Database Info

ROM Flashing Sequence

I've successfully unlocked bootloader, rooted (Magisk) and installed TWRP Blu Spark on my Oneplus 6.
The next step is to flash a custom ROM, but I keep running into the instruction "Flash Rom and TWRP Installer (blu_spark)", no matter what custom ROM I'm looking at.
Is it really necessary to reflash TWRP right after the ROM, or can I skip that step since Blu Spark TWRP is already on my phone?

Borat38 said:
I've successfully unlocked bootloader, rooted (Magisk) and installed TWRP Blu Spark on my Oneplus 6.
The next step is to flash a custom ROM, but I keep running into the instruction "Flash Rom and TWRP Installer (blu_spark)", no matter what custom ROM I'm looking at.
Is it really necessary to reflash TWRP right after the ROM, or can I skip that step since Blu Spark TWRP is already on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to reflash TWRP everytime you flash a rom becuase recovery partition does not more exist and recovery is integrated in boot.img

1. Wipe everything except internal storage in TWRP.
2. Flash OOS 9.0.X in twrp and flash twrp zip
3. Now reboot to twrp and repeat step 2.
4. Now flash your rom + twrp zip and reboot to twrp.
5. Flash Gapps, magisk or any other zip you want.
You should be good now.

Apachyx said:
1. Wipe everything except internal storage in TWRP.
2. Flash OOS 9.0.X in twrp and flash twrp zip
3. Now reboot to twrp and repeat step 2.
4. Now flash your rom + twrp zip and reboot to twrp.
5. Flash Gapps, magisk or any other zip you want.
You should be good now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AH! Now that's the secret sauce--flashing 2x. The guides just indicate once, which is probably why when I restart, there's no OS and I get kicked back to TWRP. Thank you sir!! :good:

Can someone explain why I have to format internal data? My guess is the encryption key is changing. And I have no pin or password when I flash.

RUNNERX said:
Can someone explain why I have to format internal data? My guess is the encryption key is changing. And I have no pin or password when I flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your guess is correct. Encryption. It has nothing to do with FP, or code. It's Googles securety patches basically. If you don't want to format look in the decrypt guide and run in decrypted.

What's New(?) procedure to install Custom ROMs coming from OOS 9.0.5?

Hello guys,
I'm having trouble trying to install a Custom ROM (Tresk Mod, but I get it with others too)
So basically some days ago my whole Internal Storage got encrypted so I had to a full wipe.
From there I decided to use Msmtools just in case, so I got back to OOS 5.1.5 from there I updated to OOS 9.0.5 via OTA and unlock the bootloader and install TWRP everything works fine.
But when I tried to install any custom ROM I either cannot boot and just boots to Bootloader (Not even the recovery works) and I get "Failed to load/authenticate boot image: Load Error" which I can fix fastboot flashing all the partitions...
Or I straight get a black screen with the White Notifications LED whenever I try to boot either to system or recovery and from there I can only recover using Msmtools...
So I'm now asking, what are the steps for flashing Custom ROMs now?? Because seems like I'm doing something wrong since I'm ending having a Bricked device...

try to flash rom with bluespark recovery

Nothing changed that I'm aware of, but I found that I'll have the same experience if I try to root before booting the system at least once rootless first. Also, I have issues like that whenever I keep TWRP (even Blu Spark) installed. Now I only use it via sideload every time. I never have issues anymore.

Mdknight said:
Nothing changed that I'm aware of, but I found that I'll have the same experience if I try to root before booting the system at least once rootless first. Also, I have issues like that whenever I keep TWRP (even Blu Spark) installed. Now I only use it via sideload every time. I never have issues anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the following:
1. Upgraded from 5.1.5 to 9.0.5 (Since I was coming from Msmtools fix)
2. Unlock bootloader
3. Reboot to system and then boot again to bootloader for doing (fastboot boot TWRP.xxx.img)
4. Once in the recovery flash recovery and Magisk (just because) and back to system (where everything was working perfectly)
5. Rebooted to recovery and did the following:
Factory Reset (The one that you slide which should wipe Cache, Dalvik and Data)
Flashed the ROM (HavocOS 2.5) and right after that TWRP
And at this point I tried to reboot back to recovery but black screen and cannot boot to recovery nor system not even via fastboot
Is your order different? Am I missing something?

