Q1. How do I know whether I have GR5 (2016) or GR5 2017?

If your model starts with KII‑ (for example KII‑L21, KII‑L22, KII‑L05), you have the original GR5 with Snapdragon 616 and EMUI 3.1–4.x. If it starts with BLL‑ (BLL‑L21 or BLL‑L22), you own the GR5 2017 with Kirin 655 and EMUI 4.1–5.x, and should only use the BLL firmwares here.

Q2. Which ROM is best for performance and battery life?

For GR5 (KII series), EMUI 4.0/4.0.2 Marshmallow builds like KII‑L21 C185B321 and KII‑L22 C636B320 generally perform better and handle modern apps more smoothly than the original EMUI 3.1 Lollipop. For GR5 2017, mature EMUI 5 builds (such as BLL‑L21 C10B383 or BLL‑L21 C185B376) fix many early update bugs but may feel slightly heavier on worn batteries compared with EMUI 4.1.

Q3. Can these ROMs fix lag and aggressive app killing on EMUI?

A clean flash clears corrupted data and restores default power profiles, which often reduces stutter and random freezes on older Huawei phones. EMUI is still aggressive with background apps to save battery, so after flashing you may need to whitelist key apps in battery settings to avoid missing notifications.

Q4. My GR5 2017 bootlooped after an SD‑card Nougat update. What should I do?

Community reports for BLL‑L21/L22 show that incomplete EMUI 5 upgrades or missing OTA “data” zips often cause bootloops or updater errors. In most cases, reflashing a full stable EMUI 5 Dload ROM for your exact region (such as C10B383 or C185B376) resolves the issue, but you should back up data first as this process wipes the phone.

Q5. When should I use the KII‑L23/KII‑L33 C900B076 board software instead of normal firmware?

Use board‑software only when the device is hard‑bricked, stuck in Qualcomm 9008 mode or refuses to enter recovery/Dload even with a correct SD card in place. For any phone that can still access standard update screens, a matching Dload ROM is safer and easier than going directly to EDL/QFIL.

Q6. Does flashing these ROMs void my warranty or affect future OTAs?

On out‑of‑warranty GR5 devices, flashing official‑based stock ROMs typically does not change hardware status, but may disable OTA if you change regions or cust codes. To keep OTA support, stay within your original model and C‑code branch and avoid mixing carrier and open‑market firmwares unless necessary.

Huawei GR5 / GR5 2017 official firmware (KII & BLL series)

The original Huawei GR5 (KII‑L series) and GR5 2017 (BLL‑L series) are popular mid‑range phones with 5.5‑inch Full HD displays, Snapdragon 616 or Kirin 655 chipsets, and EMUI 3.1–5 software. Over time, many owners experience heavy lag, aggressive app killing, update failures, and bootloops when moving between EMUI 3.1, 4.x and 5, especially on the GR5 2017 Nougat builds. The firmware packages below (Dload, OTA and board‑software QFIL images) are designed to restore smooth stock performance, fix soft bricks, and stabilize updates on supported GR5 models and regions.

Complete Device & Firmware Overview

Device Families: Huawei GR5 (2016): models KII‑L21, KII‑L22, KII‑L23, KII‑L03, KII‑L05, KII‑L33 based on Snapdragon 616 / 615 with EMUI 3.1–4.0.2.
Huawei GR5 2017: models BLL‑L21, BLL‑L22 (also sold as Honor 6X in some regions) using Kirin 655 with EMUI 4.1–5.0.1.
Core Hardware (GR5 2016): Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 MSM8939v2, 8‑core CPU, Adreno 405 GPU, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, 5.5‑inch 1080×1920 IPS screen and 3000 mAh battery.
Core Hardware (GR5 2017): HiSilicon Kirin 655 SoC with up to 4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, dual rear cameras and a 3340 mAh battery, running Android 6 with EMUI 4.1 upgradable to EMUI 5 Nougat.
Original Software & Updates: GR5 (KII series) ships with Android 5.1.1 / EMUI 3.1 and receives Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and EMUI 4.x in many regions. GR5 2017 (BLL series) ships with Android 6.0 / EMUI 4.1 and is officially updated to EMUI 5.x Nougat via full or OTA packages.
Typical User Pain Points: With only 2 GB RAM and 16 GB storage on older GR5 units, users frequently report slow UI, delayed app launches, and EMUI killing background apps/notifications when memory is tight. On GR5 2017, community threads describe update failures, bootloops and missing rollback paths when upgrading to EMUI 5 using SD card OTAs.
How These Firmwares Help: Clean‑flashing official EMUI 4.x/5.x ROMs replaces corrupted partitions, clears years of cached junk and lets you move safely between Lollipop, Marshmallow and Nougat builds that are known to be stable for each region. The board‑software QFIL/EDL images go deeper, reviving hard‑bricked KII‑L23/L33 units that no longer accept standard Dload updates.
Regions & C‑Codes in This Pack: C636 – Taiwan / South‑East Asia; C81 – Philippines (Smart); C185 – Middle East & Africa; C654 – Canada (Rogers); C10 – Russia / CIS; C900 – generic/board software (West Europe/Chile); plus multiple country clusters in the C185 package.
Firmware Types Included: Standard Dload firmware (full UPDATE.APP via SD), region‑specific OTA update for BLL‑L22, and Qualcomm board‑software/QFIL packages for KII‑L23/L33 repairs.
Flash Methods: Dload three‑button method from SD card for most ZIP/RAR firmwares, OTA sideload for the BLL‑L22 6.0 update, and QFIL/QPST for KII‑L23/L33 C900B076 board images.

