How to install the OxygenOS OTA Update and sideload on the OnePlus device.

OnePlus usually rolls out its software updates gradually; sometimes, it feels like updating it manually. Sideloading updates on your device also comes in handy when you have rooted your device because your device won’t receive regular OTAs or has yet to start rolling out the update in your region. 

Stable updates first roll out to a handful of users, and if they don’t receive any problematic reports, they roll out to the rest of the devices. Locally upgrading your OnePlus is very straightforward, and today we will be sharing step-by-step instructions on installing the OTA update package on your OnePlus devices. 

OxygenOS Updates 

There are three different features for the OnePlus device: Alpha (closed beta), Open Beta, and Stable Update. Where Alpha is available for limited testers, these builds are mostly early and are not recommended on a regular device. To join the closed beta, OnePlus asks you to apply to a forum, and mostly it’s for developers. 

Another is open beta; these are for early adopters and mostly for niche audiences. Before releasing the public update, check that it doesn’t have any major bugs or issues, unlike Alpha. In the end, a stable update was rolled out to the device. OnePlus continues to put effort into keeping their smartphones updated as long as possible, and you can also find the OTA package from the Beta and Stable Build to upgrade your device locally. Sideloading the OTA package is similar to every channel, either beta or stable. 

How to download and install the OxygenOS OTA Update Package 

There are two different types of OTA releases: full and incremental. If you were looking for sideloading, use the full update package. If you have rooted your device, you can use incremental to extract the stock boot image to patch and flash to have root access afterward.  

Note: Carrier variants have separate firmware; double-check the firmware to see if it is supported. 

OnePlus Updater 

Oxygen Updater on the Google Play Store. This open-source app allows you to download the OTA package at your convenience. On top of that, it has an MD5 checksum to verify the integrity of the zip file. All you have to do is open the One Plus Updater, and then the app will automatically detect your device model number and show the available downloads within the app. Choose the OTA update package and start downloading based on your preference. 

How to Locally Upgrade OxygenOS Update 

Before starting to flash, you should ensure that you have downloaded the supported build for your device. The installation package is stored in the root directory (internal storage). Note: If the file is downloaded in the.jar extension, then replace it with.zip. 

Manually sideload firmware (OxygenOS) on OxygenOS 11. 

• First, you need to download the OTA update for your device and move the package to the internal storage of the device. 
• After that, open Device Settings and go to System. 
• From there, head over to System Updates, and on that page, you have a gear icon in the screen’s top-right corner. 
• Choose Local Upgrade, and then browse your OTA Update file. 
• Click on Install Now in the pop-up and wait for it to finish the upgrade. 

Note for Global Variant: Local Upgrade doesn’t make it visible on Global Variant; you need to install OnePlus System Update or Launcher and try installing the file again. 

Manually sideload firmware (OxygenOS) on OxygenOS 12 or higher. 

• Starting with downloading the OTA package and then moving the package to the internal storage of the device. 
• Now open your device settings, and then click on About Device. 
• From there, click on Version and tap Build number x7 times. 

Revert to the Settings page, head over to About Device, and from there, click on Up to date. 

• There, you have triple-vertical dots that appear in the upper-right corner of the screen. 
• Choose it, and from there, click on Local Install. 
• Choose it and then browse the package. 
• Select Install, and then proceed with the installation. 
• That’s it! 

Manually sideload firmware (OxygenOS) with OPLOCALUpdate. 

First, download and install the APK, and then open System Update from your app drawer. Then it will automatically detect the OTA Update package (if it’s stored in internal storage) and start upgrading your device’s firmware. 

How to Downgrade OxygenOS  

If you want to revert to your stable version of OxygenOS, you will get the rollback package on the download page or the stable latest OxygenOS Build of OTA Update. Otherwise, you can download the stable update from the OnePlus website and install it with the local install method.