Updating: what is "a compatible Recovery"?

[wordnerd]

I bought a OnePlus on eBay with /e/OS pre-installed and I just downloaded the latest software update. A window has come up saying: “If you press OK, the device will restart in recovery mode to install the update. Note: This feature requires a compatible Recovery or updates will need to be installed manually.”

I don’t know what this means. The phone is a OnePlus A3003. What is a “compatible Recovery” and how do I know if I’ve got one?

I’ve read through several threads with the same question and I’m struggling to understand the answers. First I just want it clarified, Recovery on the phone is like restoring the phone to the way it was before something went wrong? So if installing the update goes wonky, I use Recovery to get back the version of /e/OS I’m currently using? When I see that term my brain keeps thinking of like a factory reset, putting the phone back to the Google Android it was made with, so I keep panicking at the thought of using it!

I also don’t have a clue about different types of recovery. I have no idea what the eBay seller used to install /e/. When I turn the phone on I get:

More options gives me:

I’m reluctant to press Recovery as was suggested in another thread without knowing what I’m doing.

[piero]

“recovery-e” is expected, (but “TWRP” could work with a little help)

if /e/ is already installed, so this needed compatible “custom recovery manager” (that can handle multiple partitions) is already installed too as it is necessary to install /e/.

boot to recovery to check if it is well “recovery-e”

then reboot to normal mode,

• run the system updater (in settings),

check for OTA updates, download and install it.

[Xxpsilon]

@wordnerd

The phone is a OnePlus A3003. What is a “compatible Recovery”

• e-Recovery
• TWRP for oneplus3
• SKYHAWK Recovery