OnePlus announced over the weekend that it has started rolling out the OxygenOS 11 update based on Android 11 for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. The update is being rolled out in stages so it might not show up immediately on your OnePlus. However, if you wish to, you can always sideload the update manually and get OxygenOS 11/Android 11 running on your OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro in no time. Follow the guide below to know how.
The steps below are relatively simple and do not require your OnePlus 8/Pro to be rooted or have its bootloader unlocked. It will also not wipe your data on the device and the device warranty will also remain intact. You are just manually downloading the OTA file on your phone and guiding the updater app to it to start the installation process.
Step 1: Depending on whether you own OnePlus 8 or the OnePlus 8 Pro, download the OxygenOS 11 update zip file from below and transfer it to the root of the internal storage of the device. Make sure to download the file that"s relevant to your region.
Step 2: On your OnePlus 8/Pro, go to Settings -> System -> System Update. If you check for a new update, the Android 11 update is unlikely to show up for download.
Step 3: Worry not though, simply tap the 3-dot overflow menu button on the top-right corner and select the Local Upgrade option. Your OnePlus 8/Pro will automatically look for the installation file in the root directory of the internal storage.
Step 4: Once found, the device will verify the file and the installation process will then start. Your device will automatically reboot during the process.
Once everything is done, your OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro will be back up and running OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11.
In case you are not comfortable with the above steps, you can also use the Oxygen Updater app to download and install the update on your OnePlus 8/Pro.
Compared to OxygenOS 10, the latest version of OxygenOS is a big departure in terms of UI/UX as OnePlus has ditched the stock Android look and feel for a UI that"s easier to use one-handed. It also comes with some of the best new features of Android 11 that put a greater focus on privacy and security.