Changing these 10 settings on my OnePlus phone gave it a big performance boost

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It has been agreed upon by the ZDNET workforce that the OnePlus 13 is that this 12 months’s sleeper hit. At a beginning value of $899, the flagship telephone can compete towards dearer telephones just like the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And we now have OnePlus’ clear but extremely customizable software program expertise to thank for that.

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When you switched to a OnePlus telephone just lately or have been utilizing one since its startup days, there is a good probability you are not utilizing the telephone to its full potential. The truth is, through the years, OxygenOS, which has since been transformed to ColorOS, has obtained quite a few updates that make the telephones extra productive and straightforward to make use of. 

Listed below are 10 of them that I like to recommend enabling or altering to realize probably the most intuitive person expertise.

1. Allow Fingerprint Fast Launch

OnePlus telephones have a function that allows you to launch apps from the lock display screen with only a press-and-swipe. With Fingerprint Fast Launch, you’ll be able to add as much as 5 apps or actions to launch with no need to raise your finger after unlocking the telephone. 

As an illustration, I’ve added Gmail, Chrome, Video, and Portrait on my OnePlus 13. I can place my finger and swipe it towards the app/motion that I need to launch. It is useful once I must document a fast video or hear my Gmail ping for an necessary electronic mail. You’ll be able to allow it by going to Settings > Safety and Privateness > Finger and Face Unlock > Fingerprint > Fast Launch.

2. Use the Sensible Sidebar to your benefit

Samsung launched a sidebar-like function on the Galaxy Notice Edge, and it has developed since to be extra customizable and helpful. On OnePlus telephones, the Sensible Sidebar is a small space on the best edge (customizable) you can entry with a swipe. It’s helpful for shortly accessing your most-used instruments (just like the voice recorder or display screen recorder) and apps. You’ll be able to allow/disable it by going to Settings > Accessibility and Comfort > Sensible Sidebar.

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The Sensible Sidebar can also be helpful as a productive function. You’ll be able to drag and drop objects to the File Dock, which could be accessed anytime sooner or later. I regularly use it to tug objects from Instagram or Chrome and drop them into WhatsApp chats. To allow File Dock, it is advisable go to Settings > Accessibility and Comfort > Sensible Sidebar > Toggle on File Dock. You’ll be able to additional alter the Sensible Sidebar place, capabilities, and extra. 

3. Use XPAN mode for landscapes

XPAN is among the most underrated digital camera options, in my view. I first used it on the Oppo Discover N2 Flip to capture Costa Brava surroundings, and I am glad it has made its approach to OnePlus telephones. It’s impressed by Hasselblad’s XPan function, which lets you seize panoramic pictures in a novel 65:24 side ratio. 

OnePlus first added the XPAN Mode on OnePlus 9 collection but it surely hasn’t gained traction as a result of for the longest time, it did not enable customers so as to add XPAN to their Viewfinder. In consequence, it was hidden underneath Extra within the Digicam app. You’ll be able to add it and use it by going to Digicam > Extra > faucet and maintain XPAN > after which including it to the viewfinder. 

4. Allow Dwell Images

Earlier final 12 months, I wrote about how a lot I like Dwell Images on my iPhone, and extra Android telephones ought to have this function. To my nice shock, virtually each 2025 smartphone now has a Dwell Photograph or related function, which captures a 3-second video if you click on a photograph. I find it irresistible as a result of it tends to seize the feelings behind a photograph. 

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It is available in particularly useful once I’m snapping photographs of my mother and father. They’ll by no means get each of their eyes open in a shot directly. It takes a couple of tries, and within the meantime, Dwell Photograph captures brief and humorous behind-the-scenes footage. To allow Dwell Images on a OnePlus telephone, go to Digicam and faucet on the third icon on the highest row.

5. AI Edits to enhance your photographs

Current OnePlus telephones have a number of AI options that may be helpful in sure conditions. One in all my favourite AI options on the OnePlus 13 is AI Reflection Eraser. It resides within the Images app and can be utilized to erase mirror reflections in your pictures. 

AI Eraser and AI Unblur are two different options that turn out to be useful when there’s an undesirable topic within the background or once I seize a photograph, but it surely seems to be blurry. To make use of these options, it is advisable go to the photograph you need to edit > faucet on Edit > AI Editor.

