{"id":243835,"date":"2026-01-21T05:34:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T05:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/243835\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T05:34:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T05:34:10","slug":"oneplus-adds-anti-rollback-that-could-brick-your-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/243835\/","title":{"rendered":"OnePlus adds anti-rollback that could brick your phone"},"content":{"rendered":"

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OnePlus has implemented new anti-rollback methods in OxygenOS, forcing users to stay on the latest software versions with no way to go back. <\/p>\n

With the release of ColorOS 16.0.3.501 and newer versions (including .503), OnePlus has implemented a hardware-level anti-rollback mechanism, as spotted by developers on the XDA forums<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For the average user, this won\u2019t have any immediate impact. Rather, the biggest problem is for those using custom ROMs. Anything older than ColorOS 16.0.3.501\/.503 trips a \u201cfuse\u201d where the device will not only be bricked upon installation of the older software, but third-party tools that have been developed to help in cases of a bricked device will apparently not work. <\/p>\n

NO DOWNGRADING:\u00a0You can\u00a0NEVER\u00a0flash an older ROM again.<\/p>\n

If you attempt to flash\u00a0any\u00a0previous version of ColorOS, OxygenOS, or custom ROMs released before this date, your device will\u00a0HARD BRICK.<\/p>\n

Custom ROM Danger:<\/p>\n

Flashing\u00a0ANY\u00a0custom ROM developed prior to this update on top of ColorOS 16.0.3.501 (or newer) will result in an immediate\u00a0HARD BRICK.<\/p>\n

CRITICAL \u2013 NO RESCUE:\u00a0You CANNOT unbrick the device yourself.\u00a0Previously developed unauthorized 9008 tools\u00a0and\u00a0Chimera firehose programmers\u00a0will\u00a0FAIL\u00a0because the fuse has been blown. Your existing unbrick methods are now useless.<\/p>\n

This currently applies to the OnePlus 13, OnePlus 13T, and OnePlus 15. Older devices such as the OnePlus 12 have yet to implement similar measures, but it\u2019s quite likely this will happen on older generations in future updates.<\/p>\n

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Notably, anti-rollback mechanisms like this can be used in positive ways. For instance, Google\u2019s Android 13 update for the Pixel 6 series was a permanent upgrade due to a security vulnerability, and Google directly announced that the update would implement an \u201canti-roll back version\u201d of the bootloader when users installed the update. <\/p>\n

OnePlus\u2019 reasoning for implementing this change in the latest ColorOS update, though, is currently unclear. DroidWin claims <\/a>that the same change hasn\u2019t been implemented in OxygenOS, yet, but it could happen in the future, and might have already changed in the past few days. The same report also notes <\/a>that OnePlus has been removing \u201crollback packages\u201d (which could be installed locally through OnePlus\u2019 software) for OxygenOS versions of the OnePlus 13, suggesting this anti-rollback change is now in effect.<\/p>\n

OnePlus has yet to offer a public comment on the change.<\/p>\n

More on OnePlus:<\/p>\n

Follow Ben:\u00a0Twitter\/X<\/a>,\u00a0Threads<\/a>, Bluesky<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

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