KM I don't know of older version downloads for Paranoid. Sorry to bother you again on this. I just got my toy and I would like to install Paranoid Android. I am following the instructions at https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-3/oneplus-3--3t-cross-device-development/paranoid-android-7-0-2-aospa-oneplus-3t-t3615015 I know nothing about installing a new ROM, so I have been reading here and there. I understand I first need TWRP. Is Fastboot the only means? I wonder whether I can install TWRP without using a Mac or a PC, just by downloading an app via the original OS? Is "Flash", e.g., "Flash TWRP" a synonym of "Launch"? The get AOSPA link on the XDA developers page leads no where. Is AOSPA the OS in zip format, so what I find directly at http://paranoidandroid.co/downloads/oneplus3 ? With regard to GApps, I googled and read I should pick the package recommended by the ROM developers. However, at the indicated webpage I find a bunch of options and I do not get what I should select, e.g., ARM versus x86 or x86_64. Not sure what those acronyms mean. Do I need F2FS and SuperSu, or are they just accessories for experts? By heart I remember you once wrote someone else compiled a sort of guide on this forum on how to install Paranoid Android on OnePlus 3, or am I imagining things? I could not find it though. Have you always used the latest version of PA, 7.3.1? Or given my bad intolerance to LEDs these days, shall I commence with an earlier version? I think I found one on the XDA forum... Many thanks in advance! And sorry again to bother, I feel bad asking so many questions. Of course anyone else who knows the answers and wants to help is welcome!

AGI Oh man, where to start? I'm no good at basic instructions, but here's some answers: You need a modified recovery manager. TWRP is "TeamWin Recovery", which is one such modified recovery manager. Booting into recovery mode allows you to install software onto the rest of the phone's partitions. Do you NEED this? No. But if you don't have it, the built-in recovery tends to put things back the way that it shipped... so yeah, you kind of do. Can you put this onto the phone with a program? Noooooooot usually. You need ADB - see point 2. Sometimes hackers (like the guys at XDA) have put together an all-in-one program that loads stuff to a phone. These exist for Samsung, and LG... but probably NOT for OnePlus? I haven't looked yet, though. And frankly I prefer to do this myself. Flash is a synonym for "write to firmware". When you "flash TWRP", you are putting the TWRP program into the recovery partition. This is generally done through ADB, which is a command-line interface provided by Google. ADB stands for "Android DeBugger", IIRC. Anyway, ADB connects the phone to your PC and allows you to "flash" things to it, issue commands, reboot it, put it into different modes, etc. AOSPA is in fact "Android Open Source" Paranoid Android, although... I don't know if those Zips contain the whole image. I'd download it from the PA site directly, if I were you. But yes, they come in ZIP and you put the ZIP onto the phone storage and then boot into TWRP and install it which overwrites the OS. GAPPS is Google Apps (gmail, drive, etc.) ARM, x86, and x86_64 are processor types. The OnePlus3 has a 64-bit chip. I'd get that version. SuperSu is only needed if you have apps that require root. If you intend to use the built-in apps as well as ones from the store, it isn't needed usually.

Gurm Oh man, where to start? 😂 What do you expect from someone who did not have a smartphone until 2 years ago? Sorry for giving so much work, and thanks a lot. More early morning than late night here, time to take a nap. I will digest your instructions over the weekend. I am not in a hurry. Maybe I do not want to find out neither this toy is gonna work 😑

AGI Get the GApps ARM64, Android 7.1. I think I have pico installed, others could work, too. You don't need supersu or root. You could install it later at any time, but it's not really needed. I think it has been superseeded by Magisk in the meantime. Basically you just need TWRP and the ROM file, which is a .zip file. Inside TWRP you always have full root access and also an active android debug bridge. You don't extract the file on a PC. I'd copy it onto the device and then install the zip with TWRP. I'm not sure right now what the exact command line was but you can install TWTP permanently or just directly boot into it. You'd want to install it permanently. I think "flash" is the permanent method. Detailed instructions are hidden in this very thread. Sadly because of the way this forum works it's truly hidden and I don't know how to find it myself without endless scrolling through hundreds of posts. I'll have more time later in the evening though. Edit: This and the following posts might be helpful: https://ledstrain.org/d/21-usable-smartphones/823

KM Thanks a lot, I greatly appreciate it!

