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 crew that the OnePlus 13 is that this yr’s sleeper hit. At a beginning value of $899, the flagship cellphone can compete towards dearer telephones just like the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And we’ve OnePlus’ clear but extremely customizable software program expertise to thank for that.

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For those who switched to a OnePlus cellphone just lately or have been utilizing one since its startup days, there is a good probability you are not utilizing the cellphone to its full potential. In actual fact, 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 essentially the most intuitive consumer expertise.

1. Allow Fingerprint Fast Launch

OnePlus telephones have a function that allows you to launch apps from the lock display 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 without having to elevate your finger after unlocking the cellphone. 

As an example, 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 wish to launch. It is useful after I have to report a fast video or hear my Gmail ping for an necessary e-mail. You possibly can allow it by going to Settings > Safety and Privateness > Finger and Face Unlock > Fingerprint > Fast Launch.

2. Use the Good Sidebar to your benefit

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

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The Good Sidebar can be helpful as a productive function. You possibly can drag and drop objects to the File Dock, which will be accessed anytime sooner or later. I steadily use it to pull objects from Instagram or Chrome and drop them into WhatsApp chats. To allow File Dock, it’s worthwhile to go to Settings > Accessibility and Comfort > Good Sidebar > Toggle on File Dock. You possibly can additional regulate the Good Sidebar place, features, and extra. 

3. Use XPAN mode for landscapes

XPAN is among the most underrated digicam options, for my part. 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 sequence however it hasn’t gained traction as a result of for the longest time, it did not permit customers so as to add XPAN to their Viewfinder. Because of this, it was hidden beneath Extra within the Digital camera app. You possibly can add it and use it by going to Digital camera > Extra > faucet and maintain XPAN > after which including it to the viewfinder. 

4. Allow Reside Photographs

Earlier final yr, I wrote about how a lot I like Reside Photographs on my iPhone, and extra Android telephones ought to have this function. To my nice shock, nearly each 2025 smartphone now has a Reside Photograph or comparable 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 after I’m snapping images of my mother and father. They will by no means get each of their eyes open in a shot directly. It takes a couple of tries, and within the meantime, Reside Photograph captures quick and humorous behind-the-scenes footage. To allow Reside Photographs on a OnePlus cellphone, go to Digital camera and faucet on the third icon on the highest row.

5. AI Edits to enhance your images

Latest OnePlus telephones have a variety of AI options that may be helpful in sure conditions. Certainly one of 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 come in useful when there’s an undesirable topic within the background or after I seize a photograph, however it 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

You probably have a flagship OnePlus cellphone, just like the OnePlus 13, ensure you’re utilizing the show at its highest decision. In any case, you paid for QHD+. Most telephones that help QHD decision do not have it enabled by default. 

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I like to recommend altering it to the sharpest decision accessible as a result of OnePlus telephones have dependable battery life, and a pointy display will not damage it. This may 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 certainly one of them is a swipe-down gesture on the house display. For those who’re coming from an iPhone, this may 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, you should not need to miss out on Fast Search. You possibly can add it to your own home display above the house display 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 steadily. 

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

8. Customise At all times on Show

OnePlus gives a number of customization choices for At all times on Show (AOD) to assist personalize your cellphone higher. You possibly can 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 possibly can select to show the same old data like Time, Date, Battery, and Notifications, in addition to Contextual data from Reside Alerts and music playback. I’ve it enabled for my meals supply apps, Swiggy and Zomato, so I can see when my order will likely be delivered at a look. I hope Uber extends help for this function as a result of I might like to see the ETA for my driver without having to unlock my cellphone.

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

9. Double faucet to show the display on/off

You’ll not notice how helpful this function is till you utilize it. When on the house display, you’ll be able to double-tap to lock your cellphone. That is helpful when your cellphone is mendacity unlocked on a desk and also you wish to lock it, however urgent the ability button is not essentially the most handy possibility. 

Equally, should you don’t love AoD however nonetheless want data at a look, double-tap to wake your cellphone is an effective possibility. To allow, go to Settings > House display & Lock display and toggle on these two choices:

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

Bonus: Allow these OnePlus gestures and settings

There are a number of shortcuts that I miss after I transfer from a OnePlus cellphone to evaluation one other cellphone. 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. Go to Settings > House display & Lock display > Icon pull-down gesture > Toggle on Icon pull-down gesture.

• Elevate to wake: In order for you your cellphone display to activate as quickly as you decide it up, you must activate Elevate to wake by going to Go to Settings > House display & Lock display > Toggle on Elevate to wake.

• Reside Alerts: Like Reside Actions on iPhone, OnePlus has a Reside Alerts function that reveals glanceable data from sure apps without having to open them. Go to Settings > Notification & Fast Settings > Reside Alerts > flip it on/off for the apps you want.

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

• Fast Settings basic view: For those who’re used to the default Fast Settings view, the latest Android 15 updates throughout producers might be annoying as a result of they break up Fast Settings (swipe down from the best aspect) and Notifications (swipe down from the left aspect) like iOS. Whereas OnePlus makes you select between Cut up and Basic when organising the cellphone, you’ll be able to change your type by going to Settings > Notification & Fast Settings > Fast Settings > Basic.