You just unboxed a brand-new OnePlus 15 or maybe you finally updated your older 12R to the latest OxygenOS 16. You’re staring at that crisp display, and everything looks... fine. But "fine" isn't why you bought a OnePlus. You're here for that buttery smoothness and the "Fast and Smooth" philosophy that the brand used to shout about from every rooftop.
Honestly, the default OnePlus home screen can feel a bit cluttered these days. With the integration of Oppo’s ColorOS codebase, things have shifted. We’ve gone from "stock Android on steroids" to a more "iOS-inspired but customizable" vibe. If you’ve noticed your phone feels slightly slower or more "bloated" than you remember, it’s probably your setup.
Let’s fix that.
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The Google Discover vs. OnePlus Shelf Battle
The first thing most people do is swipe right from the main page. Usually, you’re greeted by Google Discover—that endless feed of news articles and "suggested" content that half of us find annoying. For years, OnePlus fans begged for the return of the OnePlus Shelf.
The Shelf is basically a dedicated space for your widgets, step counter, and recent apps. In OxygenOS 16, the toggle to swap these isn't exactly front and center. If you want to ditch Google Discover for the Shelf without using weird computer hacks, you generally have to go into the "Home Screen & Lock Screen" settings.
Some users on Reddit have pointed out that on the global builds of the OnePlus 15, you can actually switch the "minus-one" screen (the one to the left) back to the Shelf. But here is the catch: the new Shelf is way more restrictive than it used to be. You can mostly only use system widgets. If you’re a heavy user of third-party widgets from apps like Spotify or Todoist, you might actually prefer staying with the standard home screen pages.
Fix Your Refresh Rate Immediately
OnePlus advertises 120Hz or even 144Hz on the newest models. But did you know your OnePlus home screen might be lying to you?
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OxygenOS is notorious for aggressive battery management. It will often throttle your home screen or specific apps down to 60Hz to save juice. It’s the main reason your phone might feel "janky" even with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 under the hood.
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Screen refresh rate. Don't leave it on "Auto." Switch it to "High." Even better, look for the "App-specific refresh rate" setting that was introduced in recent updates. This lets you force the high refresh rate across the board, making those home screen swipes feel like liquid.
The Hidden Power of Large Folders
One of the best things added recently is "Large Folders." Most people just use them to save space, but they’re actually a productivity hack.
When you long-press a folder and select "Enlarge," it expands to a 2x2 size. The magic part? You can tap the icons inside the folder directly without opening the folder itself. It basically gives you 8 or 9 apps in the space of 4, with zero extra clicks.
- Pro Tip: Put your four most-used apps (like WhatsApp, Camera, Chrome, and Gmail) in the first four slots of a large folder. You’ll never have to "open" a folder again.
- Visuals: It keeps the OnePlus home screen looking minimalist while keeping your tools one tap away.
Why Third-Party Launchers Are "Broken" Right Now
I love Nova Launcher. I've used it for a decade. But honestly? Using a third-party launcher on a modern OnePlus device is kinda a mess.
Ever since the merger with ColorOS, the gesture navigation is baked into the "System Launcher" app. If you switch to Nova or Niagara, you’ll notice a distinct 1-second delay when swiping back to the home screen. The icons "pop" in late, or the wallpaper flashes.
It’s an Android-wide issue, but it’s particularly bad on OxygenOS. If you want that peak snappiness, you basically have to stick with the stock OnePlus launcher. It's frustrating, but the trade-off for fluid animations is worth it for most people.
De-Bloating the Status Bar
Your home screen isn't just about icons; it’s about the status bar at the top. OnePlus allows for a level of granular control that even Pixel users don't have.
Go to Settings > Notifications & Status Bar > Status Bar. You can literally turn off the icons for things you don't need to see. Do you really need the "VoLTE" icon taking up space 24/7? Or the Bluetooth icon when you know your buds are connected? Turn them off.
Also, if you're a data nerd, enable "Real-time network speed." It's a classic OnePlus feature that shows exactly how many kB/s your phone is pulling in the moment. It’s great for diagnosing why a video isn't loading without running a full speed test.
Stop Using "Virtual RAM"
This is a controversial one. OnePlus pushes a feature called "RAM Expansion" or "Virtual RAM." It takes a chunk of your storage (UFS 4.0) and pretends it's RAM.
Sounds great on paper. In reality? It can cause micro-stutters on your OnePlus home screen. Actual physical RAM is significantly faster than storage. When the system starts swapping data between the two, you get lag.
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If you have a 12GB or 16GB model, you do not need this. Go to Settings > About Device > RAM and toggle it off. You'll likely find that the UI feels more "consistent" during heavy multitasking.
Actionable Steps for a Better Setup
If you want the "Ultimate" OnePlus experience today, do these four things:
- Switch Screen Color Mode to "Natural": The default "Vivid" setting over-saturates the colors, making your wallpapers look "fake." Natural is much more color-accurate and easier on the eyes.
- Use the "Quick Launch" Feature: This is buried in the Fingerprint settings. You can hold your thumb on the scanner after unlocking to instantly slide into a specific app or shortcut (like a New Note or Google Search).
- Hide App Names: Long-press the home screen, go to Icons, and slide the "App names" toggle to the left. It makes the grid look incredibly clean, provided you recognize your icons.
- Disable "Global Search": By default, swiping down on the home screen opens a search bar that's often slow. Change the "Swipe down on Home screen" setting to "Notification drawer." It’s much more practical for large phones.
The goal isn't just to make the phone look good; it's to make it get out of your way. OnePlus has moved away from the "minimalist" roots of the past, but the tools to build a fast, clean interface are still there—you just have to know which toggles to flip.