KM if you want the Google Play Store, download an OpenGapps package from opengapps.org, choose ARM64 and the right Android version (7.1). nano or pico should be enough, in doubt choose nano. I was going thru the old post you sent a link to. Why is the "right" Android version 7.1? I am confused by the fact that OnePlus uses a different OS to Android, does not it? EDIT: I paste a screenshot of the webpage recommended by XDA Developers for the download of GAPPS. Initially I thought only Android 8.1 and Super were available for ARM64 because on the same row. Then I got that one can pick whatever combination of Platform , Android and Variant he wants ( ARM64 , 7.1 , nano in the example below). Maybe it is helpful to other beginners like me who wants to install Paranoid Android.

AGI It's the right choice - Paranoid Android 7.3.1 is based on Android 7.1. The official OnePlus ROMs (called "OxygenOS") are also Android versions. It's not a different OS, just a little customized.

KM You don't need supersu or root. You could install it later at any time, but it's not really needed. I think it has been superseeded by Magisk in the meantime. SuperSU has been sold to a shady company and the source code was closed off. If you need root, use Magisk.

KM Basically you unlock the bootloader somewhere in the Android Settings. It's a simple switch. Then you get the latest TWRP image from twrp.me for the OnePlus 3. You reboot into fastboot mode Hey, sorry, I started working on this, but I find it a bit difficult as I do not have any background on the topic. I wonder whether you could clarify some doubts I have, before I make a mess... What do you mean with "unlocking the bootloader in the Android settings"? Do I need to do something within the original OS before I proceed to flash the custom ROM? I ask because this is not listed in the Flashing order described at https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-3/oneplus-3--3t-cross-device-development/paranoid-android-7-0-2-aospa-oneplus-3t-t3615015/post72498432#post72498432 I am using a Mac, which is another problem as I am quite new to it and do not master it well. If I get it right, first I need fastboot to install TWRP. Then I will only use TWRP. I downloaded the file android-studio-ide-183.5522156-mac.dmg from https://developer.android.com/studio#linux-bundle-size . From the instructions I read at https://www.androidtipsandhacks.com/root/fastboot-mac-linux-recovery/ I understand I do not have to install fastboot (" There’s no need to install it on a Mac or Linux computer, so simply unzip the download and save the folder to a convenient location "). However, if I click on the dmg file no unzipping takes place. Instead installation begins, I believe (please see screenshot below. This popped up after I skipped a question about importing some configuration settings). I am already stuck here. Pretty bad, uh? Meanwhile I went to https://twrp.me/oneplus/oneplusthree.html to download the TWRP suitable for OnePlus3. I read " Fastboot Install Method (No Root Required): You will need the platform-tools from the Android SDK on your computer. Find the Android command line tools section on the page linked and install the SDK tools package. From the SDK Manager, download only the platform-tools to get adb and fastboot binaries. " So I need to install the SDK tools package, do not I? I am confused. A few lines below on the same page I read " On your device, go into Settings -> About and find the Build Number and tap on it 7 times to enable developer settings. Press back and go into Developer Options and enable USB debugging. " This seems to be something to be done within the OEM software? Is it necessary? It is not described in the XDA webpage. Further down, " Your device needs to be unlocked before it can flash custom images. To unlock your device type: fastboot oem unlock ". I guess it is something to be done via terminal, is not it? Is this what you meant in your old post with " Basically you unlock the bootloader somewhere in the Android Settings. "? Also, at https://www.androidtipsandhacks.com/root/twrp-the-complete-guide-to-using-recovery-on-android/ , I read " To create a Nandroid backup tap the Backup option and choose the partitions to include. In most cases you should choose System, Data and Boot. " I assume making an Android backup is something I shall do via TWRP before flashing the custom ROM? Would that allow me to restore the OEM software in case something goes wrong or PA does not work for me and I want to return/re-sell the phone? Sorry, I know it is a lot of questions...thank you very much in advance!

