Tutorial: How to Update Asus Zenfone 5 to Lollipop Manually

I finally updated my phone to Lollipop. I’ve waited forever to get Lollipop update on my Asus Zenfone 5. So, last week I decided to update it myself.

Asus Zenfone 5 is a flagship phone from Asus. When I purchased it on Sept 2014, It came with Android Jelly Bean (4.3) and few months later KitKat update pop on my phone.

Of course, I updated it right away. But, little did I know that it was a very bad decision. I definitely think that they will update it to lollipop. I also own an Asus tablet phone, and it got lollipop update couple month after it release.

But that update never came to my phone. They even release tons of new phones in Zenfone lineup with Lollipop, and discontinued Zenfone 5 model.

Asus keep canceling the release date for lollipop, saying that Google rejected their build (? – can’t remember where I read it) But some speculate it’s a marketing trick to push their pricier new lineup and “kill” the cheaper older model.

Why KitKat Sucks?

It’s simple. External apps cannot write on MicroSD card. What the hell did Google Android team thinking? Android didn’t even have build in file manager.

Luckly Zenfone have it (developed by Asus along with other enhancement). So it’s not a total garbage. Asus file manager is fine but lack of crucial features I often use. FYI: My preferred file manager for Android is ES File Explorer.

How to Update Zenfone 5 to Lollipop

It’s actually very simple. Follow this step by step:

#1. Check your build version

Go to “Settings > About > Software Information” and check the build number. If you updated your Zenfone to KitKat and never miss an update, you should see long code with something like WW.2.22.40.54.

If you use previous version (Jelly Bean). It’s best to update it first to KitKat. Build number WW.2.22.40.53 is also file to update to Lollipop.

#2. Download the Lollipop package for Zenfone

You can download it here:

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/ZenFone/UL-ASUS_T00F-WW-3.23.40.52-user.zip

The file size is 700mb.

So, this Zenfone 5 Lollipop package update is actually from Asus, I wonder why they didn’t push the update to user.

#3. Install the package

After you download the file put it in the “root folder” of your phone internal storage (move it from “Downloads” folder to a directory above it).

And then restart your Zenfone 5. After restart, you should get the upgrade notification (little triangle) in your status bar.

Just update it like regular updates, and wait until it’s done installing Lollipop and updating your apps.

#4. Install another update

After the update completed, go to “Settings > About > System Update” and click “Check Updates” again. You should get another update (smaller at around 70-80mb). I believe this update is for all Lollipop.

#5. That’s it.

I’ve used this update for a week and I don’t notice any problem.

Why You Need to Update to Lollipop ?

Apps can write/manage your external storage.

It got better/more advance file/folder permission system. And it allow apps to manage and modify folders in external drive. this means your large 32GB MicroSD card is finally useful.

You can move your games to your MicroSD Card and it will work fine. You can use any file manager you choose. You can use any camera apps to prettify your selfie and allow that app to save your photos to MicroSD card, etc.

WebView module as separate Apps/Library

FYI: WebView is a library in Android to render web pages.

Starting from Lollipop, Google separate WebView Module as an App and no longer include it in the Operating System. That means we can get rapid update of web page engine from Google App Store instead of waiting for the provider to push the update along with the operating system (which they probably will never do).

Source: Asus ZenTalk Forum.