Oxygen Updater app hit by 'Download Error' amidst OnePlus update policy change rumors

Update 24/09/24: In a new update, the app’s developer now says the incoming Oxygen Updater v6.4.1 brings an improved download error dialogue message to make it clear that the fault is with Oppo/OnePlus. This way users should at least stop sending the developer emails asking about the download error. Below is the full changelog.

1. Fixed AdSense web ads being shown to ad-free users in our articles.
2. Improved download error dialog message to make it clear the fault is most likely at Oppo/OnePlus’ end. This should greatly reduce the number of emails and low-rating reviews we get. Not our fault, really, that OP decided to block external downloads.

Update 06/09/24: Oxygen Updater developer says the issue has now been fixed in the latest v6.4.0 of the app that is already available on GitHub. However, it will take time before the new version goes live in the Google Play Store. Here’s what the developer wrote on their Discord server:

You may have noticed that OTA ZIP downloads were not working in our app these past few days. v6.4.0 has just been released on GitHub, which fixes this issue. The Play Store release will follow soon (pending Google review).

The developer also shared some insights into what’s triggering the download error, noting that:

On 2nd September, Oppo/OnePlus started blocking OTA ZIP links that were hosted on their Indian download server. At the time we assumed it was a misconfiguration, and promptly replaced them with Singapore links instead. However, Singapore links also stopped working, as well as EU links. They all failed with 403 Access Denied. This was sure to not be a misconfiguration, and soon there were reports on online forums that it was intentional. Apparently, Oppo/OnePlus has decided to not allow their users the freedom to download OTA ZIPs at their convenience, e.g. via our app or a browser on their phone/PC. We managed to find a workaround, but we are disappointed that this ever had to happen.

On what affected Oxygen Updater users should do to address this issue, the developer recommends downloading v6.4.0 from GitHub or waiting for it to roll out on Play Store. Hopefully, OnePlus won’t implement more complex restrictions in the future.

Original article follows:

OnePlus users, particularly those who swear by the Oxygen Updater app, might have found themselves scratching their heads lately. The once-reliable app, which has been a go-to for grabbing official OxygenOS updates faster than the typical staged rollouts, has hit a snag. Users are reporting that when they try to download updates, they’re greeted with a frustrating ‘Download Error’ message.

A screenshot of this error (see below) sheds more light: “It seems that the download link is invalid.” The message goes on to explain that either a mistake was made while adding the update data or OnePlus has removed the file from its servers. In other words, Oxygen Updater is ready to deliver updates, but OnePlus seems to be locking things down on their end.

It turns out, Oxygen Updater isn’t broken — not by itself, at least. The app’s developer is pointing fingers at the OnePlus/Oppo OTA servers, which seem to be misbehaving. Specifically, users are seeing “403 errors” — that’s tech-speak for “you don’t have permission to access this file.” Not exactly what you want to hear when you’re just trying to keep your phone up to date.

As if the download errors weren’t confusing enough, speculation is now swirling that OnePlus may have quietly changed its update policies. Rumor has it that OnePlus is locking downloads from external sources via HTTP. This move is likely intended to safeguard their intellectual property, but it’s leaving users of Oxygen Updater (and other 3rd-party download sources) out in the cold. Here’s a screengrab of the alleged changes to OnePlus’ update policy:

So what does this mean? Well, if the rumors are true, links to ROMs and updates that were once readily available are now being blocked. Some regions, like North America, seem to still have working links for now, but users are being warned: grab those ROMs while you can because they might not be available for much longer.

This unconfirmed change has effectively put the popular Oxygen Updater app in a bind. If OnePlus is indeed closing the door on external update sources, then the app, which has over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store, could soon become useless.

But don’t delete Oxygen Updater app just yet. Over on the app’s Discord server, the developer has given users a reason to hope. Despite the apparent update policy shift, they’re working on a workaround. That’s right, a fix may be on the way, and users can expect a new version of the app to roll out soon.

I may have a workaround, expect a new release soon

While there aren’t many details on what this workaround might look like, the developer’s optimism should give frustrated OnePlus users a lifeline. For now, if you’ve been affected by the download error, the advice is simple: hang tight and keep an eye out for the next Oxygen Updater release.

Interestingly, OnePlus hasn’t officially confirmed any policy changes just yet. For now, it’s all speculation based on the sudden inability to download updates via external sources. Whether this is just a temporary hiccup or a long-term shift remains to be seen, but users are understandably feeling left in the dark.

At the end of the day, Oxygen Updater users have had a reliable tool at their disposal for years, and this current situation is leaving many wondering about the future. Thankfully, the developer’s promise of a workaround brings some hope, but the clock is ticking.