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A friend of mine who plays a lot of cracked games,  wanted his Asus Zenfone Max rooted. We tried common methods like Kingo Root app but didn't work. To root Android phones we need phone specific firmware and tools like we use Odin for Samsung smartphones. We didn't find tools for Asus Zenfone Max. Luckily, we came across a video by a Vietnamese- Huynh Pham on YouTube (the link to the video is provided at the end of this post). 

So, in this post, we shall see the tools and steps required to root Asus Zenfone Max. 

Though the steps described below worked in our case, we do not guarantee the availability of the below tools as it is hosted by someone else. Also, neither do we guarantee that the process/steps described below will also work for everyone else. So, TRY IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

How to root Asus Zenfone Max?

Follow the following steps to root the Asus Zenfone Max:


1) Download Rooting tools from here and save the files on your computer.
In the Onedrive folder,  download only the zipped files- Drivers.zip, tools.zip and ww_root.zip (this is a big file, about 1.3 GB)

2) Extract all the downloaded zip files to your computer.
You should now have "Drivers", "Tools" and "ww_root" folders.

3) From the "drivers" folder, install DPinst_x64.exe or DPinst_x84.exe depending on your computer OS. 

4) Copy the contents inside the "ww_root" folder and paste it inside "tools" folder. 

5) Power off the Asus Zenfone Max 

6) Press Power button and the Volume up to boot into CSC mode.

7) Connect the Asus Zenfone Max to the computer using the USB cable. The phone should be in CSC mode (from step 6)

8) On the Computer, go to the "tools" folder, and press "SHIFT + Right-click" in any blank area in the window, then select "Open Command Window here".

This will open the command prompt at that directory.

9) Make sure the phone is still connected to the computer by USB and is still in CSC mode.
Type the following commands:

Command 1: 
D:\Asus Rooting\tools\fastboot erase system

Command 2: 
D:\Asus Rooting\tools\fastboot flash system system.img
This will take some time. Wait till completion. 

Command 3: 
D:\Asus Rooting\tools\fastboot reboot
The phone will now reboot.
The phone can be disconnected from the computer now.

How to confirm root access on the Android phone? 
Download and install root checking apps such as "Root checker basic" from Google Play.
Run the "Root Checker Basic" app and it will inform you whether the Android phone has root access or not.

10) Download and install "SuperSU" app from Google Play to grant "superuser" to apps.

Now you should be able to install apps that require root access. When you install apps that requires root access and you rum it for the first time, don't forget to grant "superuser" permission when prompted "SuperSU".

Try installing apps like "Wifi Password" apps to confirm root access. 
Enjoy rooted Asus Zenfone Max.

NOTE: 

Though the solution posted here worked in our case, we do not guarantee that it would work for everyone. Also, we do not guarantee the availability of the software / tools used for this task. So, TRY IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

UPDATE: June 2016
Looks like the www_root zip file as mentioned above is removed. You may get it from the following links below. Once again, I can't guarantee the availability of the files below though.

Links:

You can check out Huynh Pham's tutorial video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i93vlQl3bY

www_root:
https://yadi.sk/d/zCdcmaWEqg2B3
https://yadi.sk/d/hocMiFqmq979d
https://about-tutor.blogspot.com//search?q=

Also check the description on this YouTube video. It could be updated there if moved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i93vlQl3bY