In this guide

Use the slider
Open Display & brightness
Find Brightness
Turn off Auto brightness
Turn Auto brightness back on
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Short answer

Swipe down from the top and drag the brightness slider. In Settings, Display & brightness, there is the same slider and the Auto brightness switch, which sets the brightness from the light around you.

Device: Android
Shown on: OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16
App: Settings
Path: Settings › Display & brightness
Real screenshots: 5 of 5 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 2 official, linked below

Step by step

Use the slider
Swipe down from the top right for Quick Settings. The brightness slider sits next to the volume slider; an A on its sun icon means Auto brightness is on. Drag it up or down.
Done
Open Display & brightness
For more, open Settings and tap Display & brightness.
Done
Find Brightness
On OxygenOS 16 the Brightness slider and Auto brightness are under Dark mode settings.
Done
Turn off Auto brightness
Turn it off if the screen keeps changing by itself. Your slider setting then stays.
Done
Turn Auto brightness back on
We turned it back on, as it was.
Done

If you do not see this option

No slider when you swipe down? One swipe from the top left opens only notifications with the Split layout. Swipe from the top right. More: notification shade and Quick Settings.
OxygenOS 14 (OnePlus manual)? The manual puts the slider and Auto brightness in Settings, Display & brightness too, as on our OxygenOS 16 phone. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual

If this does not work

Gets darker by itself? Auto brightness is on, or Power saving mode is: power saving mode. Source: Get the most life from your Android battery
Changes during games? The OnePlus manual says you can lock the brightness while playing in Game Assistant. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual

About this guide

Brightness is quickest to change from Quick Settings.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. We turned Auto brightness off, then on again. We blurred our Wi-Fi name.