ahnafnafee/OnePlus6T-Restore.md

## OnePlus6T-Restore.md

      
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              OnePlus6T-Restore.md
            
          
    OnePlus 6T (T-Mobile) — End-to-End: Unbrick → Convert to International → Flash LineageOS


⚠️ Big warnings (read once):

This process wipes all data.
Use the exact OnePlus 6T packages (codename fajita). OnePlus 6 is enchilada (different).
Don’t boot into Android between certain flashing steps unless the step explicitly says to.
Keep the phone plugged into a stable USB port (avoid flaky hubs/cables).


0) What you need (PC + files)

PC requirements


Windows PC (MSMDownloadTool is easiest on Windows)
A reliable USB-A port + good cable
Android platform-tools (adb/fastboot)

Drivers


Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 driver (for EDL mode)

Files you’ll use

A) Unbrick tool (T-Mobile Q build)


Initial OS / unbrick package source (your starting point):

https://onepluscommunityserver.com/list/Unbrick_Tools/OnePlus_6T/T-Mobile/Q/


Download the MSM package(s) from there (usually contains MSMDownloadTool + firmware payload).

B) International (Global) MSM package


You need the International/Global OnePlus 6T MSM package (same idea: MSM tool + global firmware).
Make sure it is for OnePlus 6T (fajita) and not another model/variant.

C) LineageOS files (fajita)

From the LineageOS download page for fajita, you’ll have:

lineage-22.2-YYYYMMDD-nightly-fajita-signed.zip (ROM zip → sideload in recovery)
boot.img (recovery/boot image → fastboot flash)
dtbo.img (device tree overlay → fastboot flash)
vbmeta.img (AVB metadata → fastboot flash)
Optionally:
GApps zip (if you want Google services - ARM64)


1) Unbrick back to T-Mobile OxygenOS (MSM via EDL 9008)

1.1 Put phone into EDL (Qualcomm 9008)


Power the phone fully off:

Hold Vol Up + Vol Down + Power ~10–20s until it shuts down.


Enter EDL:

Hold Vol Up + Vol Down and plug USB into the PC.


Windows Device Manager should show:

Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (COMx)
If it shows unknown/QUSB_BULK, install the Qualcomm 9008 driver.


1.2 Run MSMDownloadTool (T-Mobile Q package)


Extract the downloaded unbrick folder from:

https://onepluscommunityserver.com/list/Unbrick_Tools/OnePlus_6T/T-Mobile/Q/


Run MSMDownloadTool.exe as Administrator
Click Start (or “Download” depending on tool version)
With phone in EDL (9008), MSM should connect and begin flashing
Wait for Download Complete
Phone reboots into stock T-Mobile OxygenOS
Complete initial Android setup enough to confirm it boots cleanly.

✅ At this point: you’re unbricked and stable on T-Mobile stock.

2) Convert from T-Mobile to International/Global OxygenOS (MSM via EDL)


Goal: Reflash using the Global/International MSM package.
This is the cleanest “conversion” because MSM rewrites the partition set to match that firmware track.

2.1 Enter EDL again

Repeat the EDL steps from section 1.1 until you see:

Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (COMx)

2.2 Flash the International MSM package


XDA Forum: https://xdaforums.com/t/t-mobile-6t-to-international-conversion-without-unlocked-bootloader-sim-unlock.3888307/


Extract the International/Global MSM package for OnePlus 6T (fajita)
Run MSM tool as Administrator
Click Start
Plug phone in while it’s in EDL (9008)
Wait for Download Complete
Phone reboots into International/Global OxygenOS
Finish minimal setup + confirm normal boot

✅ At this point: you’re running International/Global OxygenOS.

3) Unlock bootloader (while in International/Global mode)


You must do this before flashing Lineage images/ROM.

3.1 Enable OEM unlock + USB debugging (in Android)


Settings → About phone → tap Build number 7 times (enable Developer Options)
Settings → System → Developer options:

Enable OEM unlocking
Enable USB debugging


3.2 Reboot to fastboot

adb reboot bootloader
3.3 Verify state + device identity

fastboot devices
fastboot getvar product
fastboot getvar current-slot
fastboot oem device-info

product: sdm845 is fine (chipset identifier).
If Device unlocked: true → skip to section 4.
If Device unlocked: false → continue.

