OxygenOS, the Android-based operating system from OnePlus, is a powerhouse of features, offering a smooth and clean interface that feels lighter and snappier than its competitors. While it may not have the same level of customization as Samsung's One UI or Google's Pixel UI, it still packs a solid set of tools and settings that casual users can easily work with. Here are five lesser-known features hidden within OxygenOS that can enhance your OnePlus experience.
Home Screen App and Folder Resizing
One of the most underrated features of OxygenOS is the ability to resize apps and folders on your home screen. This dynamic design option allows you to customize your home screen to your liking. Simply add the apps you want quick access to and create folders. To resize a folder, hold down on it and press the grab handle that appears in the corner. Drag it up, down, left, or right to transform it into a small circle/square, a vertical or horizontal pill, or the standard large square. If you choose the large square, you can further customize how the apps inside the folder look. Long-press the folder again to open the folders menu and select one of the little box icons at the top. The first option sets all the apps to the same size, the second enlarges the first three apps and shrinks the rest, and the third keeps one app significantly bigger.
To resize individual app icons, long-press the app and drag the grab handle. You can reshape it to a vertical or horizontal pill or a large square. When resizing, OxygenOS also lets you convert the single app into a folder that includes its app shortcuts. For instance, you can have a folder with Instagram and shortcuts to the Instagram camera, notifications page, and New post screen. To set this up, press and hold the resized app and tap the plus sign next to the app icon. Then, pick the shortcut you want to add.
AI Search in the Settings
Searching for specific settings on your OnePlus phone can be a tedious task, often requiring you to type in the exact name for the setting to show up in the search results. Fortunately, OxygenOS addresses this inconvenience by integrating AI into the Settings search bar. This feature makes it quicker to find the settings you need, when you need them. To use this hidden OnePlus feature, simply go into the Settings app and describe what the setting you're looking for does. For instance, if you want to turn on Motion Cues, try typing in 'vehicle motion sickness' and tap on 'Find more with AI Search'. The phone then pulls up all the settings relevant to your search query.
Screen-off Gestures
The buttons on your OnePlus phone work fine for controlling the device with your screen locked, but there's an even quicker way to perform actions on your phone. Screen-off gestures allow you to use gestures to do things like unlock the phone, open apps, and control music. One of these gestures is double-tapping to turn on/off the screen, which you might already be familiar with. The rest of the supported gestures are designed for opening apps and controlling music. For example, you can draw an 'O' to launch the camera and a 'V' to switch on/off the flashlight. Gestures like an inverted 'V', 'M', and 'W' also work. By default, the inverted 'V' opens Calculator, 'M' opens Gemini, and 'W' opens Recorder. You're free to change which apps these gestures open or set them as the gesture to unlock the phone or call someone.
Dark Mode Adjustment Options
The first thing many do after getting an Android phone is to turn on Dark Mode, as it's one of the best phone settings to use to keep your eyes healthy. However, Dark Mode on the OnePlus can come across as too dark for some people, ruining the user experience. In that case, you can adjust the darkness of the screen using a OnePlus feature hidden in the Settings. OxygenOS offers three darkness levels to choose from: Enhanced, Medium, and Gentle. Enhanced is the default option, which looks pitch black. Medium lightens some elements, while Gentle makes the screen look more like a soft gray than a pitch black.
Speaker Cleaner
While you probably won't use your OnePlus phone near a water source often, accidents can happen. The good news is, you won't have to run to a service center to have that fixed. OxygenOS comes with its own Speaker Cleaner tool to expel liquid and dust out of the speaker holes. To access the Speaker Cleaner, open the Phone Manager app. In the Tools section, click on 'More' and scroll down to 'Accessibility & convenience'. You can then select 'Speaker cleaner'. For even quicker access, add the speaker cleaner tool to your Quick Settings panel.
