OnePlus devices sold in China come with Hydrogen OS instead of the Oxygen OS which is found on the global version of OnePlus devices. Hydrogen or H2 OS is an Android based operating system developed by OnePlus to cater to the needs of the Chinese market. Hence it doesn’t come with Google services including the Google Play Store. Although both OSes have some things in common, they are a lot different visually and there are at least a few extra features which are yet to be integrated into the OxygenOS. Some even find H2OS being more stable, bug free and offering more battery backup.
So if you’re willing to try an alternate OS (or call it ROM) on your OnePlus 2, here’s how you can install Hydrogen OS on it. This guide also includes installing Google Apps and does not require unlocking of bootloader or flashing a custom recovery. In a normal scenario, you’ll also be able to keep your user data (not the apps though).
Install Hydrogen OS to OP2 w/o Bootloader Unlock
As of writing, H2OS v 1.4.0 based on Android 6.0.1 is available for the OnePlus 2. Please make sure that you’re on stock OnePlus recovery since that’s what this guide covers.
- Backup all important data, including app data and photos
- Download Hydrogen OS for OnePlus 2 from the H2OS website
- If downloaded on a PC, copy the downloaded zip file to phone’s storage. Do not extract the zip file
- Turn off the phone and boot into recovery mode by pressing and holding power + volume down keys together
- Choose English> Wipe data and cache> Wipe data and cache. Use volume keys to move and power key to select.
Installed apps and the system partition will be reset to the factory state. User data and storage will be preserved. - Select Install from local and choose the HydrogenOS zip file.
- Stay patient and wait for the installation to finish.
- All done! Reboot, setup (in English language) and start using the phone.
Recommended – Go to App settings and remove all Chinese boat apps pre-installed into the phone. You’ll never need them.
Installing Google Apps using Google Installer
Gapps zip file is the infamous way of installing Google Apps on custom ROMs, but the Stock Recovery of OnePlus 2 does not allow flashing of that. Since custom recovery would require a bootloader unlock, there’s an alternative way of installing Google Apps which is – the Google Installer. The app is basically made by Mi fans and is available only in Chinese. However since the installed Google Apps are all in English, the trade-off can be done.
- Download the Google Installer APK from here or the Xiaomi Tips website.
If downloading from the Xiaomi Tips website, extract the zip file on your PC and copy the Google Installer.apk file to your phone. That’s the only one we need. - Install the Google Installer APK on your phone and run it.
- Proceed with the installation of all the Google Apps. There are 5 apps in total which will be downloaded and installed.
- Head to app settings (Settings > Apps > Permissions) and grant all permissions to all the Google Apps (store, services, contacts sync; etc).
- Reboot the device.
- Add your Google Account and start using.
How was your Hydrogen OS experience? Let us know in the comments section below 🙂
Hi can you please let me know any way to get my google contacts i tried everything but still unable to get it on H2OS.
I tried flashing gapps and through manual APK.
But still unable to sync the google contacts.
Please help me here.
After installing Google apps using the Google Installer, did you provide proper permissions to all the Google apps? Reboot after that is done.
Okay so i installed H2OS and everything is working fine except that the android version is still 5.1.1, so how do i get 6.0.1 ?
Since OnePlus has already mentioned that it will be merging Oxygen and Hydrogen OS going forward, I would assume that H2OS on OP2 with Marshmallow will never happen anymore.
bhai jabardast….
Hi
I’m on rooted device and custom recovery TWRP and H2OS 1.4 (007). I’m unable to update to this and while updating it is getting stuck at patching files unconditionally.
I want to install this version please provide me info how can I do this. Thanks in advance
Anyone how to install oxygen os on Chine model with Hydrogen model please. I don’t knoW anything about it so I will need all steps / software /links and drivers. Thanks urgent
I haven’t personally tried, but it should be essentially the same. All you’d need is use Oxygen OS ROM where Hydrogen was used in the post 🙂 Let me know if you have further doubts.
Sorry I didn’t mentioned that I was for oneplus 3 Chinese model. Also can you provide the link for the full and latest oxygen os rom.
Thanks
That’s okay, i beleive because the only difference these devices should have are about the Operating System. But some cellular bands might be disabled in the Chinese variant.
You can download the latest Oxygen OS from OnePlus website here – http://downloads.oneplus.net/oneplus-2/oneplus_2_oxygenos_3.0.2/
Hello,
Thank you for the post,
But it doesn’t work for me, once installation is complete, I open play store, but it doesn’t work, and when I’d like to add my google account in setting–>accounts, the phone get blocked,
Could you help me please ? I’m new in this
My environment: Oneplus2, H2OS V1.1.0, Android v5.1.1
Shall I root the phone one is there any prerequisites ?,
Thanks
Hi
Did you wipe data before starting with the install? If not, do a factory reset from within Setting before installing Google apps again.
Also make sure that you assign permissions to all Google Apps before starting to use them.
Hi,
After installation of google apps go to settings & give full permission for the apps and restart the phone. This worked for me.