Xiaomi Flash: How to Include, Configure and Use in 2026

The flash on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a light source for night shooting, but a multifunctional tool that many users use not at full capacity. Even in 2026, owners of the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 13 Ultra often face problems: the flash does not work at the right time, the LED flashes too brightly, then refuses to turn on at all. The reason usually lies not in the hardware breakdown, but in the wrong settings or ignorance of the hidden capabilities of MIUI.

In this article, we will look at all the ways to control a flash, from basic activation in the Camera app to using it as a flashlight with brightness adjustment, and also tell you how to diagnose malfunctions if the LED does not respond to commands. Particular attention will be paid to the new features of MIUI 15, which appeared in 2026, allowing you to use the flash as a call notification or even as a strobe for emergency situations.

Basic ways to incorporate flash in the Camera app

The most obvious way to trigger a flash is through the standard Camera app, but even here, many users miss important nuances. For example, on the Xiaomi 13T Pro, the auto flash algorithm works differently than on the budget Redmi 10C, and in manual mode (Pro), additional light temperature settings are available.

To turn on the flash:

• 📷 Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
• ⚡ Press the lightning icon in the upper left corner (on some models, in the right).
• 🔄 Select mode: Off. – flash will not work even in the dark; Auto – smartphone will decide when to use it; On. – flash will fire every shot; Torsher (available on all models) – constant light for video shooting.

On the POCO F5 and the latest Mi 14 in Pro mode, the option Double flash is when the LED fires twice: the first time for focusing, the second for the main frame, which is useful for shooting moving objects in the dark.

2. Flash like a flashlight: quick ways to turn on

Xiaomi’s LED flash can be used not only for photos, but also as a full-fledged flashlight, and you can do this in several ways, from standard to hidden.

Method 1: Through the notification panel

• 🔽 Swipe your finger down to open the notification bar.
• 🔦 Find the flashlight icon (usually in the front row). If it's not there, click on the pencil (Edit) and add it.
• 💡 Tape the icon once to turn it on/off.

Method 2: Voice assistant

If you have Google Assistant or Alice from Yandex activated, you can say:

• 🎤 "Okay, Google, turn on the flashlight."
• 🎤 "Alice, light up the light."

Method 3: Gestures (hidden MIUI function)

On smartphones with MIUI 14/15, you can turn on the flashlight by double pressing the Power button (even on a locked screen).

1. Go to Settings → Special Features → Gestures and Movements → Double pressing the power button.
2. Select the flashlight option.

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If the flashlight flashes or spontaneously turns off, check the battery settings: some energy saving modes turn off the LED after 30 seconds.

3. Hidden flash features: strobescope, notifications, Morse code

Few people know, but the flash on Xiaomi can work not only as a light source, but also as a signal device. MIUI 15 has new options that can be activated through Advanced Settings.

Function 1: Stroboscope (emergency signal)

In emergency situations (for example, if you need to attract attention on the road), you can turn on the strobe mode:

• 🚨 Go to Settings → Additional → Emergency Functions → Stroboscope.
• 🔄 Select the blinking frequency (from 1 to 5 Hz).
• ⚡ Activate the mode, the flash will start flashing at a given frequency.

Function 2: Notifications of calls and messages

If you are in a noisy place or the phone is in your bag, you can set up flash flash when an incoming call or SMS:

• 📞 Go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Call Notifications → Flash.
• 🔦 Turn on the Blink option when calling.
• 📩 Similarly, configure notifications for messages in Application Settings → Messages → Notifications.

Function 3: Transmission of messages by Morse code

MIUI 15 has an experimental feature for encoding messages using a flash, such as sending SOS or plain text.

1. Activate the mode in Settings → System → Laboratory → Morse code.
2. Enter the text (up to 20 characters).
3. Point the camera of another smartphone to the flash – the message will be decoded.

4.Why the outbreak is not working: Diagnostics and solutions

If the LED doesn't respond to commands, the problem can be both software settings and hardware, and let's look at the most common causes and ways to fix them.

