Got a new OPPO smartphone? Want to know how to make the most of it? We're here to help!
OPPO smartphones run a customised version of Android called ColorOS, which differs from Google's operating system in a few significant ways. Some of these become obvious quickly, some can be a little harder to wrap your head around.
Fortunately, we've tried out almost every OPPO phone on the market, so we've dealt with all of the quirks. And better yet, we've found all the hidden features. So whether you're coming from an Android or an iPhone, we've got some "hacks" for you.
Please note that the instructions in this guide are based on the latest versions of ColorOS found on newer OPPO devices like the OPPO Find X3 Pro. If you have an older device, some of these steps may be a little different, but should still be pretty similar.
In this guide, we'll cover:
- Ensuring notifications work
- Silent mode
- App encryptions
- Kids Space
- Cloning apps
- "Screen-off" gestures
- OPPO share
Ensuring notifications work for your favourite apps on OPPO
If you don't seem to be getting notifications from your favourite app, your OPPO's battery management might be the reason why. To ensure you get notifications as they come in, you'll need to lock the app in the multi-tasking manager.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the app you want notifications from.
- Open the multi-tasking menu (either by the square next to the home button, or by swiping partway up the screen if you're using gesture navigation).
- Tap the dot icons above the app in question, and then tap lock. An app is already locked if it has a lock icon next to its name. On older OPPO phones, you may need to swipe down on the app in question instead.
You'll also want to double-check battery management settings for the app.
For newer OPPO phones:
- Open the Settings app
- Open App Management
- Tap App List
- Tap on the app in question
- Tap on Battery Usage
- Toggle on Allow Background Activity
For older phones:
- Open Settings
- Tap on Battery
- Tap on Energy Saver
- Tap on the app you're after
- Ensure that Background Freeze, Abnormal App Optimisation, and Doze are all switched to off
OPPO Silent
Depending on your phone, just lowering the volume on your new OPPO device won't set your handset to vibrate. If you want your OPPO smartphone to vibrate, you'll need to access the control centre. You can do this by swiping down from the top of the screen. You may need to swipe down again to see all options, and you'll want to make sure that the Silent icon and Vibration icon are both active.
OPPO App Lock
If you want a bit of extra privacy on your phone, you're able to add another level of protection to individual apps. These apps will ask you for a PIN or biometrics whenever you open them, which is perfect if you have nosey friends who'll look through your phone given the opportunity.
- Open Settings
- Tap on Privacy (you may need to tap Security on older OPPO devices)
- Tap on App Lock - if this is your first time, you'll be asked to set a pin
- Choose the apps you want to lock
These apps will then require your face, your fingerprint, or your pin when you want to open them.
Need a new SIM-only plan for your OPPO?
If you own your OPPO phone outright, you may be in a position to snag yourself a brand new SIM-only deal. Data-for-dollar value on the mobile market has never been as good as it is now. So here's a quick look at some of the most popular plans from our database of 28 mobile providers.
|
#1
|
SpinTel 
|
|
|
#2
|
Dodo 
|
|
|
#3
|
Tangerine Telecom 
|
|
|
#4
|
Pivotel 
|
|
|
#5
|
Swoop 
|
|
|
#6
|
Vodafone 
|
|
|
#7
|
Optus 
|
|
|
#8
|
Moose Mobile 
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
Belong 
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
Telstra 
|
Link not supplied
|
OPPO Kids Space
Kids Space is a locked-down version of the OPPO operating system that only allows access to apps you've authorised and can't be exited without a PIN or your biometrics. As the name suggests, it's a safe space that lets you hand over your phone to your child without worrying about them accidentally emailing your entire contact list.
In addition to locking down which apps your children can access on your phone, Kids Space also lets you restrict the time they can spend using them. You can also disable mobile data usage entirely.
To setup Kid Space, follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap on Privacy (you may need to tap Security on older OPPO devices)
- Tap on Kids Space
Here you can set the Duration of Each Use, Allowed Apps, and whether or not your child can use mobile data when they're in Kids Space.
You can use the Kids Space settings pane to launch Kids Space, but you can also add a shortcut to the control centre if you need it regularly.
Cloning Apps on OPPO
ColorOS lets you duplicate select apps so that you have two instances of them on your phone. There aren't heaps of apps that support this - Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Telegram are the only ones we've got on our Find X3 Pro that let you have two versions - but this can be a useful feature if you, say, want a personal and work version of the app.
To use app cloning, follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap App Management
- Tap App Cloner
Here you'll find if any of the apps you've got installed support cloning.
OPPO "Screen-Off" Gestures
ColorOS gestures let you fire up apps or perform certain actions with a swipe while your phone is sleeping. You can turn these on by following these instructions:
- Open Settings
- Tap Convenience Tools
- Tap Gestures & Motions
- Tap Screen-Off Gestures
- Toggle Screen-Off Gestures On
By default, you can turn on options like:
- Double tap to turn the screen on
- Draw O to start camera
- Draw V to turn on your torch
- Music Control (draw a II to pause/play a track or draw < or > to switch the track when the screen is off)
And you can also add custom gestures to fire up whatever app you like.
OPPO Shortcut Keys
Certain key combinations activate different functions on your OPPO phone. These shortcuts are as follows:
- Press and hold Power and Volume Down: Take a screenshot
- Press and hold Power (for 0.5 seconds): Wake Google Assistant
- Press and hold Power (for 3 seconds): Turn off or restart your phone
- Press and hold Power and Volume Up (for about 10 seconds): Force restart your phone
Alex Choros
Related Articles
