Google first introduced DSU with Android 10 and it allowed the developers to install the GSI ROM temporarily without using Fastboot Commands, test the apps, and return to the stock OS. When booting the GSI room using GSU, it created a new and temporary data partition on your device stored inside the /data/gsi partition. As a result, DSU booted the partitions instead of the original ones and your device would get booted to the installed GSI.
Google made it mandatory for all Android devices launched with Android 10 to have logical partitions that could resize themselves dynamically during boot. If your smartphone comes with Android 10 out of the box, you’ll be able to install GSI on your Android device using the DSU loader.
Table of Contents
How to install GSI on Android using the DSU loader
Step 1: Enable USB debugging on your device
To start off, you’ll need to enable Developer Options on your smartphone. Go to settings -> About phone -> tap on build number 7 times -> return to Settings -> system -> advanced -> developer options -> finally enable USB debugging
Step 2: Unlock the bootloader
There is often an element of confusion regarding this step but to put it into perspective, you’ll need to unlock the bootloader on your device. In the future, Google is looking to remove this requirement. But for now, this step is necessary and you’ll need to have your bootloader unlocked.
Step 3: Install GSI using the DSU loader
- Head over to Settings -> System -> Developer Options -> DSU Loader
- Then, Google starts searching and bringing in the supported GSI ROMs for your device
- Choose any one of your choices
- The chosen GSI file will get downloaded on your device
- Once it’s done, head over to the Notification Panel and then tap on Restart
- Your device will boot to the newly installed GSI
NOTE: You may see two ROM packages, GSI and GSI+GSM. GSI doesn’t come with any Google Apps, Services, or Framework, but GSI+GSM does. Choose the one that matches your needs.
Conclusion
The ability to flash is now as easy as tapping thanks to DSU. Given that in the not-too-distant future, we won’t even have to unlock the bootloader to flash GSI via DSU, this method may quickly become the standard. I was wondering what you thought of it. Please share your thoughts in the feedback section.