3.4 Unlock (this wipes data)

Run the following:
fastboot oem unlock
On the phone you’ll get a confirmation screen:

Use Volume keys to select UNLOCK THE BOOTLOADER
Press Power to confirm

The phone will wipe userdata and reboot.
3.5 After unlock: re-enable debugging (optional but recommended)

After it boots:

Do minimal setup again
Re-enable USB debugging (OEM unlock can stay on)

✅ Bootloader is now unlocked.
3.5 Confirm you can use fastboot & your device is actually OP6T-class

On PC:
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot getvar current-slot
fastboot getvar product
Notes:

current-slot: a or b is normal (A/B device).
product: sdm845 is the chipset identifier (Snapdragon 845). That’s fine.

3.6 Bootloader must be unlocked

In fastboot:
fastboot oem device-info
You need:

Device unlocked: true

If it’s false, flashing custom images will fail.

4) Flash LineageOS (boot/dtbo/vbmeta → recovery → sideload ROM → sideload GApps)

4.1 Put all Lineage files in one folder

Example:
C:\op6t-lineage\
  boot.img
  dtbo.img
  vbmeta.img
  lineage-22.2-YYYYMMDD-nightly-fajita-signed.zip
  MindTheGapps-*.zip   (optional)

4.2 Flash the Lineage images to BOTH slots (important on A/B)

From fastboot in that folder:
fastboot devices

fastboot flash boot_a boot.img
fastboot flash boot_b boot.img

fastboot flash dtbo_a dtbo.img
fastboot flash dtbo_b dtbo.img

fastboot flash vbmeta_a vbmeta.img
fastboot flash vbmeta_b vbmeta.img

If *_a / *_b partition names aren’t recognized on your setup, you can fall back to:

Flash to current slot (fastboot flash boot boot.img) then switch slot and repeat, etc.


4.3 Boot into Lineage Recovery (do NOT boot system yet)

Option A (best when supported):
fastboot reboot recovery
Option B (manual):

In fastboot, select Recovery mode and confirm with Power
If it auto-boots, press Power once to pause the countdown, then select Recovery.

4.4 (Recommended) Format data BEFORE installing the ROM

In Lineage Recovery:

Factory reset → Format data / factory reset
Confirm (type yes if prompted)

Then:

Reboot → Recovery (so recovery restarts with clean /data mount)

4.5 Sideload the LineageOS ROM zip

On phone:

Apply update → Apply from ADB

On PC:
adb devices
adb sideload lineage-22.2-YYYYMMDD-nightly-fajita-signed.zip
4.6 If recovery prompts: “To install additional packages, reboot recovery first”


Choose Yes (reboot to recovery)

4.7 (Optional) Sideload GApps

Back in recovery:

Apply update → Apply from ADB

On PC:
adb sideload MindTheGapps-*.zip
4.8 Reboot into system

In recovery:

Reboot system now


5) If you hit: “Can’t load Android system … Reason: init_user0_failed”

This usually means /data mount/encryption/filesystem setup failed on first boot.
Fix:

Choose Factory data reset on that screen
Reboot system again

If it repeats:

Go back to recovery
Format data / factory reset
Re-sideload ROM (and GApps) exactly as in section 4


6) Quick troubleshooting checklist

A) “Stuck on ‘press power to pause boot’ and never shows Lineage Recovery”


You’re still in bootloader menu (not recovery)
Flash images to both slots again (4.2)
Use fastboot reboot recovery
Don’t boot Android between flashing and entering recovery

B) “adb sideload stops at ~47%”


This can be normal depending on recovery/zip; watch the phone screen for actual status.
If recovery says reboot recovery first, do it.

C) “System boots but no Google apps”


You probably booted system before sideloading GApps
Fix: recovery → format data → sideload ROM → reboot recovery → sideload GApps → reboot system


7) What NOT to do


Don’t relock the bootloader on a custom ROM (risk of brick unless you truly know you’re fully stock).
Don’t mix boot/dtbo/vbmeta from one build date with a zip from another build date.
Don’t flash OnePlus 6 (enchilada) files onto OnePlus 6T (fajita).
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