its users regarding the downsides of carrying out this process and let them do so only after they agree to their Terms and Conditions [which to be fair is how their app currently works]. But blatantly refusing to allow Zenfone 9 and 10 users to unlock the bootloader and root their device is a denial of opportunity that literally makes no sense whatsoever.
But so does Asus software update policies! For the unaware other OEMs like OnePlus and Samsung are moving towards 4-5 years of OS upgrades whereas Asus is still stuck with the decade-old two years of updates. To overcome this caveat, you could easily welcome abode a plethora of custom ROMs onto your device and enjoy an additional 3-4 years [or even more] software update support, which unfortunately, might no longer be possible either.
While the tech enthusiast community is only a tiny majority of the overall device owners, but they too deserve an equal share of their say. All in all, we could safely assume that Asus is digging its own graves by its very own hands and are trying its best to bury itself there at the earliest. It was great while it lastest, Asus. Regards, an honest tech geek.
UPDATE: Asus Responds
It seems that these roadblocks are temporary in nature and might be removed soon. In other words, you might soon be able to unlock the bootloader on your Asus Zenfone 9 and 10, though you’ll have to wait at least a couple of months for that to happen. According to Asus, the “phone unlock tool has been temporarily removed” [read the complete statement here].
UPDATE 2: Unofficial Workaround to Unlock Bootloader on Zenfone 9
Developers have finally managed to get hold of a nifty workaround using which you could unlock the bootloader on your Zenfone 9. While the process is a tad bit technical, but it’s a one-time effort and the rewards are definitely worth it! So refer to our below guide and do give this tweak a try:
Well, judging by the current scenario, even that waiting time will be acceptable for the tech enthusiasts because at least normalcy will be restored, even if it comes at the cost of waiting for a few additional months!
