Flash on the front camera Xiaomi: how to turn on and why it may not work

The front flash on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature for high-quality selfies in low light conditions, but not all users know how to activate it correctly. Unlike the main camera, where the flash is activated intuitively, the front module often has difficulties: the button can be hidden in the depth of the menu, and on some models the function is completely absent or works with restrictions.

In this article, we’ll break down all the possible ways to enable flash on a selfie camera for different Xiaomi lines (including Redmi, POCO and Mi, explain why the function may not be available, and share life hacks to improve lighting without flash. MIUI, Which the manufacturer doesn’t advertise, but which can enhance the capabilities of your camera.

Why is there no flash button on Xiaomi’s front camera?

Many users experience a situation where, when switching to a selfie camera, the flash button disappears from the interface, the reasons for this can be different:

  • 📱 Hardware limitations of the model: Budget smartphones (for example, Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) Often not equipped with a front flash physically - instead of it, screen lighting is used.
  • 🔧 Programmatic limitations MIUI: On some firmware, the flash button is hidden in the camera settings or disabled by default to save battery power.
  • 🔄 System updates: After major updates MIUI The camera interface may change and the flash button moves to another location.
  • 🚫 Regional differences: On devices for the Chinese market (with China firmware) ROM) Some camera functions may be blocked.

Before you try to turn on a flash, check if it is physically on your model. To do this, check the specifications on the official Xiaomi website or in the documents for the device. If the specifications say "Front flash: No", then all attempts to activate it are software doomed to failure.

📊 What Xiaomi model do you use?
Redmi Note 11/12/13
POCO X3/X4/X5
Mi 11/12/13
Redmi 9/10 series
Another model

Method 1: Standard Enablement via the Camera app

On most Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3, Mi 11 Lite), the front flash is turned on in the camera interface.

  1. Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
  2. Switch to the front camera by touching the icon with two arrows (🔄) swipe.
  3. In the top toolbar, find the flash icon (lightning). ⚡). If you don't, just hit three points (⋮) or a gear (⚙️) for revealing additional settings.
  4. Select flash mode: 🔦 Auto – the smartphone will decide when to turn it on. ⚡ The flash will be triggered with each shot. 🌑 Off. - Outburst is off.

If the flash doesn’t work after these actions, try restarting your smartphone or clearing the Camera app’s cache (Settings → Apps → Camera → Clear the cache).

☑️ Pre-flare check

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Enable via hidden MIUI settings (for advanced)

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 10T or Redmi K40), the flash button may be hidden, but it can be returned via the engineering menu or the developer settings.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect changes to the engineering menu can cause the camera to crash. If you're not sure, skip this method.

Instructions for activating the hidden flash:

  1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
  2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
  3. Install the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Engineer Mode (for Snapdragon) from Google Play.
  4. In the engineering menu, go to Hardware Testing → Camera and find Front Flash. Set Enable.

After these manipulations, the flash button should appear in the standard Camera app. If not, check if your model supports this feature at the hardware level.

What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
If the engineering menu application doesn’t start, try using it. ADB-Connect the phone to the PC, open the command line and type in: adb shell am start. -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings This will open hidden settings without third-party applications.

Method 3: Using the screen as a flash (for models without a physical flash)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t have a front-facing flash (like the Redmi 9C or POCO M3), you can use screen lighting, a feature that many Xiaomi smartphones have and it’s enabled as follows:

  1. Open the Camera and switch to the front module.
  2. Touch the flashlight icon (🔦) If you don't have one, you can tap on the top menu. ⋮ → Camera settings → Screen flash.
  3. The screen will turn bright white before shooting, simulating a flash.

To achieve a professional result, combine these methods: for example, take a selfie in the mode of Night with external lighting, and then modify the photo in the editor.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can you install a front-facing flash on Xiaomi if it is not available initially?
No, you can't physically add a flash, because it requires soldering of the board and installing additional components. LED-panels that are attached to the body of the smartphone and connected through USB-C Bluetooth.
Why does Xiaomi Mi 11 only have a Portrait flash?
This is a feature of MIUI firmware for some models: the manufacturer restricts the use of flash in other modes to reduce battery load. Try updating the Camera app or using third-party cameras (such as GCam).
How to turn off the automatic flash on a selfie?
Go to the camera settings (⋮ → Settings → Flash) and select Off or Low Light Only. If the option is not available, reset the camera settings to factory (Settings) → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Drop it).
The flash on the front camera Xiaomi is warming. Is that normal?
Light heating LED-flashes during heavy use are normal, but if the phone body becomes hot (over 40)°C), this may indicate a power controller malfunction.
Can I use a front camera flash for video?
On most Xiaomi models, the front flash works only for photos. For video, you can turn on the screen light or use an external light source. Some custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) allows you to activate the flash for video recording.