Want to try the latest version of OxygenOS? You can wait for the update to be pushed to your device or you can install it immediately. Here’s how.

OnePlus phones are lauded for the frequent software updates they receive. OnePlus flagships get three years of software support and four years of security patches, while the mid-range Nord series is backed by two years of major Android updates.

Updates usually go over the air in certain regions first, followed by a larger global release later. If you can’t wait to try the new features, our guide will let you update OxygenOS on your OnePlus phone without having to wait for the OTA update.

Step 1: Check for automatic updates

OnePlus is one of the few manufacturers that are great with software updates, so it’s worth checking to see if your phone has already received one in the form of an OTA update before jumping on the bandwagon and start looking for manual update packages.

On your OnePlus phone:

1. To open Settings and access System > System Updates.
2. Your phone will automatically check for any available updates and provide more information if available.
3. Press on Download and install now and give it some time.

Your phone will start downloading and installing the update on its own. Once done, you will be prompted to restart your device. Keep in mind that menus may be labeled differently depending on the version of OxygenOS your phone is running.

If you don’t have an update available yet, you can install it manually.

Step 2: Download the latest version of OxygenOS

Now that we’ve determined that you don’t yet have the OTA update available, it’s time to update OxygenOS manually. The first thing to do is to download the latest version of OxygenOS for your OnePlus device.

Fortunately, OnePlus is one of the few manufacturers that has a convenient download page where you can select your device and grab the latest version.

1. Head to the OxygenOS Downloads and select your device from the list.
2. The latest stable version update will be available to you. If you want to update to a beta, click the tab at the top and download the beta instead.
3. Although most of these update packages are ready to install and are in .zip format, a few have a .tar extension at the end. Just use a file manager to change the extension to .zip.
4. Move the downloaded file to the root of your phone’s internal storage so that it is not placed in any folder.

Automatically download update using Oxygen Updater

Alternatively, there is an exceptional utility app called Oxygen Updater which you can download from the Play Store. The app automatically detects your phone’s model number and displays available updates that you can download directly from the app.

You can also choose to download only the OTA update package if you are upgrading to a consecutive update. This saves a lot of time and data compared to downloading the entire update package which is usually between 2-3 GB.

To download: Oxygen Update (Free in-app purchases available)

Step 3: Manually update OxygenOS using Local Upgrade

Now that you have downloaded the correct update package, updating your OnePlus phone is quite simple.

1. Move towards Settings > System > System Updates.
2. Tap the cog icon at the top and select Local upgrade.
3. You should now see the update package you just downloaded. Select it and press Install now.

Your OnePlus phone will start installing the update normally, so give it some time and reboot when prompted. Cheer! You have now successfully updated your OnePlus phone to the latest version of OxygenOS.

Enjoy the latest features of OxygenOS

New updates not only make your phone more secure, but also bring cool features to try. While incremental updates focus on fixing bugs and adding a few features sporadically, major updates often overhaul the entire experience.

OxygenOS 12 is based on Android 12 and has many cool features that are worth upgrading.

Read more

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