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Install TWRP Recovery on OnePlus Two: Step-by-Step

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Install TWRP Recovery on OnePlus Two: Step-by-Step

This guide walks you through installing TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) on the OnePlus Two. TWRP is a custom recovery that allows you to flash custom ROMs, kernels, and mods, create full system backups, and perform advanced system maintenance. Before you begin, you must unlock the bootloader and have a working ADB/Fastboot setup on your computer. This process will wipe your device data, so back up anything important first.

What You’ll Need

  • OnePlus Two with the bootloader already unlocked (if not, see the note in Step 1).
  • A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer.
  • USB cable (preferably the original OnePlus cable).
  • ADB and Fastboot tools installed on your computer. You can get them from the official Android developer site or via a package manager like Homebrew (macOS) or apt (Linux).
  • TWRP image file for the OnePlus Two (codename: oneplus2). Download the latest .img file from the official TWRP website.
  • Optional: A microSD card or USB OTG drive if you want to store backups externally.

Step-by-Step

  1. Unlock the bootloader (if not already done): On your phone, go to Settings > About phone and tap “Build number� 7 times to enable Developer Options. Then go to Settings > Developer options and enable “OEM unlocking� and “USB debugging�. Connect the phone to your computer, open a command prompt/terminal, and run adb reboot bootloader. Once in fastboot mode, run fastboot oem unlock (or fastboot flashing unlock on newer builds). Confirm the unlock on the phone screen. This will wipe your device. After unlocking, reboot the phone and set it up again.
  2. Enable USB debugging again: After the reboot, go back to Developer options and re-enable “USB debugging�.
  3. Download TWRP: Go to the official TWRP website, select “OnePlus 2� from the device list, and download the latest .img file (e.g., twrp-3.7.0_9-0-oneplus2.img). Save it to your computer in a known folder, e.g., C:\twrp or ~/twrp.
  4. Boot into fastboot mode: With the phone powered on and USB debugging enabled, connect it to the computer. Open a terminal/command prompt in the folder where you saved the TWRP image. Run adb reboot bootloader. The phone will reboot into fastboot mode (you’ll see a black screen with “Fastboot� and a OnePlus logo).
  5. Verify fastboot connection: In the terminal, run fastboot devices. You should see a device listed (e.g., 12345678 fastboot). If not, check your USB drivers (Windows) or try a different USB port.
  6. Flash TWRP temporarily (recommended first): To test TWRP without permanently replacing the stock recovery, run fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-oneplus2.img. This will boot TWRP temporarily. Once it boots, you can test it. To permanently install it, proceed to the next step.
  7. Flash TWRP permanently: In fastboot mode, run fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-oneplus2.img. Wait for the “OKAY� message. Do not reboot yet.
  8. Reboot into TWRP: Use the volume keys to navigate and the power button to select. Choose “Recovery� mode or run fastboot reboot and then immediately press and hold Volume Down + Power to boot into recovery. The first boot into TWRP may ask to “Keep System Read Only?� – swipe to allow modifications (or choose “Keep Read Only� if you only want to boot it once).
  9. Verify TWRP installation: Once TWRP is running, you’ll see the main menu with options like Install, Wipe, Backup, etc. If you see a “Swipe to Allow Modifications� prompt, swipe it. Congratulations, TWRP is now installed.

Common Mistakes

  • Not unlocking the bootloader first: Flashing TWRP requires an unlocked bootloader. If you skip this, the flash will fail or the device will not boot into TWRP.
  • Using the wrong TWRP file: The OnePlus Two has a specific TWRP build. Using a file for another device (like OnePlus One) will cause a brick or bootloop.
  • Rebooting after flashing before entering recovery: On some OnePlus Two units, the stock recovery can overwrite TWRP on the first reboot. Always boot directly into recovery after flashing.
  • Not having ADB/fastboot drivers installed on Windows: Without proper drivers, fastboot won’t recognize the device. Install the Google USB driver or manufacturer drivers.
  • Skipping the “Allow Modificationsâ€� swipe: If you tap “Keep Read Onlyâ€� by mistake, TWRP won’t be able to write to the system partition, which can cause issues later.

Tips

  • After installing TWRP, make a full backup (Nandroid) of your current system before flashing anything else. This can save you if something goes wrong later.
  • Always keep a copy of the TWRP image on your phone’s internal storage or an external SD card, so you can reflash it if needed.
  • If you plan to root or install custom ROMs, also download the appropriate Magisk or SuperSU zip and a custom ROM of your choice.
  • Use a short, high-quality USB cable to avoid connection drops during flashing.
  • If you ever need to restore stock recovery, you can download the stock recovery image from the OnePlus community forums and flash it via fastboot.

Troubleshooting

  • Fastboot doesn’t see the device: Try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0), reinstall drivers, or run fastboot devices as administrator (Windows). On Linux, you may need to add udev rules.
  • Flash fails with “FAILED (remote: not allowed)â€�: This usually means the bootloader is still locked. Go back and perform the unlock step, or check if “OEM unlockingâ€� is enabled in Developer Options.
  • Phone boots to stock recovery instead of TWRP: This happens if you rebooted before entering recovery. Boot back into fastboot and flash again, then immediately select “Recoveryâ€� mode.
  • TWRP boots but touchscreen doesn’t work: This is rare but can happen if you flashed a corrupted image. Re-download the TWRP file and reflash. If it persists, try an older TWRP version.
  • Bootloop after flashing TWRP: If the phone keeps restarting, boot into fastboot and flash the stock boot image or a stock ROM via fastboot. You can also try wiping cache and dalvik from recovery if you can access it.
  • Device not booting at all (hard brick): If the screen stays black and fastboot is not accessible, you may need to use the OnePlus recovery tool (MSM tool) to restore the device. This is a last resort and will wipe everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does installing TWRP void my warranty?

Yes, unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery typically voids the warranty. However, you can restore stock recovery and relock the bootloader to regain warranty, though the device will be wiped.

Will TWRP allow me to install OTA updates?

No, OTA updates are designed for the stock recovery. With TWRP, you’ll need to manually flash updates or use a custom ROM that supports OTA via TWRP.

Can I uninstall TWRP later?

Yes, you can flash the stock recovery image via fastboot, or simply relock the bootloader (which will restore stock recovery on some devices).

Do I need to root my phone to install TWRP?

No, TWRP is a recovery, not a root solution. You can install TWRP without rooting, but you’ll need to flash a root package (like Magisk) separately if you want root access.

What if I accidentally wipe my system partition in TWRP?

If you wipe system, your phone won’t boot. You can fix it by flashing a custom ROM or a stock ROM zip from TWRP. Always keep a backup of your current ROM.

Is it safe to use TWRP on a daily basis?

Yes, TWRP is generally safe as long as you don’t modify system files incorrectly. It only runs when you boot into recovery mode; normal boot is unaffected.

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