How to install Android 9 Pie on OnePlus 6

OnePlus is known for being among the few OEMs who are first to release a flagship OS update. Time and again they have shown they can deliver the latest Android OS update before the giants like Samsung, LG, etc. not that OnePlus is any slouch either nowadays.

Speaking of the Google’s latest OS update today, the Android 9 Pie rollout is a hot talk today. This time around too, OnePlus has been quick with the update as evidenced by closed beta testing of Android 9 Pie for OnePlus 6 in China, and the release of an Open Beta build for the global OnePlus 6 sets.

Yes, OnePlus is again among the few OEMs who have released Android Pie update already (03 September) when Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc. haven’t even set a target date of release. Of course, there is Huawei, who has launched is now beta testing the Pie update for as many as nine of its devices today.

Related: OnePlus Pie update roadmap

OnePlus 6 Android 9 Pie update

Official Pie update available as Open Beta 1
Stable release expected in November
Unofficial Android 9 Pie ROMs available too

Official update

Downloads

Download the Android 9 Pie update from below for your OnePlus 6.

Open Beta 1 (Android 9 Pie) ROM

How to install

Method #1: For OnePlus 6 running Android 8.1 Oreo

Download Pie update for the OnePlus 6, the Open Beta 1 ROM, from above.
Transfer the Open Beta 1 ROM to your OnePlus 6.
Install the Android 9 Pie update using Open Beta ROM file:
1. On your OnePlus 6, go to Settings > System > System updates.
2. Now tap on the gear icon in the top right, and then select local upgrade.
3. Tap on the Open Beta ROM file you transferred above to select it.
4. Tap on Immediately upgrade > System upgrade to 100%.
5. Tap on the Reboot system now.

That’s it. Your OnePlus 6 has been updated to official Android Pie update, dubbed Open Beta 1 ROM.

Method #2: For OnePlus 6 running Android P developer preview (DP)

Download Pie update for the OnePlus 6, the Open Beta 1 ROM, from above.
Transfer the Open Beta 1 ROM to your OnePlus 6.
Install the Android 9 Pie update using Open Beta ROM file:
1. On your OnePlus 6, go to Settings > System > System updates.
2. Now tap on the gear icon in the top right, and then select local upgrade.
3. Tap on the Open Beta ROM file you transferred above to select it.
4. Tap on Immediately upgrade > System upgrade to 100%.
5. Do NOT tap on Reboot now as you need to reset the device first. So, don’t restart the device from here.
Perform a factory reset:
1. Long press the power button and then tap on Power off to shut down the device.
2. Reboot to recovery mode. For this, press and hold Volume down and Power buttons together until you see anything on the screen.
3. Perform a factory reset. In recovery mode, move the selection to ‘Wipe data/factory reset’ option, and then click the power button to select it.
4. Once it is finished, select ‘Reboot system now’ option to restart the OnePlus 6 and boot to Open Beta 1 update that gets you stable Android Pie update from OnePlus.

Done!

Unofficial update

The above section of this article was all about the official updates for the OnePlus 6 from the OEM. Here, we will talk about the custom ROMs based on Android 9 that have been compiled from AOSP and are compatible with the OnePlus 6.

Because the Android Pie update is now available from the OnePlus 6 themselves, it doesn’t make much sense to install an unofficial update via AOSP ROM, especially given the ROM’s development stage. However, with time, the Android 9 ROMs would get better, and may extra features and customization that would make them a better choice for the enthusiasts.

Download Android 9 Pie GSI ROM

Android 9 AOSP ROM (AB, ARM64) [v104, September 04 release] [Download the latest ARM64 AB ROM from here.]
Android 9 Gapps

How to install

Before you go on to install the ROM based on Android 9 for your OnePlus 6, be sure to read the known issues with the current version of the ROM at the development page linked here. If that’s okay with you, then go on to install the ROM using the guide right below.

Make sure you have Android 8.0 Oreo OS installed. (It’s quite old now, so you must already have it easily without a doubt.)
→ Find all latest OnePlus 6 updates here. [Firmware here]
Make sure you have the latest TWRP recovery installed. Find the guide to install TWRP on OnePlus 6 here.
Download the latest Android 9 ROM and Gapps files from above. (The ROM comes in .XZ format, while Gapps comes in .ZIP format.)
Extract the ROM file in .ZX format to get the larger ROM file (system GSI) in .IMG format. (You can use a free software like 7-zip for this on your PC.)
Take the appropriate backup of your device as this will need a factory reset, which would delete everything on the device.
Once the above is done, let’s install the unofficial update in Android 9 AOSP ROM on your OnePlus 6 now. Transfer the ROM (.IMG) and Gapps (ZIP) files to your OnePlus 6.
→ Be sure to transfer the extracted .IMG file of the ROM, not the downloaded file.
Reboot into recovery mode to access TWRP. For this:
1. Power off the device.
2. Press and hold power and volume down buttons together for a few seconds until you see the OnePlus logo on the screen. You will see the TWRP soon.
[Careful!] Perform a factory reset. In TWRP, tap the Wipe button, and then perform the swipe action to confirm the factory reset.
On TWRP main screen, tap on Mount, and then make sure System is selected.
Install the Android 9 Pie ROM on your OnePlus 6.
1. Go back to home screen of TWRP.
2. Tap on the Install button.
3. Tap on the Install image button.
4. Now select the System Image file you transferred earlier.
5. Select System Image option.
6. Now Swipe at the bottom to confirm the installation.
Install the Gapps file. Go the home screen of TWRP, and then tap on Install, select the Gapps file you transferred above, and then confirm the installation by swiping at the bottom of the screen.
Tap on Reboot system button after installing the Gapps file to restart the device.