The twelfth iteration of the device from OnePlus beholds a power-packed specs sheet with tons of intriguing and noteworthy features. If we turn our attention toward its software skin, in China it houses ColorOS whereas globally it beholds OxygenOS. While there’s not much to differentiate between the two, but the latter is still somewhat better in the overall functionality as well as in the UI/UX domain. Not to mention the fact that ColorOS also has tons of pre-installed bloatware apps as well.
However, even then some users import the device from China mainly because of two reasons- lack of availability in their own region or the price difference. But as soon as they get hold of their device, they straightway witness the stark contrast between the two OS skins, and their first query is how to get back/convert their OnePlus 12 from ColorOS to OxygenOS at the earliest. If you are also in the same boat, then this guide will help you out. Follow along for the instructions.
How to Convert OnePlus 12 from ColorOS to OxygenOS
Before starting, please take a backup of all the data on your device. Thedroidwin won’t be held responsible if something happens to your device or data after performing the below steps:
STEP 1: Install Drivers
- To begin with, download and extract the ColorOS to OxygenOS package.
- Now go to the Driver folder and you’ll find QcomMTK_Driver_Setup.exe.
- Launch it and then proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it.
STEP 2: Download Android SDK Platform Tools
You’ll now have to download and extract the Android SDK Platform Tools so that you can easily execute the desired ADB Commands. So refer to the linked guide and get this job done right away.
STEP 3: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlock
Your next course of action is to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlock. While the former is required so that your PC can identify your device in ADB Commands, the latter is needed to unlock the bootloader on your device. So let’s enable both these toggles using the instructions given below:
- Head over to Settings > System > Version > Tap on Build Number 7 Times.
- This will enable Developer Options. So go to Settings > Additional Settings.
- Now go to Developer Options and enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.
- You’ll get a prompt each after enabling both these toggles, make sure to select Allow/OK.
- Moreover, also change the “Charging this device via USB” to “Android File Transfer”.
STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader
- Type in CMD in the platform-tools folder address bar and hit Enter.
- This will launch the Command Prompt window inside platform tools.
- Now connect your device to your PC via a USB cable.
- Then type in the below command to boot your device to the Fastboot:
adb reboot bootloader
- Now type in the below command and verify that you’re getting a serial ID:
fastboot devices
- If you aren’t then install the Fastboot Drivers on your PC.
- Now type in the below command to unlock the bootloader
fastboot flashing unlock
- You’ll get a prompt, select Unlock the Bootloader via the Vol key and press the Power key to confirm.
- The device will undergo a format and boot to the OS. And with this, the bootloader stands unlocked.
STEP 4: Boot to Fastboot Mode
- Open Command Prompt inside the platform-tools folder.
- Then type in the below command to boot to Fastboot Mode:
adb reboot bootloader
- Make sure to install Fastboot Drivers if you haven’t done so yet.
STEP 5: Convert the OnePlus 12 from ColorOS to OxygenOS
- Launch the “3.Flash_OxygenOS.bat” script inside the extracted folder.
- The flashing will now start. Once done, the device will boot to FastbootD Mode.
- Select the English language via the Volume key and press the Power key to confirm.
- The rest of the files will now be flashed in this mode. Once done, your device will boot to the OS.
- Do note that the first boot-up will take up some time, it’s completely normal and nothing to worry about.
Concluding Remarks
That’s it. These were the steps to convert OnePlus 12 from ColorOS to OxygenOS. Do note if you ever wish to revert the change and want to go back to ColorOS, then you will have to carry out the entire process all over again. This means that your device will undergo a factory reset as well.
To carry out that task, you’ll have to flash the stock ColorOS firmware or even use the technical approach of extracting the payload.bin firmware via Fastboot Enhance and getting the partition files. You could then flash these files to their respective partitions via Fastboot Commands in the Bootloader and FastbootD Modes. Apart from that, if you still have any doubts, then the comments section is all yours, make your voices heard there and we’ll chalk out the best fix for you.
