Unleashing Zen Mode: How to explore its features on OnePlus phones

Listening to music, scrolling on social media, making phone calls, clicking photos – there are countless things that we can do on a smartphone. This also makes them an easy distraction. Android phones come with the Digital Wellbeing feature that provides a daily overview of phone usage, offering insights into various criteria such as usage time, notifications received, and frequency of phone unlocks. Within Digital Wellbeing lies the Focus Mode, designed to minimise distractions and aid concentration across different activities like Sleep, Relaxation, Driving, Work, Exercise, and more.

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Zen Mode, which debuted with the OnePlus 7 Pro in 2019, shares conceptual similarities with Android’s native Focus Mode feature. However, OnePlus’ Zen Mode is more stringent, capable of locking down the phone to provide access only to essential functions like emergency calls and the camera. Additionally, it offers soothing sounds and customisation features not found in Focus Mode. They reportedly rebranded Zen Mode as Zen Space last year. Here’s a closer look at how to use Zen Space and its key features.

Zen Space: Understanding the app interface

Opening the Zen Space will provide you with two options: Deep Zen and Light Zen. As the name implies, the Deep Zen is stricter and does not allow you to access anything on the phone except the camera, emergency calls, or receiving calls for a set amount of time. You cannot exit before the set time has passed.

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On the other hand, Light Zen is more lenient, as it allows you to access certain apps. It even allows you to exit Light Zen at any time. The Zen Space is accessible on all Nord series phones and the OnePlus numbered series, starting with the OnePlus 6. 

How to use Zen Space

Zen Space is a preinstalled app on OnePlus phones. You can add it to the Quick Tile in the notification shade for easy access without unlocking the phone. Here’s how to use Zen Space:

1. Launch the Zen Space app and you will see options such as Deep Zen, Light Zen, a gear icon for Settings, and a profile icon. If you have used Zen Space before, tap the profile icon to sync your Zen data.

2. Tap the gear icon to access Zen Space’s Settings. Here, you can set daily reminders for regular Zen Space use or set reminders when phone usage exceeds a certain threshold. The Settings page also allows you to show your progress as an Always-on Display (AOD).

3. Deep Zen mode has a default time duration of one minute, but you can set it for up to 180 minutes. You can customise the background image and soothing music to your liking. Click “Done” and then “Start” to begin.

4. Light Zen offers pre-made options like “Work” and “Study.” These have default durations of 60 minutes and unlimited time, respectively. You can change the space name, time duration, background image, music, and allowed apps. There’s also a “Delete” option to remove a space. After customisation, click “Done” and then “Start.”

5. Use the “New Space” option to create a custom session. Name the space, choose a background image and music, modify the allowed apps list, and select a time limit (no limit, 25, 40, 60 minutes, or a custom duration of up to 180 minutes).

6. Tap your profile image to see how Zen Space has helped you focus. View details such as total duration, number of Zen sessions, days, and a weekly progress report.

Creating a Zen challenge

medals as you reach your goals. To access it, tap your profile image and then “Achievements.” The system will prompt you to name a new challenge. Once created, you cannot delete it, nor can you add a new challenge until the completion of the first one.

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The app suggests it takes 66 days to form a habit. Once you create a challenge, a progress bar displays milestones for 7, 14, 28, 42, and 66 days. This progress will also show on the app’s interface.

Using Zen Space on other phones

For those who don’t know, it is important to note that Zen Space is a feature exclusive to OnePlus phones. Even if you find it in a third-party app store, you may not be able to run the app after installation on smartphones from some brands. However, if you are unable to access Zen Space, you can still make use of the Focus Mode feature by locating it within the Settings menu on any Android phone released in 2019 or later.