OnePlus 5 Silent Mode and Priority Mode Explained

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes. The OnePlus 5 has a physical Alert Slider that lets you switch between Ring, Silent, and Do Not Disturb, with Priority notifications configured in the phone’s sound settings. Silent and Priority are not the same: Silent suppresses ringing and notification sounds, while Priority mode allows selected interruptions through Do Not Disturb.

How the OnePlus 5 Alert Slider works

The Alert Slider is the three-position switch on the side of the OnePlus 5. Moving it changes the phone’s alert behavior without needing to open Settings. Its positions are generally described as:

Ring: Normal sound behavior, subject to your volume settings.
Do Not Disturb: Suppresses interruptions according to the rules you configure, including whether priority alerts are allowed.
Silent: Silences calls and notifications, while alarms and media may behave differently depending on their own volume settings.

The slider is a hardware shortcut, not a separate sound system. The precise labels and the options shown in Settings can vary with the OxygenOS version installed on a particular phone. If a menu name below differs, look for the phone’s sound, alert slider, or Do Not Disturb settings.

Silent mode versus Priority mode

On the OnePlus 5, “Priority mode” refers to a Do Not Disturb setting that lets chosen interruptions through. It is useful when you want quiet but still want to hear something important, such as a call from a selected contact or an alarm. Silent mode is the more straightforward choice when you want calls and notifications to make no sound.

These labels can be confusing because Android’s Do Not Disturb feature has used terms such as Priority, Alarms only, and Total silence across different releases. On the OnePlus 5, the Alert Slider’s middle position is associated with Do Not Disturb; the behavior of that position depends on the configured rules. Do not assume that “Priority” means every notification is muted, or that “Silent” necessarily disables alarms.

How to set up Priority interruptions

To choose what can interrupt you, open the phone’s Settings and look for Sound & vibration or a similarly named sound section. Open the Do Not Disturb or Alert Slider controls, then review the available exceptions. Menu wording can differ between software updates, so use the settings search field for “Do Not Disturb” if needed.

Choose which categories may interrupt, such as calls, messages, or alarms, if those controls are offered.
For calls or messages, select the allowed people or groups where the system provides that option.
Review repeated-caller behavior, if available. This may allow a second call within a defined period to ring, so check the displayed description before relying on it.
Move the Alert Slider to its Do Not Disturb position and test the result with a non-urgent call or notification.

App notifications and system interruptions are not always governed by the same controls. A particular app may have its own notification categories, while Do Not Disturb determines whether those notifications can make sound or appear as interruptions. If an app still makes noise, check both its notification settings and the phone’s DND exceptions.

Choosing the right slider position

Use the setting that matches what you need to block, rather than treating all three positions as interchangeable:

Choose Ring when you want ordinary calls and notifications to sound.
Choose Do Not Disturb when you want fewer interruptions but need permitted exceptions, such as alarms or selected callers.
Choose Silent when you need calls and notifications quiet without managing a list of priority people.

For a meeting, Priority or Do Not Disturb can be more useful than Silent if an important contact must still reach you. In a library or while recording audio, Silent may be simpler. Before relying on either mode overnight, check alarm volume and any scheduled Do Not Disturb rules. The phone’s media volume is separate: music or video can still play audibly if media volume is turned up.

Common problems and checks

If the phone still makes a sound in a quiet mode, first identify what produced it. A ringtone, an app alert, an alarm, media playback, and a connected accessory can each have different controls. Then check these items:

Slider position: Confirm that the switch is fully in the intended notch. The on-screen indicator, if shown, can help identify the active mode.
Do Not Disturb exceptions: A permitted caller, alarm, or other exception may be working as configured.
Volume controls: Check ringtone, notification, alarm, and media volume separately. Lowering one does not necessarily lower the others.
App notification settings: Review the noisy app’s notification categories and sound settings.
Software behavior: Restart the phone if the slider’s state appears out of sync with what Settings shows. If the problem continues, check for available system updates and consult the device’s support information.

Also remember that a silent phone may still vibrate or display notifications. Silent does not automatically mean “no vibration,” “screen off,” or “no notifications.” Those behaviors may need separate adjustment.

What to expect from alarms, calls, and media

Do Not Disturb commonly offers controls that treat alarms differently from calls and app alerts, but the exact behavior depends on the selected rules and the OxygenOS release. Set an alarm and verify its volume before depending on it. Likewise, test whether calls from allowed contacts ring as expected rather than assuming a contact is automatically a priority.

Silent mode generally targets ring and notification sounds; it should not be treated as a guarantee that every audio source is muted. Media playback can remain audible, and vibration may remain enabled. If you need complete quiet, stop playback, adjust media volume, and check vibration and alarm settings individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the OnePlus 5 have a silent mode?
Yes. Move the Alert Slider to Silent. The phone’s sound settings and volume controls determine details such as vibration and alarm behavior.

Is Priority mode the same as Silent on the OnePlus 5?
No. Priority is a Do Not Disturb behavior that can allow selected interruptions. Silent suppresses ringing and notification sounds more broadly.

Where is the Silent switch on a OnePlus 5?
Use the physical Alert Slider on the side of the phone. It has positions for Ring, Do Not Disturb, and Silent.

Will my alarm ring in Silent mode?
Alarm behavior can depend on the alarm volume and software settings. Check the alarm volume and test an alarm rather than relying on the mode name alone.

Why does my OnePlus 5 still vibrate when it is silent?
Vibration may be configured separately from sound. Check vibration controls in sound settings and the notification settings for the relevant app.

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