Own a OnePlus phone? I changed 10 settings to significantly improve the user experience

It has been agreed upon by the ZDNET staff that the OnePlus 13 is that this yr’s sleeper hit. At a beginning value of $899, the flagship telephone can compete in opposition to dearer telephones just like the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And we’ve got 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 likelihood you are not utilizing the telephone to its full potential. In reality, over time, OxygenOS, which has since been transformed to ColorOS, has acquired quite a few updates that make the telephones extra productive and simple to make use of. 

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

1. Allow Fingerprint Fast Launch

OnePlus telephones have a function that permits 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 while not having to carry your finger after unlocking the telephone. 

For example, I’ve added Gmail, Chrome, Video and Portrait on my OnePlus 13. I can place my finger and swipe it in the direction of the app/motion that I wish to launch. It is useful after I have to file a fast video or hear my Gmail ping for an essential 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 Be aware Edge, and it has advanced since to be extra customizable and helpful. On OnePlus telephones, the Sensible Sidebar is a small space on the best edge (customizable) that you could entry with a swipe. It’s helpful for shortly accessing your most-used instruments (like 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 gadgets to the File Dock, which will be accessed anytime sooner or later. I continuously use it to tug gadgets from Instagram or Chrome and drop them into WhatsApp chats. To allow File Dock, it’s worthwhile to go to Settings > Accessibility and Comfort > Sensible Sidebar > Toggle on File Dock. You’ll be able to additional modify the Sensible Sidebar place, features, and extra. 

3. Use XPAN mode for landscapes

XPAN is likely one of the most underrated digicam 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 photographs in a singular 65:24 facet 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 Stay Photographs

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

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

5. AI Edits to enhance your pictures

Latest OnePlus telephones have numerous AI options that may be helpful in sure conditions. One among my favourite AI options on the OnePlus 13 is AI Reflection Eraser. It resides within the Photographs 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 after I seize a photograph, but it surely seems to be blurry. To make use of these options, it’s worthwhile to go to the photograph you wish to edit > faucet on Edit > AI Editor.

6. Change the show decision

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 spite of everything, 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 damage it. It will allow you to work together with a sharper and extra pleasing show. To allow QHD+, go to Settings > Show & brightness > Display decision > Excessive.

7. Add Fast Search shortcut

OnePlus just lately added a worldwide 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 all them is a swipe-down gesture on the house display screen. When you’re coming from an iPhone, this is likely to be your go-to gesture. 

Nonetheless, for individuals who have used an Android and like having Notifications and Fast Settings on a swipe down on the house display screen, you should not should miss out on Fast Search. You’ll be able to add it to your property 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 will discover your self utilizing Fast Search continuously. 

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

8. Customise All the time on Show

OnePlus gives a number of customization choices for All the time 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 wish 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 same old info like Time, Date, Battery, and Notifications, in addition to Contextual information from Stay Alerts and music playback. I’ve it enabled for my meals supply apps, Swiggy and Zomato, so I can see when my order can be delivered at a look. I hope Uber extends assist for this function as a result of I would like to see the ETA for my driver while not having to unlock my telephone.

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

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

You’ll not notice 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 wish to lock it, however urgent the facility button is not probably the most handy possibility. 

Equally, in the event you don’t love AoD however nonetheless want info at a look, double-tap to wake your telephone is an efficient possibility. To allow, go to Settings > House 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 after I transfer from a OnePlus telephone to overview one other telephone. These embody –

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

• Elevate to wake: If you’d like your telephone display screen to activate as quickly as you decide it up, you must activate Elevate to wake by going to Go to Settings > House display screen & Lock display screen > Toggle on Elevate to wake.

• Stay Alerts: Like Stay Actions on iPhone, OnePlus has a Stay Alerts function that exhibits glanceable info from sure apps while not having to open them. Go to Settings > Notification & Fast Settings > Stay Alerts > flip it on/off for the apps you want.

• Pocket mistouch prevention: There are occasions while 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 stop it from taking place, allow this function by going to Settings > House 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 it splits Fast Settings (swipe down from the best aspect) and Notifications (swipe down from the left aspect) like iOS. Whereas OnePlus makes you select between Break up and Traditional when organising the telephone, you’ll be able to change your fashion by going to Settings > Notification & Fast Settings > Fast Settings > Traditional.