How to Root the Asus Zenfone 5

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Did you know that you were missing out on lot of fun by not rooting your Asus Zenfone 5? Well, it’s still not too late to gain root-access on your device and get the most out of it. So go ahead and root your device using the procedure below.

Rooting is the process of gaining administrative rights on your Android device.  Once we root our Android device, we can then make changes to it to customize it well beyond what it normally can do.

Once you have root access on your Asus Zenfone 5, you’ll be able to:

  • Remove apps that were preinstalled by your carrier/manufacturer from your device.
  • Free up storage space (because of the above benefit).
  • Increase battery life (apps that might have been running constantly can be removed).
  • Increase performance (after removing apps that are always running, the device will be less bogged down and run smoother).
  • Update to a new version of Android (by flashing a custom recovery/ROM, see the end of this procedure for more info on that).
  • Tons of other customizations when you use your new found administrative rights to flash a custom ROM (again, see the end of this procedure for more info on that).

Interested? Here’s how to root your Asus Zenfone 5:

I. Before You Begin

1. This will void the warranty of your device. We won’t be held responsible if you end-up bricking or damaging your device. Do it at your own risk.

2. You can unroot your device to reinstate the warranty, if an unrooting procedure’s available, though.

II. Downloading Required Files

1. Download Zenfone Root APK and save it to your desktop.

Zenfone Root APK (Mirror)

III. Rooting the Asus Zenfone 5

1. Connect your device to your PC using the USB cable.

2. Copy the Zenfone Root APK from your desktop over to the root of your SD card.

3. Once it’s copied, disconnect your device from your PC.

4. Head to Menu > Settings > Security on your device and enable the Unknown sources option.

5. Open File Manager and tap on the APK you just copied to your device. It’ll start to install.

6. Once installed, launch the app from your App Drawer.

7. Select SuperSU (by Chainfire).

8. Tap on OK I know, please root !.

9. It should root your device.

10. You’re done!

Brilliant! Your Zenfone 5 is now rooted. Go ahead and load it up with your favorite root-only apps, there’s plenty of them in the Google Play.

You can click here to find all of the Asus Zenfone 5 How To’s.

You can also find all of the Asus Zenfone 5 ROMs we have here.

100 thoughts on “How to Root the Asus Zenfone 5”

      1. ramesh remo

        hello sir,, after using this app root checker says rooted, but i cant uninstall system apps.. kindly let me know how to uninstal preinstalled apps..

        Reply
  2. Jason Tee

    Hi Good day, is this apk also supports asus zenfone 4 ? For rooting and unrooting.. pls reply and tnx about this tutorial 😀

    Reply
    1. Mahesh Makvana

      Hi Jason,

      Well, it’s confirmed to be working for the Asus Zenfone 5, I’m not sure about the Zenfone 4. However, you can give it a shot if it works for you.

      Let us know if it roots your device. Thanks!

      Reply
  3. dewank

    it said installed the update offline successfully ,, but root checker say ,, device doesn’t have root access and i can’t even use any other root apps ,, please help 🙁

    Reply
  4. そゆ

    Apparently its link you posted doesn’t work now and it said that the files has been infected by virus and doesn’t allowed us to download it. but as for mirror we can download it. Should I download mirror ?

    Reply
  7. Shaizzad Shaibuddin

    before i rooted without change ROM, i have some question.

    – after root zenfone 5 get auto update?
    -if i unroot using same application (Zenfone Root APK) still have Auto Update?

    Reply
      1. gwen

        i rooted it already but it gives me some error like demo appeared always and one by one deleted my apps like facebook, phonebook and more.. so i decided to unstall the root apps and supersu.. after, still the error goes the same..the next thing i did is searched how to turn off the demo i followed the way instructed and my phone reset successfully.. my question is since i deleted the root apps and supersu… is there any error will be appear soon?..

        Reply
  18. Arjunsinh Jadeja

    Suggestions:
    1. Do NOT delete the ZenFone Root App because you’ll need it to preserve your root when you’ll get an OTA update.
    2. Once rooted, freeze/disable “Asus Demo” App from an application manager. (Titanium backup will do as well). The reason being even if you’ll lose your root access, the next time when you’ll try to root the Asus Demo won’t pop up.

    Reply
      1. ramesh remo

        hello sir,, after using this app root checker says root but i cant uninstall system apps.. kindly let me know how to uninstal preinstalled apps..

        Reply
  22. Uma Mahesh Padisetty

    Hi,
    I have rooted the device. I got the firmware update for the zenfone.
    So I Unrooted it using the same app. and installed the update.
    However it didnot install
    It gave error assert_failed: apply_path_check.

    Can you please provide how to fix it.

    Reply
      1. Uma Mahesh Padisetty

        no, i haven’t changed any system files.
        After rooting, i installed busybox and disabled some intents to some apps via Autorun Manager.

        When my android asked for update from asus, i restarted which gave me that error.
        Then again i unrooted it and attempted to update it.
        Still i get the same error while booting.