Asiier said:
I did the following:
1. Upgraded from 5.1.5 to 9.0.5 (Since I was coming from Msmtools fix)
2. Unlock bootloader
3. Reboot to system and then boot again to bootloader for doing (fastboot boot TWRP.xxx.img)
4. Once in the recovery flash recovery and Magisk (just because) and back to system (where everything was working perfectly)
5. Rebooted to recovery and did the following:
Factory Reset (The one that you slide which should wipe Cache, Dalvik and Data)
Flashed the ROM (HavocOS 2.5) and right after that TWRP
And at this point I tried to reboot back to recovery but black screen and cannot boot to recovery nor system not even via fastboot
Is your order different? Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to install twrp.zip again after havoc, boot Back Into Recovery and then gapps and magisk

Asiier said:
I did the following:
1. Upgraded from 5.1.5 to 9.0.5 (Since I was coming from Msmtools fix)
2. Unlock bootloader
3. Reboot to system and then boot again to bootloader for doing (fastboot boot TWRP.xxx.img)
4. Once in the recovery flash recovery and Magisk (just because) and back to system (where everything was working perfectly)
5. Rebooted to recovery and did the following:
Factory Reset (The one that you slide which should wipe Cache, Dalvik and Data)
Flashed the ROM (HavocOS 2.5) and right after that TWRP
And at this point I tried to reboot back to recovery but black screen and cannot boot to recovery nor system not even via fastboot
Is your order different? Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sconny said:
You have to install twrp.zip again after havoc, boot Back Into Recovery and then gapps and magisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Always reboot from recovery to recovery after flashing a new one (TWRP). THEN, go ahead and flash gapps and magisk.

Sconny said:
You have to install twrp.zip again after havoc, boot Back Into Recovery and then gapps and magisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mdknight said:
Agreed. Always reboot from recovery to recovery after flashing a new one (TWRP). THEN, go ahead and flash gapps and magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally figured it out
The problem was that as I was updating via OTA OOS 9.0.5 was only installed in one Slot so I need to install it in the other as well.
Did the following process:
1. Boot to Bootloader and do "fastboot boot TWRP.img"
2. From there flash TWRP.zip and Reboot back to it (Recovery)
3. Flash OOS Latest (9.0.5)
4. Flash TWRP
5. Reboot to TWRP
6. Flash OOS Latest (9.0.5)
7. Flash TWRP
8. Reboot to TWRP
9. Wipe data, dalvik cache
10. Flash ROM
11. Flash TWRP
12. Reboot to TWRP
13. Flash gapps + Misc (Magisk, etc)
14. Boot system
Technically just one 1 installation should do as the other slot was already populated but the twice just to be safe.

Stuck on bootloop TWRP without decryption, help.

Hey guys, so i had weird problem (status bar not visible after unlocking device) when updating my phone to 9.5.8. so i decided to flash the rom again to see if the issue goes away. I am rooted and unlocked and everything was working fine (apart from the status bar). I tried this method:
1. Downloaded the 9.5.8 update from Oxygen Updater (DONT REBOOT)
2. Went to Settings\System\System Update and click on the wheel on upper right corner.
3. Select Local Upgrade, then install the update (DONT REBOOT)
*DO NOT REBOOT after applying the update.
4. Launch Magisk, and click the first "install"
5. Choose the "Install to inactive slot (OTA)" option
6. Reboot once completed
On step 6 it failed, i rebooted directly into the Oneplus recovery and not TWRP. So i tried fastboot boot twrp.img and flash the installer. After that i rebooted the device and now it goes directly into twrp but without decryption, it wont ask for my PIN and i get the screen "Unmodified System Partition. Keep System Read only? Installing zips or performing adb operations may still modify the system partition." On the bottom i can "swipe to allow modifications", which i swipe to allow but i can't access any files on my phone, and that is my dead end. Help would be much appreciated.
I also tried flashing Magisk and also Magisk Uninstaller (uninmod wasn't found).
Also tried command "twrp decrypt password" in the Terminal and got "Failed to decrypt data"

