How to root the Asus ZenFone 2

I recently unboxed the Asus ZenFone 2, and now it’s time to show you how to root the device. This is the first of what I hope will be many Android rooting tutorials on Cnncted. In this easy to follow video tutorial, I will show you how to root the Asus ZenFone 2 ($299 on Amazon) from beginning to end. I’ll even show you how to install Windows drivers for your ZenFone 2 if need be.

The original tutorial was posted on XDA by user Chinaphonearena. His tutorial was great and concise, but I felt that others may benefit from more hand-holding, and a video as well.

Keep in mind that I’m sort of new at this, so if my terminology is wrong, or I say something stupid, don’t be surprised. I’m an iPhone guy dipping my toes into foreign Android waters. I do hope that this tutorial can help at least someone though, so let me know in the comments if it does.

How to connect your ZenFone 2 and install drivers

Note: You must have the driver installed in order to root your Asus ZenFone 2. You may already have the driver installed, but if not, you can use the following tutorial. I performed this on Windows 7, but the same premise goes for other versions of Windows.

Step 1: Download the ASUS_Android_USB_drivers_for_Windows_20150212 from our downloads page and extract the folder to the desktop

Step 2: Connect your ZenFone 2 to your Windows computer using the USB cable that came with your Asus ZenFone 2. If you’re running a Mac, you can use a virtual machine.

Step 3: Open Settings → About → Software information and tap on the Build number field 7 times to enable developer mode

Step 4: Open Settings →  Developer options and enable USB debugging

Note: If drivers are not installed, continue, otherwise, skip to the next heading

Step 5: Open Devices and Printers and right click on the MTP device and click Properties

Step 6: Click the Hardware tab

Step 7: Double-click MTP

Step 8: Click Change Settings

Step 9: Click Open

Step 10: Click Update Drive

Step 11: Click Browse my computer for driver software

Step 12: Click Browse and go to the desktop and select the USB driver folder that you downloaded in Step 1, and drill down to the Windows_XP_VISTA_7_8_8.1 folder and click OK

Step 13: Click Next

Step 14: Click Close once the driver is installed

How to root the ZenFone 2 on Windows

Step 1: Download and extract the Asus ZenFone CWM package from our downloads page

Step 2: In a Windows Explorer window, open the ASUS_Z00AD device, and double click Internal storage

Step 3: In another Explorer window, open the CWM_Zenfone_2_Intel folder

Step 4: Copy the SuperSU246.zip file to the root of the Internal storage folder on the ASUS_Z00AD device

Step 5: Run cai_dat_CWM inside of the CWM_Zenfone_2_Intel folder

Step 6: Type ACCEPT and press Enter

Step 7: Type T4 and press Enter

Finishing up the root on the ZenFone 2

Now it’s all about completing the root on the device. To do so, you’ll need to use the volume buttons on the back of the device to move up and down on the Vampirefo Venu 8 menus, and use the power button on top of the device to confirm a selection. Be sure to watch the video above to see what I mean.

Step 1: Select install zip

Step 2: Select choose zip from sdcard

Step 3: Select 0/

Step 4: Select SuperSU246.zip

Step 5: Select Yes

Step 6: Select ***Go Back***

Step 7: Select reboot system now

Step 8: Select No

You should now be rooted. Once your device reboots, find the SuperSU app, and launch that app to confirm your root of the Asus ZenFone 2.

Again, the video shows the entire process step by step, so if you’re confused or unsure about anything I wrote, I recommend watching the video for more details.