        Reply
  23. Ashraf

    I rooted my zenfone5 2 days ago, then yesterday i got an OTA 1.18.40.9 update, i unrooted my phone to install the update. after i tried to install it, my phone when to reboot, the android logo appeared and stop loading suddenly, n it asked me to restart my phone. Then it said that firmware is restored.
    I even factory reset my phone, n still failed to install the latest update. Can someone explain to me what is happening?
    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    1. Mahesh Makvana

      Hi Ashraf,

      Usually, rooting doesn’t cause any issues that might prevent you from updating your device. If you’re still having issues, just flash back the stock firmware (if one’s available) and then install the update. It should work fine then.

      Hope it helps!

      Reply
      1. rooting

        Not yet.I tried almost every know procedures but with no success.the only display I get is that demo .I would appreciate if you could suggest anything else or elaborate this procedure .thank you

        Reply
  25. Jay

    I followed and installed RootZenFone-1.2r.apk and rooted the phone… it totally works. Thank you so much Mahesh Makvana you saved my phone from draining so fast I was able to uninstall Amazon Kindle, The Accuweather which pops up even when forced stop and a lot of useless apps… now when I check the battery under settings the apps that keeps bugging me are gone making the phone run what I only need… 10 Stars to you

    Reply
  26. Drana

    I tried to root with this app but, it didn’t work, it only add the asus demo app with a notification very annoying, does anyone knows how to uninstall this ? 🙁
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Pablobs88

      Run the video > when video is running, hold the Back button for at least 10 seconds > a message will appear, enter 741603. This will hard reset your cellphone, but it’s the only way i know to get out of this.

      Reply
  27. Enoch

    I’ve rooted my zenfone 5 using your method. thanks a ton for that 🙂
    also i was wondering if you could write a post on how to use USB reverse tethering on a zenfone. i have tried and failed. your inputs will be appreciated. 🙂

    Reply
  28. June Atienza

    How can I gain root access again after updating my firmware? I updated my firware without unrooting and lost the root access after it and when I tried to reroot, I was stucked in the demo mode, therefore I need to do a factory reset but the superuser app is still there. Is there any way to fix this? thanks!

    Reply
  29. Uma Mahesh Padisetty

    Hi guys,

    i have recently updated my android manually.

    after i installed, and attempted to root it failed.

    There after when ever i press close, it is showing Asus Demo video

    Here is what i found on internet

    this apply to Zenfone which is running on DEMO MODE due to failed rooting or failed firmware update or any reason.

    if you try to root ZF5 & failed, the phone will automatic activate the Asus Demo mode. in this mode, Demo mode will play videos & show the specsheets of the phone each time u press power off button. it is similar like the showcase unit at shop. not much u can do with ur if u are in this mode.

    to turn off the Asus Demo mode, below is the steps. the phone will deactivate the demo mode, delete it & reset the phone to original factory settings.

    1.turn on phone, make sure u are connected to the internet over Wifi.

    2. run the demo mode. < while on home screen, press the power button to turn off screen & the demo mode will start.

    3. when demo video is playing, tap the scree to stop it. u will land at demo homepage.

    4. at this demo homepage, press & hold 'back' softkey more than 10seconds until a deactivation screen appears.

    5. in the password column, pls key in password: 741603 then press deactivate. this password works for all Zenfone model.

    6. the phone will restart & erasing the demo mode & resetting your phone to factory settings. pls take note this will take times like 5-10 minutes. if it takes more than that, means something wrong with it.

    7. your phone now DEMO MODE DEACTIVATED & running like normal..

    Reply
      1. Arashi White

        Thanks for replying even if this article is already a little old 🙂 and confirmed, my data was not deleted 😀

        Reply
  32. gwen

    i rooted it already but it gives me some error like demo appeared always and one by one deleted my apps like facebook, phonebook and more.. so i decided to unstall the root apps and supersu.. after, still the error goes the same..the next thing i did is searched how to turn off the demo and i found this site,(by:
    Uma Mahesh Padisetty … thank you very much for your help)

    i followed the way instructed and my phone reset successfully. my question is since i deleted the root apps and supersu… is there any error will be appear soon?..

    Reply
  33. Mike in No Phone Land

    My phone is screwed due to this root app….it switches on wifi continually, same with screen…every 5 seconds…have this persistent ASUS DEMO app which cannot be removed even with hard reset. My phone is now at ASUS service center effectively wonked.
    Extreme AWESOMENESS. No phone.

    Reply
  38. keshav

    hey my zenfone 5 runs on android 4.4 i have tried almost every app available in the market .. none is working.. please help me out.. 🙁

    Reply
  39. Aasha

    Hi.. Yesterday my zenfone5 battery went to 0% and got switched off. I tried to re boot after charging it. But it couldn’t, It keeps on loading. Is there is anyway to fix it. Since I dont want to lose the data, i dont want to master format it.

    Reply
  40. Manpreet Singh

    hello mahesh,
    i just bought asus zenfone5(A501CG ) and m trying to root but
    ROOT ZenFone showing me “Failed.. :(” msg after “Hacking…” msg when i press “please root!” button.
    please help me!!!

    Reply
  41. Paarth Bhatia

    every time i try to root my zenfone using this app it starts hacking and then says failed plz tell me how to fiz it
    i am following all the mentioned steps carefully

    Reply
  43. Rahul Debnath

    I tried the app but it shows root failure and also try root kit it also not works what can I do now??

    Reply

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