[OnePlus 8T Guides, News, & Discussion] OniAraAra:
Originality/HydrogenOS

If you have a Chinese Cyberpunk Edition phone with OxygenOS, you'll notice that the Cyberpunk theme/assets are missing, and OTA updates lead to a boot loop. This guide will tell you how to restore the phone to its original software (HydrogenOS), unlock the bootloader, root it, and get Google Apps working. If you are American, this is the golden ticket. OTA updates will work and you will get the original theme/assets back.

I have made this guide because I purchased a Cyberpunk phone and the vendor installed OxygenOS. The Chinese Cyberpunk Edition phones are meant to use HydrogenOS. OxygenOS is not currently designed for the Chinese Cyberpunk Edition phones, despite many vendors installing it. I've spoken to Oneplus and it doesn't appear there are immediate plans to support the phone using OxygenOS.

This information is only for Chinese Cyberpunk Edition phones.

Rooting the phone is optional if you just want Google Apps.

Proceed at your own risk.

Setting Up

You're going to need to download and install these things for the remainder of the guide.

Minimal ADB/Fastboot (Download)

Oneplus USB Drivers (Download)

Qualcomm USB Drivers (Download)

If you've already been toying with the phone, you might already have these. If so, skip ahead.

Restoring HydrogenOS (Credit: Some_Random_Username)

You are going to want to download the MSM Download Tool, designed for Chinese KB2000 phones. This tool will wipe your phone and restore the original HydrogenOS software, as well as your Cyberpunk theme/assets.

You will need to download the tool here:

https://androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=320230 (Credit: g96818)

After downloading:

Extract the archive to a folder.

Remove any Chinese characters from folder names (if applicable).

Open "MsmDownloadTool V4.0".

Under "User Type", select "Others".

Click "Next".

Notice that "Target" is selected on the dropdown in the top-right of the window.

Change the option from "Target" to "H2" instead.

Now make sure your phone is ready:

Turn your phone off and wait a few seconds.

Press the "Start" button on the tool.

Hold both volume buttons down, while plugging your phone in through USB (to enter Qualcomm EDL mode).

The download tool will begin to work it's magic (should take 200-300 seconds).

Once it says "Download Complete", your phone should reboot into HydrogenOS.

Close the tool completely.

Perform the phone's setup, then decide whether you want to root the phone, or just install Google Apps. Your phone will be wiped if you unlock the bootloader.

If your device wasn't detected when running the tool, make sure you have the Qualcomm USB driver installed. To do this, open device manager. Under "QHUSB_BULK", select "Update Driver Software", and use the .cab file you found earlier.

Unlock the Bootloader (Optional)

Before you may root the phone, you will need to do the following.

Enable Developer Mode:

Open your Settings application and go to "About Phone".

Tap the section that says "Build Number" five times consecutively.

You will now have developer mode.

Enable OEM Unlocking/USB debugging:

Open your Settings application and click the search button.

Search for and enable the option: "OEM unlocking".

Search for and enable the option: "USB debugging".

You will be asked if you want to trust the device when it's plugged in. Click "Allow".

You will want to do the following, using the ADB/Fastboot you downloaded:

Make sure your phone is plugged in.

Run the following:

adb reboot bootloader

Your phone will reboot into the bootloader.

Run the following:

fastboot oem unlock

Use the volume/power buttons on your phone, to confirm.

Your phone will reboot and wipe itself, as well the Chinese applications. Perform the phone's normal setup again.

The bloatware and Chinese apps will return when you perform an OTA update at the end of the guide. They can also be removed/disabled.

Rooting (Optional)(Credit: DroidFreak32)

To root the phone we will be installing Magisk, using a patched boot.img from your current version of HydrogenOS. In this case, we are using version 11.0.1.2 (the version of the MSM Download Tool). I will be providing the boot.img from my phone, which I have used personally.

You will want to download the following:

Patched 11.0.1.2 Boot.img (Download)

Canary Magisk Manager (Download)

Preparation:

Re-enable developer mode, as well as USB debugging. Just like you did in the previous section.

Transfer the app-debug.apk to your phone, and install it through the phone's file manager.

Copy "magisk_patched_11.0.1.2.img" to your computer's ADB directory.

Rooting:

Run the following:

adb reboot bootloader

Your phone will reboot into the bootloader.

Run the following:

fastboot boot magisk_patched_11.0.1.2.img

Your phone will reboot, using the patched boot.img.

Enter the Magisk Manager app you installed earlier.

Tap Magisk (Install) -> Perform Direct Install

You will have root on reboot!

If Magisk says it needs to reboot to apply changes, you will need to follow the last set of steps again.

If for some reason the boot.img I provided doesn't work, you will need to follow DroidFreak32's guide. His guide is very detailed and will instruct you on how to create your own patched boot.img and root the phone.

Installing Google Apps (Credit: Steve0007 and @xxxrichievxxx)

To install, you will want to obtain a copy of the Google Play Store from a 3rd Party. @xxxrichievxxx suggested this solution, which worked for me regardless of unlock/root status.

You'll want to download, copy, and run the newest version from your device:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/google-play-store-23-1-19-release/

We had also tried using WeebGapps, which has problems after updating:

https://t.me/s/WeebGAppsChannel?q=#Android_11+#magisk_mode (Requires Telegram)

Updating

Unlike on OxygenOS, you will actually be able to download and perform OTA updates, through the Settings app. If you do not follow the steps below when updating, you will lose root.

Disable your Magisk modules (if applicable) when updating, and re-enable after you have successfully updated!

I also recommend disabling "automatic system updates" via Settings, as they can break your root.

Follow these steps:

If you are missing the Play Store after updating, install it from here. If you happen to mess up or lose Google Apps, try uninstalling/reinstalling the module.

If you do happen to lose root, you will want to follow DroidFreak32's guide, as I've only provided the patched boot.img for 11.0.1.2.

Bloatware

You're probably annoyed by all the preinstalled garbage. I've made a short script that disables the Chinese market and removes all 3rd party Chinese (By_3rd and heytap) applications.

Removing Market and Almost All 3rd Party Apps:

Visit here: https://pastebin.com/raw/3SsA1tpc

Open notepad and save the above text as a .bat file.

Copy and run the file from your ADB directory.

You will likely need to run this script each update, as applications are added back on update. I've decided to leave the other applications on my device for now. If you want to remove even more, Steve0007 recommended this resource.

Credits

Steve0007 and xxxrichievxxx for helping to find the solid solution for Google Apps.

WeebGApps for the module that installs Google Apps.

DroidFreak32 for his thread on rooting the Oneplus 8T.

Some_Random_Username and g96818 for uploading/sharing the MSM download tools.

Most of this information is compiled from other sources, so consider supporting the developers listed above.