I have never used Mac OS, can't help to get/install Android Tools. Maybe someone else can. You must enable developer options on the device by touching said entry 7 times. Then "Developer Options" appear as a new top-level item in Settings. Inside, there's "OEM unlocking" it must be enabled so you can later, with working Android Tools, enter the command "fastboot oem unlock". This would be denied otherwise. When everything worked, the bootloader is now unlocked. Once the bootloader is unlocked, you will see a message and a menu on every boot, as seen in this thread for example: https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-3/help/help-how-to-remove-device-unlocked-t3425028 They fixed the typo in a later firmware (those ship with new OxygenOS releases but can be installed separately with TWRP later if needed for some reason). Should you already see this menu on your device on every boot, it means the seller has already unlocked it and you could skip all those steps and "just" need to get Android Tools working on the Mac.

KM Many thanks! Did you create a Nandroid backup? Meanwhile after various attempts I think I found the right "command line tools only" at https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools The downloaded folder finally contains fastboot . That should be sufficient, no need to install software on Mac as I was doing at the start.

Installing Paranoid Android on OnePlus 3

AGI

KM Thanks! I had proceeded meanwhile! I am wiping partitions with TWRP. In all the tutorials I have watched I can't see a partition called USB-OTG, which I do have in the list. I guess wiping it is meaningless since, if I understand, USB-OTG is just an external device connected to the phone via USB? None in my case!?

Doubt before wiping. Shall I back-up something? I mean, I have not used the phone yet, so I have nothing mine. But I wonder, if something goes wrong with PA, is there an easy way for beginners like me to reinstall oxygenOS using the created backup?

NOTE: In my case there has been a difference to the tutorials I went thru. After unlocking the device via fastboot, I could not turn the phone on in fastboot mode anymore. I had to restart the phone in normal mode as post-factory reset (go thru the choice of the language, fingerprint protection and all that) and tap again 7 times on the Build Number to re-gain developer privileges. Then Developer Options re-appeared among the settings. Inside I saw the OEM resulted unlocked, but USB debugging had turned to off.

KM

AGI if I understand, USB-OTG is just an external device connected to the phone via USB? None in my case!?

Right, it's any device connected by cable.

Make a backup if in doubt. It would take a while and need a lot of space on the internal memory but I think you could move it to your PC later. All you'd need additionally is the recovery partition which you just rrplaced with TWRP but it can be downloaded from OnePlus ("recovery link"): https://www.oneplus.com/support/softwareupgrade/details?code=4

Edit: Never ever OEM lock the device again (via fastboot) unless both OxygenOS and the original OnePlus recovery partition are installed, or you will get a black screen at boot. There is a way out of this though but better avoid this.

AGI

KM Crap, I forgot about it and wiped. I am a bit nervous...

But luckily from what you say I could get back to the original OS anyhow by downloading stuff from the net...

On a different note, my AOSPA zip and Gapps zip files are on my Mac. How do I have TWRP access them? People on youtube flash them from the phone's internal storage. I tried to connect the Mac to the phone via USB but I can't read it. Thanks!

KM

AGI With adb. While TWRP is running, you can push files to the phone with "adb push file.xyz /sdcard"

You might need to copy the files over to your Windows if the phone is only accessible from within Windows.

AGI

KM Thanks! I found another solution meanwhile. I cannibalized an USB-OTG cable from somewhere, and I can now read the relevant zip files from an USB stick.
However, the first attempt of flashing the custom ROM failed. I had ticked the two given options
1) Zip signature verification (no clue what it is)
2) Reboot after flashing
The signature could not be verified. Is it important?

AGI

Okay, I succeeded! I just skipped the zip signature verification. Thanks a lot for your patience!

The OS looks quite unstable, though. For instance, when I select WiFi settings, Bluetooth settings open. Or, if I select a wifi provider, a different one is shown. Windows appear double or in multiple quantities covering the whole screen, and in some cases keep moving up and down. Have you experienced anything similar?