sapalot said:
Hey guys, so i had weird problem (status bar not visible after unlocking device) when updating my phone to 9.5.8. so i decided to flash the rom again to see if the issue goes away. I am rooted and unlocked and everything was working fine (apart from the status bar). I tried this method:
1. Downloaded the 9.5.8 update from Oxygen Updater (DONT REBOOT)
2. Went to Settings\System\System Update and click on the wheel on upper right corner.
3. Select Local Upgrade, then install the update (DONT REBOOT)
*DO NOT REBOOT after applying the update.
4. Launch Magisk, and click the first "install"
5. Choose the "Install to inactive slot (OTA)" option
6. Reboot once completed
On step 6 it failed, i rebooted directly into the Oneplus recovery and not TWRP. So i tried fastboot boot twrp.img and flash the installer. After that i rebooted the device and now it goes directly into twrp but without decryption, it wont ask for my PIN and i get the screen "Unmodified System Partition. Keep System Read only? Installing zips or performing adb operations may still modify the system partition." On the bottom i can "swipe to allow modifications", which i swipe to allow but i can't access any files on my phone, and that is my dead end. Help would be much appreciated.
I also tried flashing Magisk and also Magisk Uninstaller (uninmod wasn't found).
Also tried command "twrp decrypt password" in the Terminal and got "Failed to decrypt data"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So to be clear: right now, you have access to twrp but not the data partition (twrp does not prompt you to decrypt), and when you reboot to system from, you are bounced back to twrp. Right?

reaper000 said:
So to be clear: right now, you have access to twrp but not the data partition (twrp does not prompt you to decrypt), and when you reboot to system from, you are bounced back to twrp. Right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but i got frustrated and as i had done a Titanium Backup i just wiped everything on stock recovery and flashed the latest rom with twrp. Is there a clear instruction on how to update the rom when rooted? I just don't want it to happen again.

sapalot said:
Yes, but i got frustrated and as i had done a Titanium Backup i just wiped everything on stock recovery and flashed the latest rom with twrp. Is there a clear instruction on how to update the rom when rooted? I just don't want it to happen again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't mess with stock recovery if you already have TWRP and Magisk aboard.
Here's how to update to 9.5.9 (or whatever) when it arrives:
- download your 3 zips: the latest full ota ROM, the latest Magisk, and the latest TWRP installer.
- boot to TWRP recovery
flash the ROM and TWRP installer
- reboot to TWRP recovery
flash Magisk
wipe dalvik
- reboot to system
There's a possibility after these steps and you're happily on the ROM, you might find that you're not rooted (it's more likely on a custom ROM than OOS). In which case you just reboot to recovery and flash Magisk, and then reboot to system. Done.
Discussion:
If you want a clean flash, you'd simply do a TWRP factory reset (standard wipe) instead of wiping dalvik.
Consider flashing both slots (A and B) whenever you update OOS, for two reasons. First, you don't have to keep track of which slot has which version of OOS should you flash a custom ROM or kernel with a specific version of OOS required as a base. The second reason is more compelling: the way the data partition changes encryption every update has obviated the reason for A/B slots, in that if newly updated B changes data encryption upon boot and then something happens, you cannot revert to A because A can't read the new data encryption. So the solution is to update both A and B at the same time so both slots use the same encryption and can both access the data partition.
Or like me, run the device decrypted (i. e. without forced encryption).
Good luck

