How to set up a flash on Xiaomi smartphones: from automatic mode to manual settings

The flash on Xiaomi smartphones is not just an additional light source for photos in the dark.Modern models (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5) They have advanced LED modules that can be flexibly customized to different scenarios, but many users are limited to the standard automatic mode, without even realizing the hidden possibilities: from adjusting the intensity of light to synchronization with external flashes through MIUI Camera.

In this article, we will analyze not only the basic settings (how to turn on / off the flash), but also advanced functions: working with manual mode, setting up LED-Indicators for notifications, as well as solving typical problems (for example, when the flash does not work at low battery charge). LED-Flash, and compatibility with third-party applications like Open Camera or GCam.

Basic ways to include flash on Xiaomi

The easiest way to activate a flash is through the standard Camera app (MIUI The algorithm is the same for most models, from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi:

  1. Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
  2. In the top toolbar, find the flash icon (stylized lightning) ⚑).
  3. Slip on it to select a mode: πŸ”¦ Auto – flash is triggered in insufficient lighting. ⚑ Incl. – forced inclusion at each shot. πŸŒ‘ Off. - Outburst is off. πŸ’‘ Lantern (on some models) – permanent light for video.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60 Pro) flash icon can be hidden under the optional menu - swipe your finger up the camera screen to reveal all options.

πŸ“Š What Xiaomi model do you use?
Redmi Note 12/13
Xiaomi 13/14 series
POCO F/X series
Another model

Important: In Portrait or Night mode, flash settings may differ. For example, in Night Mode on Xiaomi 13 Ultra flash is activated only when manually adjusting shutter speeds above 1/4 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, when the flash is turned on in the Video mode, HyperOIS stabilization is automatically activated, which can reduce the maximum resolution to 1080p.

Flash modes: when and how to use

The choice of flash mode depends on the shooting conditions and the desired result.

Flash modeFilming conditionsRecommended camera settingsSuitable for models
AutomobileUneven lighting (e.g. shadow) + sunshine)HDR included, ISO Up to 800, white balance of the carAll models.
Included (forced)Dark street scenes (night photos of people)Regime Night. + flash, exposure -0.3 EVXiaomi 12T Pro, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ newer
Lantern (permanent light)Video in the dark, macro photographyVideo resolution 1080p, frame rate 30 FPSDouble-sized models LED-flash (e.g., flash, POCO F4 GT)
Disconnected.Daylight, shooting through glass, long exposure photosPro mode, ISO before 100, fastness 1/1000All models.

On flagship models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) is available Double flash mode, where two LED-They fire at different intensities for more natural light:

  1. Go to Camera Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Outbreak.
  2. Select Double Impulse (on some firmware - Smart Flash).
  3. Adjust the power ratio between the main and secondary flash (Balance of Light slider).

πŸ’‘

Infra-red lighting models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Gaming) enabling flash in Night Video mode improves focus on close objects.

Manual flash setting in Pro mode

For full control of the flash, use the Pro or Manual mode in the camera app.

  • πŸ”Ή Flash power (from 10% to 100% in steps of 10%).
  • πŸ”Ή Temperature of light (from 2700K before 6500K).
  • πŸ”Ή Synchronization (first/second curtain, for creative effects).
  • πŸ”Ή Delayed operation (useful for shooting moving objects).

Instructions for setting:

  1. Open the Camera and select Pro (or M on some models) mode.
  2. Put it on the badge. ⚑ top-right.
  3. In the menu that appears: Power: 50% Temperature: 4500K Synchronization: First curtain Delay: 0 ms Adjust the settings for your scene.
  4. To save the profile, click Save (floppy disk icon).

On the Xiaomi 13 Pro and 14 Pro in Pro mode, the option Strobe Flash is available - a stroboscopic flash for creative effects (for example, "freeze" movement). To activate it, hold your finger on the icon. ⚑ within 2 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: When manually adjusting the flashlight temperature below 3500K You may see a yellow color in the photos. Use white balance manually to correct the photos (WB pro).

