In this guide, we will show you the steps to manually flash the ROM on your OnePlus device. The OEM is among the fastest players in the market when it comes to rolling out software upgrades. You can easily download the update from the Settings menu and subsequently install it via Local Install. So, when OnePlus has already streamlined the entire update process, why is there a need to take the complicated route? Let’s find out.
Why is there a Need to Manually Flash the OnePlus ROM
There can be quite a few instances wherein manually flashing a ROM will come in handy. And in some situations, it will be your only escape route. Without further ado, let’s check them out:
Fix Softbrick/Bootloop
If your device is currently in a softbrick or bootloop state, then you can easily bring it back to life by flashing the Fastboot ROM.
Go Back to Stock
If you are currently on a stock ROM and wish to go back to the stock OxygenOS/ColorOS, then you can easily do so by flashing this Fastboot ROM
Downgrade OS
If you want to go from a higher OS version to a lower one, then this ROM will help you out.
Get Updates at the Earliest
OnePlus usually rolls out the updates in batches, meaning it will first be received by a handful of users before being rolled out to the masses. However, you could easily cut down this waiting time and jump to the top of the priority queue by manually flashing the ROM using the method discussed below [obviously, you’ll have to be on the peril of other users that they share the file or at least its download link with you.]
Get Partition Files
You can also extract the boot/init_boot file directly from this ROM for rooting, there’s no need to extract the payload.bin file. Likewise, disabling Android Verified Boot via vbmeta is now also a cakewalk. Not to mention that if any of the partitions of your device gets corrupted, then you just need to use that file from the Fastboot ROM and flash it onto your device [granted the ROM should be of the same version that is installed on your device].
Now that you are aware of the benefits of the Fastboot ROM, let’s make you aware of the steps to install it onto your device. Follow along.
How to Flash OnePlus Fastboot ROM
If possible, do take a backup of all the data on your device. Moreover, if your device is currently in the softbrick or bootloop, then you’ll have to force reboot to Fastboot Mode and start from STEP 5. TheDroidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
- First off, download and extract the Android SDK Platform Tools.
- Then enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device.
- Once done, unlock the bootloader on your device using our tutorial.
- Now open Command Prompt inside the platform-tools and type in:
adb reboot bootloader
- Then type in the below command to verify the Fastboot Connection
fastboot devices
- If you are not getting any serial ID, then install the Fastboot Driver.
- Now download the firmware for your device via Oxygen Updater or using any third-party site.
- Next up, download and extract the Fastboot Firmware Flasher Tool. [Credits – NeFeroN]
- Then install it via its EXE file. Now launch it and go to the Firmware Unpacker tab [the second last option].
- Click on File Picker and select the entire firmware ZIP. Then select Full under Mode.
- Now click Press to Unpack. It will extract the payload.bin file.
- Once done, you’ll be notified of the same.
- Now go to the Flashing tab and click Press to Flash. The flashing will now start in Fastboot Mode.
- You’ll then get a prompt that the tool wants to boot the device to FastbootD Mode. Click OK and your device will boot to FastbootD.
- It will warn you not to interact with the device while flashing, click OK. The flashing will then start in FastbootD Mode.
- Once done, you’ll be notified of the same. Hit Reboot Device and your device will boot to the OS.
That’s it. These were the steps to manually flash a OnePlus ROM onto your device. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution as soon as possible.
