How to turn on the flashlight on Xiaomi Mi5: all ways + problem solving

The Xiaomi Mi5 is a legendary smartphone that still serves many users. But even with such a time-tested device, you may have questions about basic functions. One of the most common problems is how to turn on the flashlight if the button has disappeared from the curtain or the phone does not respond to usual gestures. In this article, we will not just list the standard methods, but will reveal all possible methods of activating the flashlight, including hidden MIUI chips and workarounds for non-standard situations.

You'll learn how to light a flashlight even when the screen is off, why it might not work after an update, and how to return the button to the notification bar if it's gone. And for advanced users, we've prepared instructions for setting up a flashlight through ADB and automating it with Tasker. It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or an experienced Xiaomi owner, there's a solution for any situation.

1. Standard method: through the notification panel

The most obvious and quickest method is to use a button in the notification curtain, which appears on the Xiaomi Mi5 after the flashlight is first turned on through the camera app or settings. Here's how to do it correctly:

1. Unlock the screen (if it is locked).
2. Swipe your finger from top to bottom of the screen to open the notification bar.
3. Find the flashlight icon (🔦) If you don't have a button, read the section on her return.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (And especially custom, the flashlight button can be hidden by default. If you swipe down, you can only see it. 5-6 icons, try swiping left/right - sometimes the panel is broken into several pages.

Battery charge above 5%|The screen is not locked with a password|The flashlight is not turned off in the energy saving settings|The camera is not used by another app-->

If the flashlight button is grey and does not respond to pressing, this may mean:

• 🔋 Low battery charge (less than 5%) Xiaomi locks flashlight to save energy.
• 📸 The camera is occupied by another app (e.g. Snapchat or TikTok).
• 🔧 Disabled in settings (more on this below).

2. Quick activation via the lock button (secret function)

Few people know, but on the Xiaomi Mi5 you can set the flashlight to turn on with a double press of the lock button. This feature works even on a locked screen - convenient when you need to quickly light up without unlocking the phone.

How to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Screen Lock and Password → Additional settings.
2. Find the option Double press the power button (or Power button function in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select the flashlight option.

Now, just press the lock button twice quickly, and the flashlight will turn on. To turn off, repeat the action.

💡

If the feature doesn’t work, check if it conflicts with the camera’s start gestures (setting up in the same menu).

⚠️ Note: Some firmware may not have this option. If it's not, try updating. MIUI Up to the latest version or use alternative methods from this article.

3. Turning on the flashlight through the Camera app

If the button in the curtain is gone and the lock button settings don't help, you can use the camera's built-in app, which works on any version of MIUI, even if the flashlight is turned off in the settings.

Instructions:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to Video Mode (if you were in Photo Mode).
3. Slip on the flashlight icon (🔦) top-left corner of the screen.
4. Close the camera and the flashlight will continue to work.

This method is especially useful if:

• 📱 You use unofficial firmware (e.g. LineageOS) where standard methods don't work.

4.Voice control: "OK, Google" and Alice

If you're too lazy to look for buttons or your phone is out of reach, you can turn on your flashlight with your voice, and both the built-in Google Assistant and Alice from Yandex are suitable for this.

Method 1: Using Google Assistant

1. Activate the voice assistant with the command “OK, Google” or holding the Home button.
2. Say: Turn on the flashlight or Turn on the flashlight (sometimes more stable in English).

Method 2: Through Alice (Yandex)

1. Open the Yandex app or activate Alice with your voice (Hi, Alice).
2. Say, Turn on the flashlight on your phone.

⚠️ Note: Voice commands are required for operation:

• 📶 Stable Internet connection (voice assistants require cloud processing).
• 🎤 Permission to access the microphone for Google or Yandex applications.
• 🔊 Included voice assistant in settings (Settings) → Annexes → All applications → Google/Yandex → Permits).

Google Assistant|Alice from Yandex|Siri (if you have an iPhone)|Other|Not using.-->

5. Alternative methods: widgets and third-party applications

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party solutions, and we tested several apps and widgets that work on Xiaomi Mi5.

Top.-3 flashlight-control:

How to install the widget:

1. Download one of the applications at the link above.
2. Add the widget to the main screen: Long press in the free space → Widgets → Find the flashlight widget.
3. Click on the widget to turn on/off the flashlight.

Important: Some apps require permission to access the camera. If the flashlight doesn't work after installation, check the permissions in Settings → Apps → [App name] → Permissions.

6. Problem Solving: The flashlight does not turn on

If neither of these methods worked, the problem could be hardware or software, and let's look at the most common causes and their solutions.

Reason 1: Firmware failure

• 📱 Restart your phone (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔧 Reset the settings to factory (if the problem appears after the update): Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.

Reason 2: Hardware malfunction

• 💡 Check if the LED flashlight is damaged (light the flashlight on the wall – if the light is dim or flashing, the diode is a problem).
• 🔌 Examine the camera connector (sometimes oxidation of contacts leads to flashlight failure).
• 🛠️ If the phone fell or got wet, contact the service center - possibly damaged fee.

Reason 3: Conflict with other applications

• 🚫 Close all applications that use the camera (Instagram, VK, Snapchat).
• 📵 Check if Do Not Disturb or Saving Charge is enabled (they can block the flashlight).
• 🔍 Remove newly installed camera or flashlight apps – they may conflict with system settings.

💡

If the flashlight stopped working after the phone fell, don’t try to disassemble it yourself – the Xiaomi Mi5 LED flashlight is soldered to the motherboard, and unprofessional repairs can exacerbate the problem.

7 Advanced Settings: ADB and Automation

For power users who want complete control of a flashlight, there are ways to control through ADB and automation with Tasker.

Management through ADB

If you have access to ADB (for example, via a computer), you can turn on the flashlight by command:

adb shell cmd camera _flashlight 1

To turn off:

adb shell cmd camera _flashlight 0

Automation with Tasker

With the help of the Tasker application, you can configure:

• 🔄 Automatic flashlight activation when shaking the phone.
• ⏰ Auto-disconnection timer through 1/5/10 minute.
• 📍 Turning on the flashlight by geolocation (for example, when you approach the entrance).

An example of a simple script in Tasker:

1. Create a new task (Task → + → Plugin → AutoInput → Action).
2. Select the Toggle Flashlight action.
3. Set up a trigger (such as Double-click on the screen).

💡

Before using ADB, make sure that the developer settings include USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Additional → For Developers → USB debugging).

FAQ: Frequent questions about flashlight on Xiaomi Mi5