Dynamic System Updates on Android lets you try a new ROM on your Android phone without replacing the old one. Dynamic System Updates let you run a new version of Android as a guest OS.
Normally this feature becomes useful whenever you want to try out the next version of Android or test a stock Android experience without wiping your current system.
Dynamic System Updates
These systems are generally created for advanced users and if you are an advanced Android user, you can load a Generic System Image (GSI) using the DSU Loader feature.
A GSI is a stock Android ROM that you can install on any Android phone that supports Project Treble. With DSU Loader, you can run a GSI without having to wipe your existing system software.
DSU Loader is available on Android 11 or higher and is a tool in your device’s developer settings to help you set up and manage GSIs solely via the system UI.
By default, the DSU Loader feature is not accessible until you enable developer options. For this, launch the Settings app, open the About phone section, scroll down to the Build number entry, and tap on it continuously until you see a confirmation message.
Downloading your GSI using the DSU
To begin go to Settings > System > Developer options, and scroll to the DSU Loader entry. And tap on it to search for all the supported GSIs for your device.
Select the DSU Package pop-up, and pick the GSI you want to install. If you prefer a GSI with Google apps, choose the one with the word GMS.
Tap the Agree button to accept the terms of service, and the GSI will start downloading. If you have secured your device with a PIN, pattern, or password, input it to authorize the download process.
Once the installation is done, the DSU notification offers you two options, Discard and Restart. If you have changed your mind about loading the downloaded GSI, tap the Discard option. To boot into the just-installed system image, tap the Restart option on the notification.
Once the device reboots, you will be loaded into the GSI system as a guest OS. You can look around, test features of interest, and more. Remember that not all features may work like the stock system and that any data you save will be lost after a reboot.
You can use the DSU system for as long as you want, and when done exploring, use the next step to revert to the original system for your device.