How to use Zen Mode 2.0 on OnePlus phones

One of my favorite OxygenOS 11 features is Zen Mode 2.0 - an update of OnePlus' Zen Mode that helps users take a break from their smartphones. While OnePlus is still in the process of rolling out OxygenOS 11 on its older phones, you can get your hands on Zen Mode 2.0 by updating the app from the Play Store.

In this article, we will discuss the new features introduced with Zen Mode 2.0 and how you can disconnect the app and focus on your work and not let your phone confuse you in important situations in the real world. That said, let's get started

Zen mode is about taking the digital wellness of OnePlus. The company has updated OxygenOS 11 as well as Zen mode with new features. You can get Zen Mode 2.0 for OnePlus 8 Series, OnePlus 7 and 7T Series, OnePlus 6 and 6T, OnePlus 5 and 5T and OnePlus Nord from the Play Store. Once you have installed it, drag the notification shadow and tap on the Zen Mode tile. If you do not see it, tap the pencil icon and drag it to the accessible area. For quick access I would recommend putting it on the first page.

With version 2.0, OnePlus has overhauled the design of Zen mode. The feature now offers a total of five themes called Ocean, Space, Grassland, Sunrise and Meditation. As the name suggests, the themes are based on these concepts and you will see them in the background during your Zen mode session. See the themes in the image gallery below:

OnePlus previously offered 20 minutes as the default duration for Zen mode and then brought flexibility to change the duration to 30, 40 or 60 minutes. Zen Mode 2.0 lets you further customize the duration with the new options of 1 minute, 90 minutes and 120 minutes. In total, you can set the duration in Zen Mode 2.0 to 1 minute, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes or 120 minutes. To do this, tap the timer on the home page in Zen mode and choose the period that works best for you.

OnePlus has collaborated with the developers of Sleep Sound and Meditation App Tide to add white sound tones to Zen Mode 2.0. Through this collaboration, Zen Mode 2.0.1.0 has achieved five theme sounds - Jellyfish, Light Years, Country Morning, Meditation and Sunrise. These words are associated with the five themes available in the app. You can enable the sound by tapping the music icon in the top right corner of the app.

You can disable it if you don't like music in the background, even if you're in the middle of a Zen mode session. To disable ambient sound, all you have to do is tap on the music icon on the screen. If you want to re-enable the word later, you can press it again.

Lastly, we have Group Zen Mode - a feature that will help you keep your phone down with your friends and family. You can tap on the multi-user icon on the home page to access Group Zen mode. Here, you have the option to create a room / join a room created by others.

Then, you can configure the session duration and invite friends by sharing your room code. While OnePlus boldly claims that any smartphone user can join a group session, it's not right now. It could work and OnePlus could add it in the future. For now, you are limited to other OnePlus phones.

So, those are the new features added to OnePlus with Zen Mode 2.0. Two older features worth mentioning are daily reminders to turn on Zen mode at a certain time and reminders to use the smartphone after 2, 3, 4 or 5 hours of continuous use. You can access these two features from the Zen mode settings in the app. We hope this feature helps you to understand Zen mode better Before trying it out, let us know your favorite Zen Mode 2.0 feature in the comments.