If you flash a ROM for the wrong model (KII vs BLL) or region (for example C636 on a C185 device), or interrupt a Dload/QFIL flash, you can lose IMEI, break LTE bands, or hard‑brick the phone, so always match your exact model and C‑code first.

CRUCIAL WARNING: These ROMs are only for Huawei GR5 / GR5 2017 devices (KII‑L21/L22/L23/L05/L33 and BLL‑L21/L22). Do not flash them to unrelated models such as Honor 5X, Honor 6X variants with different model codes, or other Huawei phones.

All builds are region‑coded (C636, C81, C185, C654, C10, C900, etc.), and cross‑region flashing may break network compatibility or OTA updates. Check the version string in Settings > About phone and stay with the same C‑code unless you follow an expert cross‑flash guide.

Board‑software and QFIL/EDL packages overwrite low‑level partitions and always wipe user data; a wrong programmer, broken USB connection or power loss during flashing can leave the device in a dead‑boot state that only professional tools can recover.

Download Firmware for Huawei GR5 / GR5 2017

Start by identifying your device (KII‑Lxx = GR5 2016, BLL‑Lxx = GR5 2017) and reading the full software string (for example de>KII-L21C185B321 or de>BLL-L21C10B383) in Settings > About phone. Then choose the newest build in the table that matches both your model and C‑code; keep board‑software QFIL images as last‑resort options for hard bricks.