Do you know how to take a screenshot? If it works, I can show examples of what I mean...

Is there something I need to do at the end of the flashing, like locking the device again? Shall I use fastboot for that?

KM

AGI I never had such things before. The OS is pretty stable. You can take a screenshot by holding the Power button a little until a menu pops up.
You flash the ROM first, then immediately Gapps without a Reboot in between.
I'd wipe everything again (without the data partition), then use TWRP's file browser to delete all folders on the data partition, especially "Android", but leave the zips there. Make sure to clean the dalvik cache, too. I will tak a look into TWRP to remember if I skipped a step. And you did download exactly this file: http://download.paranoidandroid.co/roms/oneplus3/pa_oneplus3-7.3.1-RELEASE-20171030-signed.zip ?

Edit: OK I'd do the advanced wipe in which you select everything except for "Internal storage". It seems the standard wipe didn't include the system partition. The go in TWRP' main menu, Advanced - File Manager and delete everything in the /sdcard directory manually, except for your Paranoid Android and Gapps files or other downloaded stuff. Then you should be able to do a proper clean install.

AGI

KM I downloaded from http://paranoidandroid.co/downloads/oneplus3

I think I had a reboot between flashing the ROM and the Gapps.

You are suggesting to wipe everything but Data. Why is that? And via TWRP? So I should wipe twice?

Thanks. I will see if I can get some photos. The phone is unusable right now...

KM

AGI I just confused the exact terms. When you wipe, data is different from internal storage. Internal storage is the /sdcard directory where you saved your downloaded files onto. Maybe the reboot did mess things up. I remember having frequent "play store has stopped" errors when I once flashed Gapps after using the OS. But not the things you describe.

AGI

Just to make sure we are on the same page. My files are on an external memory stick which I connected to the phone via USB-OTG. I did not wipe the internal storage via TWRP before installing the ROM. That is what I read in multiple tutorials. Is that correct?
I watched a video in which both zip files, for ROM and GApps, were selected and installed together. I could try that.

EDIT: I saw your EDIT now. Thanks. I could not take photos to illustrate the issues. Funnily, whenever I pressed screenshot the anomalies disappeared. But believe me, everything is weird. For instance, upon shutting down, there were 4 "shutting down" windows, a big, central one, and three in a row at the top of the screen. Some for Wifi and anything else.
I have begun another install. This time I have got "Unable to mount storage" in red after each wiped partition wiped, but the wipe was considered successful. I could not delete files from the internal storage manually nor I could wipe it.
I re-installed loading both zip files, ROM and GApps, simultaneously. I am still facing the same troubles though ☹️

KM

AGI OK if they are on a separate stick you could safely tick everything in the Advanced Wipe dialogue (except for USB-OTG of course). Just to be sure there are not leftovers of any kind anywhere. That's what I'd do in this situation.

AGI

KM I tried multiple times but no changes!

I would like to re-install OxygenOS, at least to see if I can revert. I found the below link.

https://www.oneplus.com/support/softwareupgrade/details?code=4

I would expect to download a zip file but my Mac extracts a folder, and TWRP does not like. I will try with a Windows PC. Is the procedure the same as for the custom ROM, is not it, except I will not have to flash GApps?

AGI

KM OK if they are on a separate stick you could safely tick everything in the Advanced Wipe dialogue (except for USB-OTG of course). Just to be sure there are not leftovers of any kind anywhere. That's what I'd do in this situation.

I finally managed to get internet data with my sim card, so I may keep the phone. It hurts but not as dramatically as other OLEDs I looked at, i.e., iPhone X and Samsung S10.

