DSU Sideloader 2.03: A Better Way to Install GSIs on Android (FREE)

DSU Sideloader 2.03: A Better Way to Install GSIs on Android

DSU Sideloader is a simple app that helps users easily install GSIs (Generic System Images) using Android’s DSU (Dynamic System Updates) feature. This feature, introduced in Android 10, allows developers to boot GSIs without touching the current system partition, by creating new partitions to hold the GSI and a separate userdata. This way, users can test different GSIs without affecting their original system or data.

The latest version of DSU Sideloader, 2.03, brings some improvements and bug fixes to the app. Here are some of the highlights:

Always enforce the “settings_dynamic_system” flag when possible. This may fix installation stuck for some devices that do not have this flag enabled by default.

Write installation script to ExternalFilesDir (only adb operation mode). This may improve the installation speed and reliability, as well as avoid permission issues.

Added developer options, enabled by doing multiple taps in the application icon on About section. These options include:

Full logcat logging (may help diagnose installation issues).

Disable storage checks (only for testing, not recommended). This may allow installing GSIs on devices with low storage space, but may also cause errors or data loss.

Added unlocked bootloader warning. This reminds users that they need to unlock their device’s bootloader before using DSU, as locked bootloaders will only allow booting images from trusted signatures (which usually means only images signed by the device OEM).

Other improvements, merged translations, minor bug fixes, and updated dependencies.

To use DSU Sideloader, users need to meet the following requirements:

Android 10 or higher

Unlocked Bootloader

Device with Dynamic Partitions

A GSI they want to use

Once the installation finishes, Android creates a persistent notification that allows users to boot into the “Dynamic System” (GSI installed via DSU). Users can then try and test whatever they want on the GSI, and when they need to switch back to the device’s original system image, they just need to do a simple reboot.

DSU Sideloader is a free and open-source app, licensed under the Apache License 2.0. Users can download the app from F-Droid or GitHub. Users can also find more information about the app and the DSU feature on the GitHub README.md file. Users who want to contribute to the app’s development or translation can do so on the GitHub repository or the.

DSU Sideloader is a great tool for users who want to experiment with different GSIs on their Android devices, without risking their system or data. With the latest version, the app becomes more stable and user-friendly, making the installation process easier and faster. Users who are interested in trying out DSU Sideloader can download it now and enjoy the benefits of the DSU feature.