ONEPLUS
How to change the brightness on a OnePlus (OxygenOS 16)
In short
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.
5 of 5 steps show a real screenshot from our Nord 5. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.
Steps
- 1
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.
- 2
Open Display & brightness
For more, open Settings and tap Display & brightness.
- 3
Find Brightness
On OxygenOS 16 the Brightness slider and Auto brightness are under Dark mode settings.
- 4
Turn off Auto brightness
Turn it off if the screen keeps changing by itself. Your slider setting then stays.
- 5
Turn Auto brightness back on
We turned it back on, as it was.
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.
- Changes during games? The OnePlus manual says you can lock the brightness while playing in Game Assistant.
- Auto brightness gets it wrong? Auto brightness reads a light sensor near the top of the screen. A thick screen protector, a case edge or your thumb over that area can fool it. Clean the area and check nothing covers it before switching Auto brightness off.
- Screen flashes bright when unlocking with your face? That is a face unlock option, not a brightness setting. The OxygenOS 14 manual describes Brighten screen in dim light under Settings, Password & security, Face, which helps face recognition in the dark.
Good to know
Turn auto-rotate on or off on a OnePlus.
Brightness changes take effect immediately and stay until you move the slider again or Auto brightness adjusts it. A lower level saves battery, and Google advises that heat also makes a battery drain faster, which a bright screen in the sun adds to. If the phone gets hot in strong light, it may limit brightness on its own to protect itself, which is normal.
The same Display & brightness page has other settings that change how the screen looks at night, such as Eye Comfort, which the OxygenOS 14 manual says reduces blue light: see Eye Comfort on a OnePlus. For colour and smoothness, see screen colour and refresh rate.
About this guide
- 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
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.
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