Tech-savvy mobile users simply need to get under the hood of their devices to tweak and optimize them, and now OnePlus offers an official and clean way to do it.
OnePlus is one of the few mobile handset manufacturers who understand just how great it feels to successfully tinker with an electronic device. That is why the company released a video tutorial explaining to everyone how to root their smartphones. The company notes that the tutorial works on all OnePlus variants, adding value to the step-by-step guide.
To start off, you must download the following pieces of software: Recovery, SuperSU (stable), SuperSU (latest beta) and SDK. The video embedded at the end of this article shows the process with the use of SuperSU beta, but SuperSU stable might work just as well.
For the SDK, you must select and confirm that you want to download SDK Tools Only - Windows (Recommended).
A pro tip: we will use some Command Prompt lines in the guide, so take note that when we say type "stuff," you should type the necessary terms WITHOUT the inverted commas.
Now you are ready to begin.
Making The Recovery File
1. Set up the SDK tools by clicking on the installer file and moving through the installation process.
2. Once the SDK tools are installed on your computer, get ready to back up your phone's apps.
To do this, go to your phone's Settings menu and scroll down to the About Phone section. Find "Build number" and tap it seven times. After you do, a message should pop up on your screen informing that "You are now a developer!"
3. Go back to Settings and find the new section that just appeared, called "Developer options." Tap on it and once inside, turn it ON. After that, scroll down until you find "USB Debugging." Enable it so you can back up your phone's app data.
4. Connect your handset to the computer via a USB cable.
5. Return to the computer and open Command Prompt.
6. In the Command Prompt window, type "adb backup - all".
7. Now, go back to your phone and confirm that you want to back up all your data. You get the option to add a password to the backup, should you please. Wait for the message confirming the backup is finished.
8. When the backup is complete, go into Developer Options on your smartphone and enable OEM Unlocking. Remove the USB cable and turn off your phone.
9. Turn your phone back on by pressing the Volume Up and Power buttons at the same time. This restarts your OnePlus phone in Fastboot Mode. Connect the phone to the computer again via USB cable.
10. Go to the Command Prompt and type "fastboot oem unlock". The phone auto-reboots and asks you if you really want to erase all your data. Confirm it by pressing the power button. Your phone now deletes all the data from itself.
After the deletion is complete, the phone will restart.
11. Power off the handset and remove the USB cable.
12. On your handset, hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously to get the phone into Fastboot then connect the USB cable again between the smartphone and the computer.
13. In Command Prompt, type "fastboot flash recovery ./Destination Folder/twrp-2.8.7.0-oneplus2.img". Please note that the Destination folder is the place where you saved the SDK, Recovery and SuperSU and you should spell it out accordingly in the Command Prompt. Another important mention is that the name of the *.img file could be different, so make sure you write it word for word.
14. In Command Prompt, type "fastboot reboot-bootloader".
15. With this, we are finished with the installation of the new recovery file, and can prepare for the rooting part.
Rooting The OnePlus
16. Turn off the phone and disconnect the USB cable.
17. Now, turn on your smartphone by using the Volume Down and Power key. The new recovery interface should appear.
18. Swipe right to allow modifications. A new menu with multiple folders should open up.
19. Connect the OnePlus phone to the computer via USB cable. Windows should recognize your device immediately.
20. Go to the Destination Folder from earlier, and right-click the BETA-SuperSU-v2.52.zip file and select Copy. Go to the Internal Storage folder of your OnePlus phone and copy the Zip archive there.
21. After copying the file, return to your phone and go to the Install folder. Scroll down until you find the Zip archive, tap it and inside the new menu window, swipe right to confirm Flash.
22. When the flashing ends, tap the Wipe cache/dalvik button and swipe right to confirm.
23. Once that is done, tap the Reboot System button. Congratulations, you just successfully rooted your OnePlus phone! One more step to go, restoring the backup data that we saved earlier on.
Restoring Backup Data
24. Wait until the phone restarts on its own, and keep in mind that it might take a bit longer than usual.
25. Go through the standard setup wizards until you get to the Home screen.
26. Make sure that the handset is connected to the computer via USB cable.
27. Go to the Settings menu on your phone and scroll down to the About Phone section. Find "Build number" and tap it seven times. Go to "Developer options." Make sure you turn it to ON. Scroll down until you reach "USB Debugging." Enable it.
28. As the backup process only restores data from apps, you should re-download those applications you did a backup of.
29. Once you have all the old apps back on your handset, return to the computer and open Command Prompt. Type "adb restore backup.ab".
30. Confirm on your phone that you want your data restored. If you did set up a password in Step 8, now you just input it to finalize the process.
All you have to do now is enjoy the unlocked potential of your smartphone. It is doubtful that other OEMs will be as transparent and flexible as OnePlus, as there are some stingy disadvantages for those who tinker too much with their handsets.