Can't install LineageOS

Hi
I have problems to install LineageOS on my new OnePlus6. I tried to install LineageOS with the guide on https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/enchilada/install. If I follow the guide exactly step by step no OS is starting and I can't boot into recovery because (I think) twrp isn't installed (just black screen with blue led). But also if I first boot twrp with fastboot boot 'twrp.img' and after install the twrp.zip, no OS is starting after sideload or flash the 'lineageos.zip'. I think, the install doesn't finish correct. In the terminal on my debian I can see, that the installprocess ends at 47%. But I'm not really shure if this is the problem and if it is, how I can solve it. Probably in this thread the same problem is described: https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6/help/lineage-doesnt-boot-black-screen-light-t3958351 Unfortunately no solution is available in the thread.
Now I flashed the stockrom (https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6/how-to/rom-stock-fastboot-roms-oneplus-6-t3796665) and have done all updates but don't know how I can install twrp and after LineageOS. I hope somebody can help me. Thanks

Do you have the latest ADB version? Instead of sideloading you can try just transferring the zip files (with e.g. "adb push lineageos.zip /sdcard/") and then installing directly from TWRP.
Make sure you do all the wipes / formats mentioned in the guide. Transfer and flash the lineageos.zip. Then directly after you should flash the twrp.zip Then reboot back into recovery and flash Magisk / Gapps etc if needed. Then finally reboot to system.
Also read this guide if you haven't already as it explains a lot about how flashing ROMs on OnePlus 6 is different to many other older phones.

Hi and thank you makeyourself
I tried the following steps:
1. starting fastboot
2. fastboot boot twrp-3.3.1-2-enchilada.img -> twrp starting up
3. adb push twrp-installer-3.3.1-2-enchilada.zip /sdcard/ -> transfer ok
4. adb push lineage-16.0-20190922-nightly-enchilada-signed.zip /sdcard/ -> transfer ok
5. in twrp Wipe -> Format Data
6. in twrp Advanced Wipe -> System
7. in twrp install lineage-16.0-20190922-nightly-enchilada-signed.zip
8. in twrp install twrp-installer-3.3.1-2-enchilada.zip
9. reboot to recovery
After this steps I got the same problem as before. Before the reboot to recovery, twrp showed the message "no OS installed". So I think, the zip weren't installed correctly. Now, I have the black screen with the blue led. Can you find out what I did wrong?
Edit: Now, I can't also boot twrp. Also if I do a fastboot boot twrp-3.3.1-2-enchilada.img nothing happens.

Fastboot to twrp (newest blu spark should be fine, or black twrp)
Flash twrp zip
Reboot to twrp
Wipe data, cache.
Flash recommended oos
Flash twrp
Reboot to twrp
Flash recommended twrp (yes...... Again)
Flash twrp (yes... Again, recovery is lost after rom Flash ALWAYS)
Reboot to twrp
Flash LOS or any other custom rom
Flash twrp (rom Flash, so twrp is lost like I said)
Reboot to twrp
Flash magisk (IF ypu want magisk)
Flash gapps (IF ypu want gapps)
Flash kernel (IF I like to run another custom kernel)
Boot
Enjoy

Thank you whizeguy, I'll try this. But just one question about "Flash recommended oos". Which OxygenOS can I flash (this full OTA? https://www.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6-oneplus-6t-oxygenos-9014-906/) and why I have to do this? Sorry if it is a bad question.

You Flash The oxygen OS version that is recommended in Los thread, simple as that.
You have an a/b device, vendor partition (could be other files needed aswell, not 100 % sure) is needed to Flash custom, IF you did Amy research you'd finns some good info. Also for faster answers in The future: post your issue in the thread for LOS, that way you would get help from People Who uses it, knows The exact version you should use and what not

Hey whizeguy, thank you very much. Everything works perfect now. But why for heaven's sake do I have to flash oos and why the guide on the LineageOS site don't tell me this way?

Wow idk what happened here. Mistakenly replied to this thread. Apologies.

