In this guide, we will show you the steps to install OxygenOS 12 onto your OnePlus Ace. It’s currently really a sad state of affairs going on with OnePlus. Ever since it decided to stick with its controversial decision of incorporating ColorOS into OxygenOS, things have taken a turn for the worse. Moreover, even on the hardware front, they are now selling Oppo devices rebranded under its logo.
While we can’t do much on the hardware front, we could surely do our bit on the software side. In this regard, we will help you break free from the shackles of the bloated ColorOS and instead welcome OxygenOS [or whatever is left of it]. So without further ado, let’s get started with the steps to install OxygenOS 12 onto your OnePlus Ace. Follow along.
Table of Contents
How to Install OxygenOS 12 on OnePlus Ace
The below instructions will wipe off all the data from your device, so please take a complete device backup beforehand. Droidwin 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.
STEP 1: Install Android SDK
First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.
STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking
Next up, you will have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking process.
So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.
STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader on OnePlus Ace
After this, you will have to unlock the bootloader on your OnePlus Ace. Do keep in mind that this process will wipe off all the data and might nullify the device’s warranty as well. So if that’s all well and good, then refer to our comprehensive guide on How to Unlock Bootloader on OnePlus 10R/Ace
STEP 4: Download OxygenOS 12 for OnePlus Ace
Next up, grab hold of the OxygenOS firmware for your device from below:
Download Link
Once downloaded, extract it to any convenient location so that you get the payload.bin file.
STEP 5: Boot OnePlus Ace to Fastboot Mode
- Connect your device to the PC via a USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
- Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
- Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
adb reboot bootloader
- Now type in the below command to verify the Fastboot Connection
fastboot devices
- If you get a device ID followed by the fastboot keyword, then the connection stands successful.
STEP 6: Install OxygenOS on OnePlus Ace
- Download and extract the Fastboot Enhance Tool from GitHub [direct link]. Then launch the tool via its EXE file.
- Your device should be listed under the Fastboot Virtualization tab, select it.
- After that, click on the Reboot to FastbootD button.
- Your device will boot to FastbootD Mode.
- Now go to the Payload Dumper tab and click on Browse.
- Navigate to the payload.bin file, select it and click Open.
- The file will now be loaded in the tool, displaying the resultant information.
- Now go to the Fastboot Virtualization tab and click on Flash payload.bin. If the flashing starts, well and good.
- However, if you get the ‘Virtual A/B temporary partitions exist’ popup, then click on No.
- After that, go to the Partitions tab and type in cow in the Filter by name box.
- Select all the partitions from the results that have cow in their name and hit the Delete button.
- Once done, click on Flash payload.bin. This time the flashing will start without any issues.
- Once complete, you will be notified of the same. You may now boot to the OS by clicking on Reboot to System.
- Now select the Wipe Data option from the FastbootD screen
- Then proceed with the on-screen instructions to perform a reset.
- Once done, you may now reboot your device to the newly installed OS.
That’s it. These were the steps to install OxygenOS 12 onto your OnePlus Ace. 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 at the earliest.
Abdelilah CHARBOUB
Assalamualaikom dear Hassan,
Thank you for this post, unfortunately is not working with me, i don’t know why.
Could you help me please? i have oneplus ace colors Os 13,
Thank you,