Filename	Model / Variant	Region (C‑Code)	EMUI / Android	Build	Method / Tool	Size	Notes	Download
KII-L22_C636B320CUSTC636D004_Firmware_Taiwan_Android 6.0.1_EMUI 4.0_05013MCS.zip	Huawei GR5 KII-L22	C636 – Taiwan / SE Asia	EMUI 4.0 / Android 6.0.1	B320	Dload (SD card)	1.58 GB	Best choice for KII‑L22 units sold in Taiwan/C636 region; upgrades from EMUI 3.1 to Marshmallow with better memory management and features.	Download (Google Drive)
KII-L22_C81B130CUSTC81D003_Firmware_Philippines_Smart_Android 5.1.1_EMUI 3.1_05013TVA.zip	Huawei GR5 KII-L22	C81 – Philippines (Smart)	EMUI 3.1 / Android 5.1.1	B130	Dload (SD card)	1.5 GB	Stock Lollipop firmware customized for Smart Philippines; ideal for restoring a branded device before OTA to Marshmallow.	Download (Google Drive)
Huawei_GR5_Firmware_KII-L21_Android5.1_EMUI3.1_C185B130CUSTC185D002_Kenya_Channel-Others.zip	Huawei GR5 KII-L21	C185 – Kenya / MEA cluster	EMUI 3.1 / Android 5.1	B130	Dload (SD card)	1.45 GB	Original Lollipop firmware for KII‑L21 in Kenya and nearby MEA markets; useful as a downgrade base or to restore stock branding.	Download (Google Drive)
KII-L21_C185B321CUSTC185D001_Firmware_Lebanon_Algeria_Egypt_Ethiopia_Jordan_Morocco_SouthAfrica_Sudan_Tunisia_Tanzania_Android 6.0.1_EMUI 4.0.2_05013LEV.rar	Huawei GR5 KII-L21	C185 – MEA multi‑country	EMUI 4.0.2 / Android 6.0.1	B321	Dload (SD card)	1.37 GB	Recommended Marshmallow upgrade for KII‑L21 across Middle East & Africa; better app compatibility and power management than EMUI 3.1.	Download (Google Drive)
Huawei_GR5_Firmware_KII-L05_Android 6.0.1_EMUI 4.0_C654B330_Canada_Rogers.zip	Huawei GR5 KII-L05	C654 – Canada (Rogers)	EMUI 4.0 / Android 6.0.1	B330	Dload (SD card)	1.63 GB	Carrier‑tuned GR5 firmware for Rogers devices in Canada; best option for fixing carrier‑branded phones while preserving correct LTE bands.	Download (Google Drive)
Huawei_GR5_KII-L23_C900B076_Board_Software_West_European, Chile_Region_Nonspecific_Android_5.1.1_EMUI_3.1_05021UMR_HMT.zip	Huawei GR5 KII-L23	C900 – board software (WEU/Chile)	EMUI 3.1 / Android 5.1.1	C900B076	QFIL/QPST (Qualcomm EDL)	743 MB	Service‑grade board ROM for hard‑bricked KII‑L23 in Western Europe/Chile; use only when Dload is impossible and you know QFIL workflows.	Download (Google Drive)
Huawei_GR5_KII-L33_C900B076_Board_Software_Chile_Android_5.1.1_EMUI_3.1_05021WXE_HMT.zip Huawei_GR5_KII-L33_C900B076_Chile_EMUI_3.1_05021WXE_5.1.1_QFIL.zip	Huawei GR5 KII-L33	C900 – Chile board software	EMUI 3.1 / Android 5.1.1	C900B076	QFIL/QPST (Qualcomm EDL)	743 MB	Two packaging variants of the same KII‑L33 board firmware for Chile; an emergency unbrick path requiring Qualcomm 9008 mode.	Board SW / QFIL Pack
Huawei_GR5_2017_BLL-22_EMUI4.1_C636B150_Southern_East_Asia_6.0_Dload.zip	Huawei GR5 2017 BLL-L22	C636 – South/East Asia	EMUI 4.1 / Android 6.0	B150	Dload (SD card)	1.89 GB	Base Marshmallow firmware for GR5 2017 C636 devices; flash this before applying the B167 OTA or EMUI 5 updates if your system is corrupted.	Download (Google Drive)
Huawei_GR5_2017_BLL-L22_B167_C636B167_6.0_OTA.zip	Huawei GR5 2017 BLL-L22	C636 – South/East Asia	EMUI 4.1 / Android 6.0	B167 OTA	OTA update (from SD)	1.87 GB	Incremental OTA from earlier C636 builds (such as B150); install from stock recovery after ensuring the base build matches Huawei’s requirements.	Download (Google Drive)
Huawei_GR5_BLL-L21_C10B383_EMUI5.0.1_05014CYS_Dload.zip Huawei_GR5_BLL-L21_Berlin-L21_C10B383_EMUI5.0.1_05014CYS_Dload.zip	Huawei GR5 2017 BLL-L21	C10 – Russia / CIS	EMUI 5.0.1 / Android 7.0	B383	Dload (SD card)	1.62 GB	Stable Nougat/EMUI 5 ROM for BLL‑L21 C10; ideal for repairing failed SD‑card updates or cleaning up laggy systems after incremental OTAs.	DL Link 1 / DL Link 2
BLL-L21C185B376.zip	Huawei GR5 2017 BLL-L21	C185 – Middle East & Africa	EMUI 5.x / Android 7.0	B376	Dload (SD card)	1.6 GB	EMUI 5 Nougat firmware for BLL‑L21 in MEA region; typically used as a full‑OTA or Dload package to fix update issues and enable EMUI 5 features.	Download (AndroidFileHost)

Tip: For GR5 (KII series), Marshmallow EMUI 4.0/4.0.2 builds like KII‑L22 C636B320 and KII‑L21 C185B321 strike the best balance between stability and features on Snapdragon 616. For GR5 2017, stable EMUI 5 builds such as BLL‑L21 C10B383 and BLL‑L21 C185B376 resolve many update bugs and add a cleaner UI, but can be heavier on older batteries.

Preparation Before Flashing

Click here for the Huawei GR5 / GR5 2017 pre‑flash checklist

Confirm exact model and C‑code: In Settings > About phone or fastboot, verify whether you own KII‑L21/L22/L23/L05/L33 or BLL‑L21/L22 and note the full software string including C‑code (C636, C81, C185, C654, C10, C900, etc.).
Back up user data: All Dload and QFIL board flashes are effectively factory resets; use HiSuite, Google backup or manual copies to PC/SD to save contacts, photos and app data first.
Charge battery to 50–60% or more: Huawei recommends having sufficient charge to avoid shutdown mid‑flash, which can corrupt the system and lead to repeated update failures.
Prepare SD card and USB cable: Use a known‑good microSD card for Dload packages and a quality USB cable/port for QFIL; bad media is a frequent cause of flashing errors and 0–99% hangs.
Extract firmware correctly: For Dload ROMs, ensure the de>dload folder with de>UPDATE.APP is in the SD root; for QFIL board software, confirm that the programmer and XML files match the guide you are following.