Correction LED-module (no cracks in the glass)

Battery charge > 20% (otherwise the outbreak may not work)

Camera lenses and dust flashes cleaned

Power saving mode is off.-->

Flash as a flashlight: additional functions

On Xiaomi smartphones LED-And the flash can be used not only for photos, but also as a flashlight, a notification, or even a strobe:

1. flashlight through the notification panel

The fastest way to turn on permanent light:

  1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
  2. Find the flashlight badge (πŸ”¦) and tap him.
  3. To turn off, repeat the action or press the power button (on some models).

2.Tune in. LED-notice

The flash can flash when you hear incoming calls or messages, to activate:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Notifications β†’ Light effects.
  2. Enable the Flash option when notified.
  3. Select applications (such as WhatsApp, Phone) for which the feature will work.
  4. Adjust the frequency of blinking (fast/slow) and color (if supported).

POCO F4 GT Black Shark 5 is supported by RGB-flash backlighting – you can assign different colors to different types of notifications (e.g. red for calls, blue for messages).

3. Hidden functions: strobe and SOS

On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K60) Additional modes available:

  • πŸ†˜ SOS-signal: flash flash flashes in three long, three short (morse) mode. Activated via Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Emergency functions.
  • πŸŽ›οΈ Stroboscope: frequent flashes to attract attention, activated by holding the flashlight icon in the notification panel.
How to Calibrate the Color of a Flash
If LED-flash displays the wrong colors (for example, instead of white - blue), calibrate through the engineering menu: 1. Enter the Phone application code # # #36446337##. 2. β†’ LED Test. 3. Select Calibrate White Balance and follow the on-screen instructions. ⚠️ Do not interrupt the process – this can cause the flash driver to fail.

Outbreak problems and their solution

If your Xiaomi flash doesn’t work or doesn’t behave correctly, the reasons may be both software and hardware.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
The flash does not turn on in manual modeConflict with GCam or custom firmwareClear the camera cache (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Camera. β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache)
The faint light of the flashPollution LED-battery-moduleWipe the flash with alcohol, check the charge (>30%) or replace the battery
The flash flash flashes arbitrarilyDriver failure or mode enabled LED-noticeRestart your phone or turn off notifications in the flash (Settings) β†’ Notifications)
Outbreak doesn't work in GCamIncompatibility with XML-configInstall a version of GCam with support MiCamera2 API (for example BSG)

If the flash stopped working after the update MIUI, try:

  1. Reverse to the previous version of the firmware via Fastboot.
  2. Resetting camera settings (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Camera. β†’ Reset).
  3. Check the integrity of system files through the Mi Flash Tool (for power users only).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 11T Pro and 12 Pro after update to MIUI 14.0.5: There may be a bug where the flash is triggered with a delay of up to 2 seconds. Solution: disable the option Optimize shooting in the camera settings.

πŸ’‘

If the flash does not work in Night mode, check the setting Long exposure - at values greater than 4 seconds LED-The module is automatically turned off to save energy.

Compatibility with third-party applications

Many Xiaomi users install alternative cameras, such as Google Camera (GCam) or Open Camera, but not all versions of these apps work correctly with flash.

1. Google Camera (GCam)

For the full operation of the flash in GCam requires:

  • πŸ“± Install a version with support MiCamera2 API (for example, GCam_7.4.104_by_BSG).
  • πŸ”§ Download the correct one XML-Configuration for your model (you can download it on the forum) 4PDA or XDA-Developers).
  • βš™οΈ In GCam settings, activate the Use option MI Aux Camera (for dual flash models).

2. Open Camera

Open Camera supports flash on most Xiaomi devices, but you may need to manually adjust:

  1. Open Open the Open Camera and go to Settings β†’ Other camera settings.
  2. Enable the option to Use the camera API2.
  3. In the Flash section, select Forced to Enable (if the automatic mode is not working).