Android 10 & Custom ROM & Slot A + B

Hello Android developers and enthusiasts,
I've been installing ROM since 2011 so I would not call myself a n00b however I seemingly cannot install an Android 10 ROM without issues. So this is a plea for help and advice!
I know you need to have OOS installed before you install a custom ROM so I use Auto Flash ROM to install OOS with Android 9 via System Update. I then boot and set up phone, install update, reboot and then install the OOS android 10 via the System Update. I then have a OOS installed with Android 10.
Why would I use such an elaborate method you may ask? Well, I tried to download latest OOS from OnePlus site and wipe phone and then install OOS but that fails (didn't record the error I'm afraid).
I then download all the ROM + dependencies on an USB stick and use fastboot to flash Mauronofrio TWRP. I then follow the steps in the ROM instructions. For EvolutionX these were:
First Time Install / Clean Flash
- Have OOS 10.3 flashed to both slots!!
- Boot to recovery
- Flash BUILD.zip (TWRP built-in)
- Wipe Cache
- Format data
- Reboot to recovery (optional)
- Flash Magisk.zip (optional)
- Reboot to system & #KeepEvolving
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed these to the letter but when i rebooted system I got a snapdragon error and it wouldn't even boot into TWRP until I used fastboot to flash boot into TWRP. I also tried HavocROM and same happened.
I did manage to install Syberia using above method but I didn't like the ROM that much unfortunately.
Finally, I've also read up a lot on Slot A and B but it still is not very clear to me. I think I understand it but what happens does not confirm my theories
I therefore have some questions:
- Should I be able to wipe my phone and install OOS on a wiped phone and then install a custom ROM?
- When I install ROM and it says "Reboot Recovery" and then install ROM again. But if I check what slot is being used the reboot doesn't seem to change the slot. My assumption was that booting recovery was to install ROM in the other slot. Is that correct?
Any other tips you can give me?
Again, I like to stress I am not new to installing custom ROMs so I am a bit disappointed that this is causing me such grief.
Following some answers I will retry tomorrow so I can give some more details if needed. For now, appreciate any help.

roel1976 said:
Hello Android developers and enthusiasts,
I've been installing ROM since 2011 so I would not call myself a n00b however I seemingly cannot install an Android 10 ROM without issues. So this is a plea for help and advice!
I know you need to have OOS installed before you install a custom ROM so I use Auto Flash ROM to install OOS with Android 9 via System Update. I then boot and set up phone, install update, reboot and then install the OOS android 10 via the System Update. I then have a OOS installed with Android 10.
Why would I use such an elaborate method you may ask? Well, I tried to download latest OOS from OnePlus site and wipe phone and then install OOS but that fails (didn't record the error I'm afraid).
I then download all the ROM + dependencies on an USB stick and use fastboot to flash Mauronofrio TWRP. I then follow the steps in the ROM instructions. For EvolutionX these were:
I followed these to the letter but when i rebooted system I got a snapdragon error and it wouldn't even boot into TWRP until I used fastboot to flash boot into TWRP. I also tried HavocROM and same happened.
I did manage to install Syberia using above method but I didn't like the ROM that much unfortunately.
Finally, I've also read up a lot on Slot A and B but it still is not very clear to me. I think I understand it but what happens does not confirm my theories
I therefore have some questions:
- Should I be able to wipe my phone and install OOS on a wiped phone and then install a custom ROM?
- When I install ROM and it says "Reboot Recovery" and then install ROM again. But if I check what slot is being used the reboot doesn't seem to change the slot. My assumption was that booting recovery was to install ROM in the other slot. Is that correct?
Any other tips you can give me?
Again, I like to stress I am not new to installing custom ROMs so I am a bit disappointed that this is causing me such grief.
Following some answers I will retry tomorrow so I can give some more details if needed. For now, appreciate any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
I had this exact same problem a couple months ago. Rebooting to recovery used to change slots for me, but then it stopped.
What you can do is change active slot manually on Reboot section. By doing this, you don't even have to reboot to recovery in other to flash the other slot (altough I do it just to be safe).
And remember: the rom is flashed on the inactive slot, so after the final flash you gotta change slots one more time.