Do you remember what is the latest version of OxygenOS which you could use no problem?
I think once you said that previous versions of the OS are not available anymore, aren't they? And even if they were available, could I completely wipe everything and load an old OS? I am making confusion with factory-resetting, I believe. Is it correct that with a factory-reset I eliminate all data and downloaded apps, and restore stock apps to how they came, but OS, security patch and kernel do not change, whereas flashing an old ROM would change OS, security patch and kernel as well?
I may want to try again to flash PA now that I am a bit more familiar with the process, and I know I can revert to OxygenOS. I still have one doubt. I noticed that I could not wipe the internal storage with TWRP. Its size remained the same after wiping, and I could still see files inside. You mentioned an Android folder I should get rid of. I wonder whether that is crucial? But are not the OS files contained in the System folder only?

Thanks! By the way, very low priority, no need to rush...

KM

AGI No need for Gapps, just wipe first and then install the zip.

AGI

KM Mmmm,
I just read here

To go back to full stock rom, Is this steps works :

Download full Rom.

Flash it in twrp.

Flash stock recovery using fastboot.

What is the stock recovery? I hope it is not the backup I forgot to make...

KM

AGI No they offer it as a separate link (see few posts above). But it should be included in the ROM, too. So when you install the ROM, you'll lose TWRP and instead have the original recovery partition again.

AGI

Thanks on that too!
Shame on me for making this a soap opera. At the end of the "successful" process, TWRP said: NO OS installed, do you still want to reboot? I did that, and the phone vibrated for a long while. Then nothing. Panic.
I waited a bit and got into fastboot mode, and started from there. The central red ball and the two white ball spinning around it went on for minutes, but finally I got Oxygen running! For now, the only differences are

OxygenOS version: OP3_O2_open_25 --> 5.0.8
Android security patch level: September 1, 2017 --> November 1, 2018

consequences of installing a fresher version of the ROM, I believe.
I did not take note of the Kernel version.

Now I will check if it works properly. Thanks a lot for guiding me!

KM

AGI
1) yes, I still have it here if I'm correct, the file is "OnePlus3Oxygen_16_OTA_041_all_1702081756_f9fb218af59d4aa6.zip". It is Android 7.0. The previous versions were also good.
2) yes
3) Deleting the Android directory prevents Giigle's security mechanism from.kicking in, requiring you to enter your old Google account password before you can use the phone. So that's why I always delete it, to save time and to know the new OS is clean and not disturbed by any leftovers. You are right and the OS itself is not on this partition. But parts of it can read old data there.

AGI

KM "OnePlus3Oxygen_16_OTA_041_all_1702081756_f9fb218af59d4aa6.zip". It is Android 7.0. The previous versions were also good.

Thanks! Would you download such file from unofficial website, e.g, the first I found, https://androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=76191?

No problem to install that if the phone came with Android 8.0?

KM

AGI I wouldn't, but I can give you the md5sum so you can check if it's the same and then it means the bits are identical, regardless of where you downloaded from (even the most shady site):
45e55a87cfeb061319858f46ed6b6aab

No problem to install that if the phone came with Android 8.0?

Probably not, I think problems arise with new releases only due to TWRP compatibility.

Edit: OK it could be that Paranoid Android didn't work because the previously installed OxygenOS changed the device firmware somehow. But each OxygenOS comes with firmware, so they probably wouldn't have such problems ever. @degen said he had to downgrade his firmware before he could install Paranoid Android after trying the latest OxygenOS. I can imagine once you installed an older OxygenOS like this 4.0.3 version we are talking about, you would have an earlier firmware afterwards that is still compatible with Paranoid Android. Just speculation, but it could work I guess.

AGI

KM I can give you the md5sum

Wow, never heard of this. You guys really know a lot 👍️
However, on Wikipedia I read

The underlying MD5 algorithm is no longer deemed secure. Thus, while md5sum is well-suited for identifying known files in situations that are not security related, it should not be relied on if there is a chance that files have been purposefully and maliciously tampered.

What do you think?

If I am not too indiscrete, why did you move from the OxygenOS version that worked? Because you wanted to settle on something like PA which does not keep proposing updates? Did you try Oreo at all?

EDIT:

KM @degen said he had to downgrade his firmware before he could install Paranoid Android after trying the latest OxygenOS.

I see, makes sense. Cause even I am not an expert, I am not sure what I could do different to what I tried yesterday! Thanks for the heads up!

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