How to Unlock Bootloader and Root OnePlus 6T [Full Guide]

The OnePlus 6T, released in October 2018, continues to maintain a dedicated following among Android enthusiasts. With its Snapdragon 845 processor, in-display fingerprint sensor, and sleek design, this device remains relevant even in today‘s rapidly evolving smartphone market. According to a 2023 XDA Developers survey, the OnePlus 6T ranks among the top 10 most frequently rooted Android devices, with an estimated 22% of its user base choosing to unlock its full potential through root access.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the complete process of unlocking your bootloader and rooting your OnePlus 6T, opening up a world of customization possibilities that extend far beyond the stock experience.

The OnePlus Philosophy and Modding Community

OnePlus‘s Historical Stance on Customization

OnePlus has built its brand identity around the concept of "Never Settle," and this philosophy extends to their approach to device customization. Unlike many manufacturers who actively discourage modifying their devices, OnePlus has historically maintained a more open stance toward the modding community.

The company‘s co-founder, Carl Pei, once stated: "We believe in giving users control over their devices. While we can‘t officially support rooting, we respect our users‘ right to modify their phones." This attitude has fostered one of the most active development communities in the Android ecosystem.

The OnePlus 6T in Context

The OnePlus 6T represented a significant milestone in the company‘s evolution:

The removal of the headphone jack and introduction of the in-display fingerprint sensor made the 6T particularly interesting for modders looking to either restore lost functionality or enhance new features.

Technical Specifications and Rooting Implications

Before diving into the rooting process, it‘s important to understand the technical foundation we‘re working with:

OnePlus 6T Hardware Specifications

Software Architecture

The OnePlus 6T shipped with OxygenOS 9.0 based on Android 9 Pie, with official updates eventually bringing it to Android 10. The device‘s software architecture features:

• A/B partition scheme for seamless updates
• Verified Boot security
• Project Treble compatibility
• dm-verity for system integrity verification

These features make the OnePlus 6T particularly suitable for rooting and custom ROM installation, as the A/B partition scheme provides a safety net during modifications.

The Comprehensive Benefits of Rooting Your OnePlus 6T

Performance Enhancements

Rooting allows you to push your OnePlus 6T beyond its stock performance limitations:

• CPU Overclocking: Benchmark data shows potential performance gains of 15-20% with custom kernels
• GPU Tweaking: Unlock higher framerates in games (up to 90 FPS in supported titles)
• RAM Management: Custom memory management can reduce app reloading by up to 40%
• I/O Scheduling: Optimize storage performance with custom I/O schedulers

Battery Life Extension

According to user reports across XDA Forums, rooted OnePlus 6T devices can achieve significant battery improvements:

• Undervolting: Reduce CPU voltage by 50-100mV safely, extending battery life by 1-2 hours
• Custom Governors: Implement more efficient CPU scaling for 15-30% better battery life
• Doze Enhancements: Aggressive doze modifications can reduce idle battery drain by up to 50%
• Background Process Control: Selectively hibernate power-hungry apps

Feature Additions

Root access enables features that were never included in the stock firmware:

• Call Recording: Add native call recording functionality
• Advanced Audio Controls: Implement ViPER4Android for studio-quality audio tuning
• Ad Blocking: System-level ad blocking across all apps
• Gesture Customization: Expand the gesture control system beyond stock limitations
• Camera Enhancements: Install Google Camera ports with Night Sight and enhanced HDR+

Extended Software Support

Perhaps most importantly, rooting extends the useful life of your device:

• Custom ROMs: Install Android 11, 12, and even 13 despite official support ending
• Security Patches: Continue receiving security updates via custom ROMs
• Feature Parity: Enjoy features from newer OnePlus models on your 6T

Understanding the Risks: A Deeper Analysis

Security Implications

Root access fundamentally changes the security model of your device:

• Root Management: Apps with root access can potentially access sensitive data
• SafetyNet Status: Google‘s security verification system may flag your device
• Malware Vulnerability: Increased attack surface if root access is mismanaged
• Encryption Considerations: Some root methods can affect file-based encryption

Statistical Perspective on Risks

Based on data collected from the OnePlus community forums and XDA:

Comprehensive Prerequisites

Essential Hardware

1. OnePlus 6T with at least 50% battery charge
2. USB Type-C cable (preferably the original OnePlus cable)
3. Computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
4. External storage device (USB drive with OTG adapter or microSD with reader)

Required Software and Files

1. ADB and Fastboot tools:

   • Official Google Platform Tools
   • Version 33.0.3 or newer recommended

2. Magisk Manager:

   • Latest Magisk release
   • Version 24.0+ recommended for Android 10 compatibility

3. TWRP Recovery:

   • Blu-spark TWRP for OnePlus 6T
   • Version 3.6.2 or newer recommended

4. USB Drivers:

   • OnePlus USB Drivers
   • Universal ADB Drivers (for Windows users)

Backup Strategy

Before proceeding, implement this comprehensive backup strategy:

1. Google Account Sync:

   • Contacts, Calendar, Drive documents
   • App data for compatible apps

2. Local Backup:

   • Photos and videos to external storage
   • SMS messages using SMS Backup & Restore
   • Call logs using Call Logs Backup & Restore

3. App-specific Data:

   • WhatsApp chat backups
   • Authenticator app codes
   • Game progress files

4. System Settings:

   • Screenshot key settings pages
   • Note down Wi-Fi passwords
   • Document custom configurations

The Technical Process of Bootloader Unlocking

What is a Bootloader?

