The OnePlus 15 can display content at 165Hz, but it will not necessarily run at that rate straight out of the box. The quickest way to enable the maximum refresh rate is to open Settings, go to the display section, open the refresh rate or screen refresh rate menu, and select 165Hz or the highest option listed. If the setting is grayed out or keeps reverting to a lower value, the rest of this guide explains why that happens and how to force the screen to run at its full 165Hz capability.
One important note before you begin: OnePlus devices run OxygenOS, and the exact names of these menus change between software versions and regions. On some builds the option is called Screen Refresh Rate, on others Display Refresh Rate, and on some simply Refresh Rate. If you cannot find it, open Settings and use the search bar with the words “refresh rate.”
What You Need Before You Start
Before changing anything, make sure the phone is in a normal operating state. A few conditions affect whether the 165Hz option appears and whether it actually stays active:
– The OnePlus 15 should be running the latest available OxygenOS build for your region. Older builds may place the setting in a different location.
– Battery Saver should be off. Power-saving modes typically cap the refresh rate to extend battery life.
– The display should be set to its native resolution. If a lower resolution is active, the peak refresh rate option may be unavailable on some devices.
– The phone should not be overheating. During fast charging or after long gaming sessions, the system may temporarily lower the maximum refresh rate to control heat.
– If you want 165Hz in a game, the game itself must support 165 frames per second, and its own graphics menu must be set to a matching frame rate.
How to Enable the Highest Refresh Rate
Most OnePlus phones follow the same basic display settings path. The steps below describe the standard OxygenOS layout. If your device uses slightly different labels, the setting you are looking for is always the one that mentions “refresh rate.”
- Unlock your OnePlus 15 and open the Settings app.
- Scroll to Display & Brightness. Some builds label this simply as Display.
- Tap Screen Refresh Rate, Display Refresh Rate, or Refresh Rate.
- Choose the highest refresh rate option. On a 165Hz panel, this is usually labeled 165Hz. Some software builds call it High, Max, or Peak.
- Exit Settings and test the screen by scrolling through a content-heavy page or opening a supported game.
Many OnePlus devices include a small animation or playback section inside the refresh rate menu that demonstrates the difference between rates. This makes it easy to confirm that the screen is actually switching to 165Hz. You can also check the live refresh rate by enabling the Show Refresh Rate overlay in Developer Options, which displays a constantly updating number in a corner of the screen. That overlay is not present in every OxygenOS build, but it is available on many recent OnePlus flagships.
If you see several intermediate options such as 60Hz, 120Hz, and 165Hz, pick the highest one. If you see an automatic or adaptive mode, choose it only if you want the system to decide when to use the peak rate. Selecting the explicit maximum guarantees that the screen will run as fast as the software and content allow.
Alternative Ways to Force 165Hz
The standard display setting is enough for most people, but some apps and games ignore it or request a lower refresh rate on their own. Here are the useful alternatives.
Per-App Refresh Rate
Some OxygenOS versions allow you to set the refresh rate for individual applications instead of relying on one global setting. This is useful when a particular app stays noticeably stuck at 60Hz or 120Hz. Open the refresh rate settings page and look for a section labeled something like “App refresh rate” or “Refresh rate per app.” Select the app you want to adjust and set it to 165Hz. The location of this feature varies by software version, so if you cannot find it, search Settings for “refresh rate app.”
Game Mode
For gaming, two separate things must match: the display refresh rate and the game’s internal frame rate. Start the game, open its graphics or display settings, and choose 165Hz, 144Hz, or Unlimited if those values are available. Then open the OnePlus Game Space or Game Mode utility and enable Performance Mode or Pro Gamer Mode. These modes reduce background activity that can cause frame drops. Keep in mind that Game Mode does not remove a game’s own frame rate cap, so the in-game setting may still limit what the display can show.
Developer Options: Force Peak Refresh Rate
If you want the screen to run as close to 165Hz as possible at all times, OxygenOS provides a stronger option inside Developer Options.
- Open Settings and go to About Device or About Phone.
- Tap Build Number seven times until you see a message confirming that Developer Options are enabled.
- Go back to the main Settings screen.
- Open System or Additional Settings, then tap Developer Options.
- Scroll to the display-related section and turn on Force Peak Refresh Rate (sometimes labeled Force Highest Refresh Rate).
This setting tells the system to keep the refresh rate at the maximum whenever the screen content changes. It usually provides a more consistent 165Hz experience in apps that are poorly optimized. The downside is higher battery consumption, because the screen is redrawing frames as fast as it can for a much larger portion of the time.
Common Problems and How to Handle Them
The following issues are the ones most likely to appear when you try to run the OnePlus 15 at 165Hz.
The 165Hz Option Is Grayed Out
The most common cause is Battery Saver. Open Settings, go to Battery, turn off Battery Saver, and return to the refresh rate menu. If the option is still unavailable, check that the display is running at its native resolution and make sure the phone is not hot from charging or intense use. A cooling-down period of a few minutes is often enough.
The Refresh Rate Keeps Dropping to 120Hz or 60Hz
This is usually normal. The OnePlus 15’s display panel is adaptive, meaning it lowers its refresh rate when content is static to save power. The rate should climb back to 165Hz when you touch the screen or start a compatible game. If it never reaches 165Hz, use the Force Peak Refresh Rate option in Developer Options, or check whether the app you are using has been assigned a lower refresh rate in the per-app menu.
Individual Apps Appear Capped
Some apps request a low refresh rate themselves, especially streaming and video apps that are designed for 24, 30, or 60fps content. Use the per-app refresh rate setting to assign 165Hz to those apps. Once you do, scrolling in the app should feel smoother, although video playback will still respect the source frame rate.
The Refresh Rate Drops After a Software Update
OxygenOS occasionally reorganizes its settings menu. If the refresh rate option has moved, use the search bar in Settings. In most cases, your previous selection remains intact after an update, but the setting may have been reset if the update was large or if you restored the phone to default settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does enabling 165Hz noticeably reduce battery life?
Running the display at its highest refresh rate consumes more power than 60Hz or 120Hz because the screen redraws its image more times per second. How much that affects battery life depends on what you are doing. On an adaptive panel, the refresh rate drops during static content, which keeps the battery impact limited during everyday use.
Why is the 165Hz option missing in a game?
Most games run at their own internal frame rate cap. If a game is capped at 60 or 120 frames per second, the display cannot show 165 unique frames no matter what the phone is set to. Check the game’s graphics settings for a frame rate option, and set the OnePlus 15 to 165Hz in the system display settings.
Can forcing the highest refresh rate damage the display?
No. 165Hz is a supported operational mode of the OnePlus 15’s display, not an overclock. Using it will not damage the panel, but it does increase battery consumption. If the phone becomes excessively hot during a long high-refresh session, the system may automatically lower the refresh cap to protect the hardware.
Conclusion
Getting the OnePlus 15 to run at 165Hz comes down to three simple checks: choose the highest option in the display refresh rate menu, disable battery saving modes, and make sure the app or game you are using supports the higher rate. If the refresh rate still drops afterward, the per-app refresh rate control and the Force Peak Refresh Rate Developer Option provide more aggressive alternatives. Because OxygenOS menus vary by build and region, the exact wording of the settings on your device may differ slightly, but the logic is the same across every OnePlus phone with a high-refresh panel.