6. Change the show decision

If in case you have a flagship OnePlus telephone, just like the OnePlus 13, be sure to’re utilizing the show at its highest decision. In any case, you paid for QHD+. Most telephones that assist QHD decision haven’t got it enabled by default. 

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I like to recommend altering it to the sharpest decision out there as a result of OnePlus telephones have dependable battery life, and a pointy display screen will not harm it. This may allow you to work together with a sharper and extra pleasing show. To allow QHD+, go to Settings > Show & brightness > Display screen decision > Excessive.

7. Add Fast Search shortcut

OnePlus just lately added a world search to its telephones, permitting you to seek for contacts, settings, information, and extra by merely writing their names within the Fast Search field. There are a number of methods to entry it, and one in every of them is a swipe-down gesture on the house display screen. When you’re coming from an iPhone, this could be your go-to gesture. 

Nonetheless, for many who have used an Android and like having Notifications and Fast Settings on a swipe down on the house display screen, you should not must miss out on Fast Search. You’ll be able to add it to your private home display screen above the house display screen apps to nonetheless have it at your fingertips. I like to recommend doing so as a result of over time, you may discover your self utilizing Fast Search regularly. 

So as to add Fast Search to the house display screen, go to Settings > Dwelling display screen & Lock display screen > Toggle on Present search on the backside.

8. Customise At all times on Show

OnePlus provides a number of customization choices for At all times on Show (AOD) to assist personalize your telephone higher. You’ll be able to add a black-and-white picture sketch with Canvas, a Bitmoji, or just a picture and textual content. Furthermore, you’ll be able to select what you need to see in your AoD–it goes additional than merely selecting notification icons.

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You’ll be able to select to show the standard data like Time, Date, Battery, and Notifications, in addition to Contextual data from Dwell Alerts and music playback. I’ve it enabled for my meals supply apps, Swiggy and Zomato, so I can see when my order might be delivered at a look. I hope Uber extends assist for this function as a result of I might like to see the ETA for my driver with no need to unlock my telephone.

Moreover, you’ll be able to alter the clock fashion, change to informational AoDs like Perception and Carbon footprint, and extra. You will discover all these choices underneath Settings > Wallpapers & kinds > At all times On Show.

9. Double faucet to show the display screen on/off

You’ll not understand how helpful this function is till you employ it. When on the house display screen, you’ll be able to double-tap to lock your telephone. That is helpful when your telephone is mendacity unlocked on a desk and also you need to lock it, however urgent the facility button is not probably the most handy possibility. 

Equally, should you do not like AoD however nonetheless want data at a look, double-tap to wake your telephone is an efficient possibility. To allow, go to Settings > Dwelling display screen & Lock display screen and toggle on these two choices:

1. Double faucet to lock
2. Double faucet to show the display screen on/off

Bonus: Allow these OnePlus gestures and settings

There are a number of shortcuts that I miss once I transfer from a OnePlus telephone to overview one other telephone. These embrace –

• Icon pull-down: OnePlus permits you to make its big-screen telephones extra manageable by swiping from the underside left or proper to drag down the display screen. Go to Settings > Dwelling display screen & Lock display screen > Icon pull-down gesture > Toggle on Icon pull-down gesture.

• Increase to wake: If you need your telephone display screen to activate as quickly as you choose it up, it is best to activate Increase to wake by going to Go to Settings > Dwelling display screen & Lock display screen > Toggle on Increase to wake.

• Dwell Alerts: Like Dwell Actions on iPhone, OnePlus has a Dwell Alerts function that exhibits glanceable data from sure apps with no need to open them. Go to Settings > Notification & Fast Settings > Dwell Alerts > flip it on/off for the apps you want.

• Pocket mistouch prevention: There are occasions if you put your telephone in your pocket with out turning off the display screen. Butt dial is a most well-known instance of pocket mistouch. To forestall it from taking place, allow this function by going to Settings > Dwelling display screen & Lock display screen > Toggle on Pocket mistouch prevention.

• Fast Settings basic view: When you’re used to the default Fast Settings view, the current Android 15 updates throughout producers may very well be annoying as a result of they cut up Fast Settings (swipe down from the best facet) and Notifications (swipe down from the left facet) like iOS. Whereas OnePlus makes you select between Break up and Traditional when establishing the telephone, you’ll be able to change your fashion by going to Settings > Notification & Fast Settings > Fast Settings > Traditional.