Quick Firmware Flash Instructions

These high‑level steps summarize the safest approaches. Use Dload for normal repairs and QFIL only when the phone is hard‑bricked.

Dload method (KII‑Lxx & BLL‑Lxx)

Download & extract: Get the ROM that matches your GR5/GR5 2017 model and C‑code, then extract it until you see a de>dload folder containing de>UPDATE.APP (and any required patch files).
Copy to SD card: Copy the entire de>dload folder to the root of a microSD card formatted as FAT32/exFAT, then insert it into the powered‑off phone.
Enter update mode: Hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Power simultaneously until the Huawei logo appears and the progress bar starts, or use the “Update from SD card” option in stock recovery if available.
Wait for flashing to finish: Let the bar reach 100% and wait for the automatic reboot; do not remove the SD card or battery or press keys during the process.
First boot & checks: On first boot, complete setup, then confirm the new build number, test calls, data, Wi‑Fi and fingerprint unlock, and re‑install only essential apps to keep EMUI responsive.

QFIL board‑software method (KII‑L23 / KII‑L33 C900B076)

Install Qualcomm drivers & QFIL: On a Windows PC, install Qualcomm HS‑USB QDLoader drivers and the QFIL/QPST package recommended by your repair guide.
Load programmer & XML: Extract the C900B076 board firmware, then in QFIL choose the included firehose programmer and rawprogram/patch XML scripts.
Enter 9008 EDL mode: Connect the phone in Qualcomm 9008 mode (via button combo or test‑point); confirm Windows detects “Qualcomm HS‑USB QDLoader 9008”.
Start download: Click Download in QFIL and wait until all partitions are written successfully; interrupting at this stage can permanently brick the device.
Reboot & optionally Dload: After success, boot the phone and, if needed, flash a matching regional Dload ROM to restore cust and branding.

For a screenshot‑rich walkthrough of Huawei flashing (including troubleshooting update failures and rollback tips), use the main Huawei firmware flashing guide, and for QFIL operations follow the dedicated Qualcomm QFIL tutorial while substituting these GR5 packages where required.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How do I know whether I have GR5 (2016) or GR5 2017?: If your model starts with KII‑ (for example KII‑L21, KII‑L22, KII‑L05), you have the original GR5 with Snapdragon 616 and EMUI 3.1–4.x. If it starts with BLL‑ (BLL‑L21 or BLL‑L22), you own the GR5 2017 with Kirin 655 and EMUI 4.1–5.x, and should only use the BLL firmwares here.
Q2. Which ROM is best for performance and battery life?: For GR5 (KII series), EMUI 4.0/4.0.2 Marshmallow builds like KII‑L21 C185B321 and KII‑L22 C636B320 generally perform better and handle modern apps more smoothly than the original EMUI 3.1 Lollipop. For GR5 2017, mature EMUI 5 builds (such as BLL‑L21 C10B383 or BLL‑L21 C185B376) fix many early update bugs but may feel slightly heavier on worn batteries compared with EMUI 4.1.
Q3. Can these ROMs fix lag and aggressive app killing on EMUI?: A clean flash clears corrupted data and restores default power profiles, which often reduces stutter and random freezes on older Huawei phones. EMUI is still aggressive with background apps to save battery, so after flashing you may need to whitelist key apps in battery settings to avoid missing notifications.
Q4. My GR5 2017 bootlooped after an SD‑card Nougat update. What should I do?: Community reports for BLL‑L21/L22 show that incomplete EMUI 5 upgrades or missing OTA “data” zips often cause bootloops or updater errors. In most cases, reflashing a full stable EMUI 5 Dload ROM for your exact region (such as C10B383 or C185B376) resolves the issue, but you should back up data first as this process wipes the phone.
Q5. When should I use the KII‑L23/KII‑L33 C900B076 board software instead of normal firmware?: Use board‑software only when the device is hard‑bricked, stuck in Qualcomm 9008 mode or refuses to enter recovery/Dload even with a correct SD card in place. For any phone that can still access standard update screens, a matching Dload ROM is safer and easier than going directly to EDL/QFIL.
Q6. Does flashing these ROMs void my warranty or affect future OTAs?: On out‑of‑warranty GR5 devices, flashing official‑based stock ROMs typically does not change hardware status, but may disable OTA if you change regions or cust codes. To keep OTA support, stay within your original model and C‑code branch and avoid mixing carrier and open‑market firmwares unless necessary.