Nana POCO X3 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro for the correct operation of the flash in Open Camera must be disabled HDR+ appliance.

3. Professional applications (Filmic Pro, ProCam)

Video applications (such as Filmic Pro) may not see the flash due to limitations. MIUI. Decision:

  • πŸ”Ή Install Magisk and module MIUI Camera2 API Enabler.
  • πŸ”Ή In the application settings, select Manual Flash Control.
  • πŸ”Ή Filmic Pro requires version 7.1+ Xiaomi-enabled.

Advanced chips: synchronization with external flashes

Xiaomi flagship models (13 Ultra, 14 Pro) support synchronization with external flashes via connector USB-C It's a Bluetooth device, and it allows you to use professional lighting equipment, like Godox or Profoto.

To set up:

  1. Connect an external flash through USB-C β†’ 3.5mm Adapter (for older models) or directly via Bluetooth (for newer models).
  2. In the Camera app, go to Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ External devices.
  3. Select Flash Sync and specify the connection type (Wired or Bluetooth).
  4. Adjust the delay of operation (by default) 0 MS, but some outbreaks are required 5-10 miss).

On Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Multi-Flash Sync option is available, allowing you to synchronize up to 3 external flashes at a time.

  1. Connect all flashes to Bluetooth.
  2. In Pro Camera Mode, press the icon ⚑ and hold on for 3 seconds.
  3. In the menu that appears, select Group Flash Control.
  4. Assign each flash a role (Main, Fill, Backlight).

⚠️ Note: When using external flashes through USB-C Xiaomi 12S Ultra may overheat the port, and it is recommended to use Bluetooth synchronization or limit the shooting session to 20 minutes.

πŸ’‘

For shooting with external flashes on Xiaomi, it is optimal to use Manual mode with shutter speed 1/200 and ISO 100-400 β€” This minimizes synchronization delays.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the outbreak on Xiaomi

Why is the flash on my Xiaomi flashing green?
Green flashing LED-flash indicates active notification mode (e.g., battery charging or incoming message) To disable: Go to Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ Light effects. Turn off the option Color notifications or LED-If you keep blinking, check apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, they can use green for their notifications.
Can Xiaomi flash be used as a backlight for video?
Yes, but with limitations: In a standard camera MIUI Turn on the video mode, then tap on the icon ⚑ and select a flashlight. The maximum continuous duration of the flash is 10 minutes (then you need a break for cooling). POCO F5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T Adaptive Lighting is available, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the flash during the video. For long-term illumination, it is better to use an external light source - constant work. LED-flares reduce its resource.
How to reset flash settings to factory?
If you've been experimenting with manual settings and want to get everything back to the original state, open the Camera app. Go to Settings. β†’ Settings reset. Select Reset flash settings (some models have this option hidden β€” reset all camera settings first) After reset, the flash will return to factory settings: 100% power, temperature 5000K, synchronization of the first curtain.
Why is the flash not working in Night mode?
In Night Mode, the flash can be turned off automatically for the following reasons: πŸ”‹ Battery charge below 15% – the system blocks power-intensive functions. πŸ“Έ Ultra-Night Mode (Uses Software Processing Only). πŸ”§ Setting Long exposures exceed 3 seconds (flash interferes with shooting) Solution: Charge your phone, turn off Ultra Night Mode, or reduce shutter speed in manual settings.
Can we replace it? LED-flash on Xiaomi on its own?
Theoretically, yes, but it requires expertise in electronics repair: πŸ› οΈ On new models (Xiaomi) 13/14) flash integrated into the chamber module – replacement requires complete disassembly. πŸ”Œ A soldering station is required to disconnect the plume (on the POCO And Redmi flash is often soldered). πŸ“± After replacement, calibration may be required through an engineering menu (code ##36446337##). Replacement cost in the service center: from 1 500 before 3 000 RUB (depending on the model).