How to turn on flash on Xiaomi: all ways to photo and video

Flash on Xiaomi smartphones is one of those tools that seems simple until you encounter unexpected nuances: Are you trying to take a picture in a dark room and the flash icon is inactive? Or is the camera stubbornly ignoring your settings when shooting videos? These situations are familiar to many owners of Redmi devices, POCO or Mi line. The problem is often not in the module breakdown, but in the hidden settings or features of the MIUI firmware.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can turn on a flash, from the basic to the little-known, and learn how to make it work manually, why it can turn off on its own when you switch between cameras, and what to do if the flash flash flash flash flashes but doesn't light up the scene. We will focus on models with duality LED-Backlighting (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi Note 11 Pro)+), where the light control has its own characteristics.

Important: If your smartphone is in water or has been mechanically damaged, the problem may be hardware, so check the flash performance through the Equipment Test (discussed below) and then start software settings.

1. Basic method: enabling flash through camera interface

The most obvious method is to use the flash button right in the Camera app, but even here there are pitfalls that many people don't know about, for example, on some Xiaomi models, the flash icon can disappear when shooting in Professional or Portrait mode.

To turn on the flash in a standard way:

• 📷 Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
• 🔍 In the top panel, find the lightning icon (🌟). If it is not, swipe your finger across the screen from top to bottom to expand additional settings.
• 🔄 Touch the lightning icon to switch modes: Off. - flash will not work. Car - smartphone will decide whether you need backlight. On. - flash will work on each shot.
• 📸 Take a picture - the flash should work (if the mode is selected on.).

⚠️ Note: On models with infrared illumination (for example, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra), the lightning icon can be duplicated. LED-The flash, the other for the IR light for the night shot!

Is the Camera app open (not third-party) |

Is there a lightning icon in the top panel?|

Is the "On" mode selected (not "Auto") |

Is the camera allowed to use flash in the system settings?-->

2.Why the outbreak is not turned on: common causes

If the flash icon is inactive or your smartphone ignores your commands, the problem may be one of the following:

💡 Tip: If you use Google Camera (GCam) or other alternative apps, check the settings of a specific module. In some GCam builds, you need to manually enable the flash in the menu. → Flash, even if it is displayed as active in the main interface.

Stock appendix "Camera" |

Google Camera (GCam)|

Third-party applications (Open Camera, Footage, etc.)|

I don't know what it is.-->

3. Enable flash for video: hidden settings

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the flash works when taking photos, but does not turn on while recording video. This is not a bug, but a feature of the MIUI firmware. By default, the flash is turned off for video so as not to overheat the smartphone and not to put the battery down.

To activate it:

1. Open the Camera app and switch to Video mode.
2. Touch the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper right corner to open the settings.
3. Scroll down to the Video section and find the Flash item when recording the video.
4. Turn on the switch. Now, when you record video, the flash will burn constantly (until you manually turn it off).

⚠️ Warning: The constant operation of the flash during the video greatly drains the battery and heats the case. On models with a metal body (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11), this can lead to automatic shutdown of the camera after 5-10 minutes.

💡

If you want to light up a scene while recording a video, but don't want to burn the battery, use the flashlight as an alternative. Turn it on through the notification curtain, and then start the recording - the light will burn constantly, and the flash will not work.

4.Gesturals and fast commands to control the flash

MIUI offers several ways to control a flash without opening the Camera app, which are especially useful if you need to quickly turn on the backlight in a dark room.

Method 1: Double touch for flashlight gesture

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Gestures and movements.
• 🔦 Find the Double Touch for the flashlight and activate it.
• 👆 Now, double-tap your finger on the back of your smartphone (where the camera is located) – the flashlight will turn on even if the screen is turned off.

Method 2: Voice assistant

If you have a Google Assistant or Alice from Yandex set up, you can control the flash voice:

• 🎤 Say, "OK, Google, turn on the flashlight," or "Alice, turn on the flashlight".
• 🔦 The flashlight will turn on at maximum brightness (the flash will burn constantly).
• 📸 To use it as a flash for a photo, first turn on the flashlight, then open the camera - the backlight will remain active.

On Xiaomi 13 Pro and newer models, voice control of the flash only works when the screen is unlocked due to the security limitations of the MIUI 14+.

5. Checking the performance of the flash through a test equipment

If the flash doesn't respond to any commands, first make sure that the problem is not a hardware breakdown.

1. 📞 Type the combination on the phone keyboard: ##4636##
2. 🔧 In the menu that opens, select Hardware Testing (or Hardware Testing).
3. 🔦 Find the Flashlight (or Flash) section and tap it.
4. 💡 If the flash is on fire, the problem is the software settings. If it's not, it needs repairs.

🔧 Alternative method: Install the application CPU-Z or AIDA64 In the Tests section, find the camera checker — there is a separate item for testing the flash.

6. Manual flash (Pro Mode) and hidden features

In Pro Mode, the flash setting works differently than in automatic mode, where you can control the intensity of light, which is especially useful for shooting in studio conditions or when working with external light sources.

How to set up:

• 📷 Open the camera and select Professional (or Pro) mode).
• 🔍 In the top panel, find the lightning icon and touch it.
• 📊 Flash Power will appear, and move it to adjust the brightness from 10% to 100%.
• 🎯 On models with dual flash (for example, Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) can be separately configured the main and additional LEDs.

💡 Secret function: On some firmware MIUI There's a hidden Stroboscope option that makes the flash flash flash at a given frequency, and it's useful for taking pictures of moving objects (like falling water droplets) to activate it:

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Return to the additional settings → Developer settings.
3. Find the item Enable the camera strobe and activate it.
4. Now in Professional mode you will have an additional strobe icon next to the flash.

💡

Pro Mode allows you to control lighting more accurately, but requires manually adjusting white balance. If the colors in the photo are unnatural, try calibrating them using the WB (White Balance) option in the same menu.

7. Flash like a flashlight: how to use it constantly

Xiaomi flash can be used not only for photos, but also as a full-fledged flashlight, while it will burn constantly, rather than flashing once.

Method 1: Through the notification curtain

• 📱 Swipe your finger down to open the notification bar.
• 🔦 Find the flashlight icon (🔦) And touch it. The flash will turn on at maximum brightness.
• 🔄 To turn off, re-click on the icon.

Method 2: Voice (for MIUI 12 and later)

Activate the Xiao AI voice assistant (if available in your area) and say:

• "Switch on the flashlight" - the flash will light up.
• "Switch off the flashlight" - the lights will go out.
• “Set flashlight brightness to 50%” – on models with support for adjustment (for example, Xiaomi 13T Pro).

⚠️ Attention: Continuous use of flashlight mode reduces its life. ~50,000 switches, but continuous operation at maximum power can knock them out in 1-2 years.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the outbreak on Xiaomi