The bootloader is the first code that runs when you power on your device. It initializes hardware components and starts the operating system loading process. By design, the bootloader verifies that the operating system hasn‘t been tampered with, creating a "chain of trust" from hardware to software.

When locked, the bootloader only allows officially signed operating systems to boot. Unlocking breaks this restriction, allowing custom operating systems and modifications.

The OnePlus 6T Bootloader Architecture

The OnePlus 6T uses a two-stage bootloader:

1. Primary Bootloader: Hardcoded in device hardware
2. Secondary Bootloader: Handles verification and OS loading

The unlock process modifies the secondary bootloader‘s verification settings while preserving the core functionality.

Step-by-Step Bootloader Unlocking

Preparing Your OnePlus 6T

1. Enable Developer Options:

   • Go to Settings > About Phone
   • Tap on Build Number seven times until you see "You are now a developer"
   • Return to main Settings menu

2. Enable Required Options:

   • Go to Settings > System > Developer options
   • Enable OEM unlocking
   • Enable USB debugging
   • Enable Advanced reboot

Setting Up ADB and Fastboot

For Windows:

1. Download the Platform Tools ZIP file
2. Extract to an easily accessible location (e.g., C:\platform-tools)
3. Install OnePlus USB drivers
4. Open Command Prompt as administrator
5. Navigate to the platform-tools folder: cd C:\platform-tools

For macOS:

1. Install Homebrew if not already installed
2. Open Terminal and run: brew install android-platform-tools
3. Verify installation: adb version and fastboot version

For Linux:

1. Open Terminal
2. Install ADB and Fastboot: sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
3. Verify installation: adb version and fastboot version

Executing the Unlock Command

1. Verify ADB Connection:

   adb devices

   You should see your device listed with a serial number

2. Boot to Fastboot Mode:

   adb reboot bootloader

3. Verify Fastboot Connection:

   fastboot devices

   Your device should be listed

4. Unlock the Bootloader:

   fastboot oem unlock

5. On Your Device:

   • Use volume buttons to navigate to "Unlock the bootloader"
   • Press power button to confirm
   • Wait for the process to complete (approximately 5-10 minutes)

Understanding What Happens During Unlock

When you execute the unlock command, several critical processes occur:

1. The bootloader erases all user data (for security reasons)
2. The bootloader flag is permanently modified to allow unsigned code
3. The device‘s warranty status is electronically marked as void
4. A warning message will now display during every boot
5. SafetyNet status is changed, potentially affecting some apps

Installing TWRP Recovery: The Gateway to Customization

What is TWRP and Why It Matters

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a custom recovery environment that replaces the stock recovery. While the stock recovery is limited to installing official OTA updates and performing factory resets, TWRP provides advanced features:

• Backup and restore entire system partitions
• Flash custom ROMs, kernels, and mods
• Mount system partitions for modification
• Advanced file management and terminal access
• Decrypt data partition for access in recovery mode

For the OnePlus 6T, TWRP is essential because it provides the means to install Magisk and other modifications that require write access to protected partitions.

TWRP Variants for OnePlus 6T

Several TWRP builds exist for the OnePlus 6T, each with different features:

For this guide, we recommend Blu-spark TWRP for its balance of features and stability.

Installing TWRP Recovery

Temporary Boot Method

1. Connect your phone to the computer
2. Open Command Prompt/Terminal
3. Boot into fastboot mode: adb reboot bootloader
4. Temporarily boot TWRP:

   fastboot boot path/to/twrp.img

Permanent Installation Method

1. After booting into TWRP temporarily, tap on Keep Read Only when prompted
2. Go to Advanced > ADB Sideload
3. Swipe to start sideload
4. On your computer, execute:

   adb sideload path/to/twrp-installer.zip

5. After installation completes, tap Reboot > Recovery to verify TWRP installed correctly

A/B Partition Considerations

The OnePlus 6T uses an A/B partition scheme (also called seamless updates), which means there are two complete sets of system partitions. This has important implications for TWRP installation:

• TWRP must be installed to both slot A and slot B
• After installing TWRP, you should boot to recovery immediately to prevent the stock ROM from overwriting it
• When flashing updates later, you‘ll need to re-flash TWRP afterward

Rooting with Magisk: The Modern Approach

Understanding Magisk Architecture