If the flash doesn’t work only on third-party apps (like Instagram or Snapchat), the problem is most likely a lack of permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Permissions and enable access to the camera and microphone.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the flash may not work due to the lack of proprietary drivers, in which case only returning to the official MIUI will help.

5. Flash brightness adjustment: hidden settings

Most Xiaomi smartphones have fixed flash brightness, but some models (such as the Mi 11 Ultra or 12S Ultra) have hidden options to adjust it, which is especially useful if the standard light is too bright for macro photography or, conversely, too weak to illuminate a large area.

To change the brightness:

1. Open the Camera app and go to Pro (Professional) mode.
2. Click on the gear icon (settings).
3. Find flash brightness (not available on all devices).
4. Move the slider from 1 to 10 (where 10 is the maximum brightness).

The POCO F4 GT and Redmi K50 Gaming have an optional Color Flash Temperature option, which allows you to make light warmer or cooler, which is useful for shooting in different lighting conditions.

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6. Using flash in third-party applications

Many users find that the flash doesn’t work in apps like TikTok, VK Clips or Likee, which is usually because these programs don’t have access to the hardware of the smartphone.

Method 1: Manual permissions

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Permits.
• 📸 Enable access to Camera and Microphone.
• 🔄 Restart the application.

Method 2: Using a Virtual Camera

Some apps (like Google Play’s Open Camera) allow you to emulate the flash even where it’s not supported initially.

1. Install the Open Camera from the official store.
2. In the application settings, enable the option to Use an external camera.
3. Go back to a problem app (like TikTok) and select Open Camera as your video source.

On Xiaomi, with root rights, you can go further and install a Magisk module called Flashlight Enabler, which forcibly unlocks access to the flash for all applications. However, this method requires unlocking the bootloader and can lead to a loss of warranty.

7. Flash and battery: how to reduce charge consumption

Many users complain that when you use the flash, especially in flash mode, the battery goes down in front of your eyes. Indeed, the LED consumes a significant amount of energy, up to 1-1.5 W per hour.

• 🔋 Use Power Saving mode (but remember that it can turn off the flashlight after 30 seconds).
• ⚡ Reduce the flash brightness manually (if this option is available on your model).
• 🔄 Turn off the flashlight immediately after use - many forget to turn it off.
• 📱 You can install Flashlight Widget on POCO M5 and Redmi A2, which allows you to quickly turn the LED on/off from the home screen.

Interesting fact: the Xiaomi 13 Pro and 14 Pro have Adaptive Flash technology, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the flash depending on the lighting of the scene, which saves up to 20% of battery power during intensive shooting.

⚠️ Warning: If you notice that the battery is running out too quickly even without using a flash, check your smartphone for viruses. Some malware activates the LED in the background to mine cryptocurrency (called flashjacking).

8.Alternative lighting methods: when the flash does not help

Sometimes even the most powerful flash doesn't work, like when you're shooting at a long distance or in a very high smoke environment, and you can use alternative light sources.

• 💡 External LED- panels – connect via USB-C and give uniform light (e.g. Lume Cube or Godox).
• 🔦 Diffuser nozzles – scatter the flash light, removing sharp shadows (you can buy for 200-500 ₽ on AliExpress).
• 📱 Second smartphone - place it next to the flashlight at maximum brightness.
• 🎥 Night shooting mode — on Xiaomi it’s called Night Mode and allows you to shoot without flash in low light.

On the Mi 11 Ultra and later, there is a Dual-Native ISO feature that improves the quality of shots in the dark without using a flash.

1. Open the camera and go to Settings → Shooting Modes.
2. Turn on the smart night photography option.
3. When shooting in the dark, the smartphone will automatically combine several frames to produce a bright image.

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On Xiaomi’s flagship models (2022 and later), night mode performs better than flash 80% of the time. Try to remove without an LED first – the result may surprise you!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the outbreak on Xiaomi