When you flash one ROM on top of another different ROM, particularly OOS to custom, always wipe data and not format data, because some custom ROMs do not support being unencrypted in the first time and then encrypt on the first boot. So do it like this:
Flash OOS
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash OOS
Flash TWRP
Reboot system
Complete initial setup
Reboot to recovery
Wipe (not format) data
Flash custom ROM (start here for dirty flashing ROM update)
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash custom ROM
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash Magisk
Reboot system
I don't like built-in TWRP in custom ROMs. I always use @mauronofrio's TWRP. So regardless if the custom ROM I'm using has TWRP built-in or not, I always use the method above. I didn't have a problem with installing ROMs using his TWRP. Slots always switch when flashing ROM.

Thanks for the info, it really helps.
One question: in your experience can you wipe your phone and then installl OOS on the wiped phone?

So I just booted into TWRP, did standard wipe action: Data, Cache, and Dalvik. I then try to flash the latest OOS zip and I then get this error:
Error applying update: 7 (ErrorCode::kInstallDeviceOpenError)
Updater process ended withL ERROR: 1.
Error installing zip file: '/usbstorage/00, INSTALL/OnePlus6Oxygen_22_OTA_044_all_2002220042_a46425f1bfe43d2.zip
FIXED: I was using TWRP 3.3.1.11 and I then found out there was a newer version: 3.3.1.18 which you can get here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mauronofrio-twrp/files/Enchilada/
I am now able to install OOS from scratch (ie wiped phone).

remewer said:
When you flash one ROM on top of another different ROM, particularly OOS to custom, always wipe data and not format data, because some custom ROMs do not support being unencrypted in the first time and then encrypt on the first boot. So do it like this:
Flash OOS
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash OOS
Flash TWRP
Reboot system
Complete initial setup
Reboot to recovery
Wipe (not format) data
Flash custom ROM (start here for dirty flashing ROM update)
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash custom ROM
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash Magisk
Reboot system
I don't like built-in TWRP in custom ROMs. I always use @mauronofrio's TWRP. So regardless if the custom ROM I'm using has TWRP built-in or not, I always use the method above. I didn't have a problem with installing ROMs using his TWRP. Slots always switch when flashing ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this method and everytime I can't seem to flash oos onto the other slot because when it reboots to recovery the folder is encrypted so I can't see which file is the zip. How do I flash the seccond OOS if it shows up encrypted in TWRP.
I have a OnePLus 6 with the latest OOS now because I got into boot loop and i used a flash-all.bat to get back to stock. I also use maronofrio's twrp because that works.

harshybar said:
I tried this method and everytime I can't seem to flash oos onto the other slot because when it reboots to recovery the folder is encrypted so I can't see which file is the zip. How do I flash the seccond OOS if it shows up encrypted in TWRP.
I have a OnePLus 6 with the latest OOS now because I got into boot loop and i used a flash-all.bat to get back to stock. I also use maronofrio's twrp because that works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can boot OOS fine, try to do a local update so that both slots have OOS. Then try to flash a custom ROM again using the method I've mentioned.

remewer said:
If you can boot OOS fine, try to do a local update so that both slots have OOS. Then try to flash a custom ROM again using the method I've mentioned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say local update you mean while I am running the rom, go to settings then do update from local source?

harshybar said:
When you say local update you mean while I am running the rom, go to settings then do update from local source?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly

GuestD2559 said:
When you flash one ROM on top of another different ROM, particularly OOS to custom, always wipe data and not format data, because some custom ROMs do not support being unencrypted in the first time and then encrypt on the first boot. So do it like this:
Flash OOS
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash OOS
Flash TWRP
Reboot system
Complete initial setup
Reboot to recovery
Wipe (not format) data
Flash custom ROM (start here for dirty flashing ROM update)
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash custom ROM
Flash TWRP
Reboot recovery
Flash Magisk
Reboot system
I don't like built-in TWRP in custom ROMs. I always use @mauronofrio's TWRP. So regardless if the custom ROM I'm using has TWRP built-in or not, I always use the method above. I didn't have a problem with installing ROMs using his TWRP. Slots always switch when flashing ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Cypher_01, Try this guide. This worked for me. I did not reinstall Nikgapps. Maybe that's where the problem lies? Don't forget to change the update slot at the end before you restart.​