Android

How to use Shelf on a OnePlus, or swipe down for notifications (OxygenOS 16)

By · Reviewed by Saadat Rafiq

2 min read5 stepsPublished 15 October 2026

Screenshot from the guide: How to use Shelf on a OnePlus, or swipe down for notifications (OxygenOS 16)
In this guide
  1. Open Shelf the first time
  2. See the cards
  3. Add a widget
  4. Change what the swipe opens
  5. Pick notifications or search
  6. If you do not see this option
  7. If this does not work
  8. Good to know
  9. Sources
Short answer

Swipe down on the home screen to open Shelf, a page of cards such as steps, weather and storage. Tap + to add widgets. To make the swipe open notifications instead, go to Home screen settings, Swipe down on Home screen, and choose Notifications & Quick Settings.

Device
Android
Shown on
OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16
App
Settings
Path
Settings › Home screen settings
Real screenshots
5 of 5 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

  1. Android screenshot: Open Shelf the first time

    Open Shelf the first time

    Swipe down on the home screen. Welcome to Shelf says Shelf organises services from your apps into cards and may request permissions. Tap Agree and continue, or Exit.

  2. Android screenshot: See the cards

    See the cards

    Shelf shows My services at the top and Recommended cards below: steps, weather, storage with Clean up, a battery card and a clock on ours.

  3. Android screenshot: Add a widget

    Add a widget

    Tap + at the top right. The Widgets list showed Battery, Clock, IR Remote, My Devices, My Files, Notes and Phone Manager on ours. Tap Close when done.

  4. Android screenshot: Change what the swipe opens

    Change what the swipe opens

    Search Settings for Home screen settings. Under Gestures, ours said Swipe down on Home screen: Shelf. Tap it.

  5. Android screenshot: Pick notifications or search

    Pick notifications or search

    Choose Shelf, Global Search or Notifications & Quick Settings.

If you do not see this option

  • Older OxygenOS? OnePlus's OxygenOS 14 manual also says to swipe down on the Home screen to enter Shelf, and to tap Add to put widgets on it. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual
  • Shelf asks for permissions? The welcome page says it may request permissions or access depending on the services you use. Ours asked for none to show the cards.

If this does not work

  • Swipe down opens search? Swipe down on Home screen is set to Global Search. Change it here.
  • Cards show no data? Ours showed -- for steps and No cities added for weather. Those cards fill in once the app behind them has data.
  • Want the notification pull-down? Choose Notifications & Quick Settings. See also the notification shade.

About this guide

On our Nord 5, swiping down on the home screen opened Shelf, not the notifications. You can keep it or change it.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. We accepted the Shelf agreement to show it.

Good to know

Change the pull-down layout: Split or Classic notification shade.

In short: Swipe down on the home screen for Shelf, + to add widgets. Home screen settings, Swipe down on Home screen to change it.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.

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