Flash on Xiaomi smartphones is an indispensable tool for shooting in low light conditions, but not all users know how to control it correctly. Often the feature is disabled by default or hidden in the camera settings, which causes confusion. This article will help you understand how to activate the flash on different models of Redmi, POCO and Mi, including flagship and budget devices.
We’ll look at not only the standard ways to turn on through the camera app, but also alternative methods – from gestures to settings. MIUI. We'll focus on the typical problems of why a flash doesn't work, how to calibrate it, and what to do if it flashes with a delay. MIUI 12–14 and HyperOS (2026).
1. Standard method: Enable via camera app
The most obvious method is to use the built-in Camera app.The algorithm is the same for most Xiaomi models, but may vary slightly depending on the firmware version.
Open the Camera app and look at the top toolbar, and you'll see the lightning icon, which is the flash switch, and click on it to select one of the modes:
- ⚡ Auto – flash is triggered in insufficient lighting (recommended mode for beginners).
- 🔦 Incl. – forced inclusion at each shot.
- 🌑 Off. - Total shutdown.
- 💡 Torchet (for selfies) – available only on the front camera of some models.
On HyperOS models (such as the Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), the interface can be simplified: instead of text, only icons are used. If you can't see the zipper icon, try swiping the screen left or right - sometimes the toolbar is hidden.
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On some smartphones (such as the POCO F5), the flash automatically turns off in HDR or Night mode. Switch to standard Photo mode to unlock it.
2.Fast activation through gestures (for MIUI 13–14)
If you use flash a lot, you can customize the gesture for quick access, which isn't available on all models, but works on most devices with MIUI 13 and later.
Algorithm of settings:
- Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Gestures.
- Select Double Press Power button (or Triple Press if double is already occupied).
- In the action list, find the Flash and activate it.
Now, with double (or triple) pressing the on/off button, the smartphone will turn on/off the flash even on a locked screen, which only works when the battery is above 5%, otherwise the system will lock it to save energy.
3. Flash setting for video shooting
Many users are faced with the fact that the flash does not work when recording video, which is due to the limitations of MIUI, but the problem can be avoided.
Instructions for turning on flash during video shooting:
- Open the Camera app and switch to Video mode.
- Touch the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper right corner to open the settings.
- Find Flash on video (or LED on some models) and activate it.
- Return to the shooting and click on the lightning icon – now the flash will burn constantly, like a flashlight.
Note that prolonged use of flash in video mode leads to overheating. On Redmi Note 12 and older models, the system automatically turns it off after 3-5 minutes of continuous operation.
Why does the flash turn off on its own?
Flash like a flashlight: alternative methods
You can use an LED flash not only for shooting, but also as a full-fledged flashlight. There are several methods for this:
- 🔦 Through the notification bar: Swipe the screen down and find the flashlight icon (if not, add through the panel editing).
- 📱 Voice Assistant: Say OK Google, turn on the flashlight or Hello Siri, turn on the lights (on models with support).
- 🤖 Desktop widget: Add the flashlight widget from the list of widgets MIUI.
On some smartphones (for example, Xiaomi 13T) flashlight can be turned on even when the screen is turned off – to do this, hold the power button and the volume button at the same time for 2 seconds.
Make sure there is no dirt or protective film on the camera.|Check the energy saving settings|Update the Camera app to the latest version|Reboot your smartphone|Reset the camera settings to factory-->
5. Solving the Problem: Why the Outbreak Is Not Working
If the flash doesn't turn on despite all the manipulations, the reasons could be both software and hardware. Let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Flash doesn't respond to pressing | Camera app failure | Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → Camera → Memory |
| LED flashes with delay | Activated mode Night or Portrait | Switch to Standard Photo Mode |
| The flash only works on the main camera. | Front camera does not support flash | Use Torche mode (if available) or an external light source |
| LED lights dimly | Contamination of the lens or protective glass | Clean the flash with an alcohol solution and soft cloth |
If none of these methods worked, check the integrity of the LED.
- Turn on the flashlight mode.
- Light on the white surface from a distance of 10 cm.
- If the light is dim or intermittent, a module replacement may be required.
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On POCO X5 and Redmi 12 smartphones, a bug is common when the flash refuses to work after the MIUI update. The solution is to roll back the Camera app version through Settings → Apps → Remove updates.
6. Hidden flash features: what else can be done
Xiaomi’s LED flash is capable of more than just frame lighting, here are a few non-obvious uses:
- 🎵 Stroboscope to music: Install Flash Alerts app from Google Play to flash in the beat of the melody.
- 🚨 Call alert: In Settings → Special opportunities → Notifications with light can be set to flash flash when incoming calls.
- 📡 Data Transfer: Applications like Flash Transfer can transfer small files (up to 100KB) between devices via a Morseberry.
On Infrared port models (such as the Redmi Note 11), the flash can be used as a home appliance remote control, requiring the Mi Remote app and pre-setting.
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If you often take pictures of documents, turn on the Scanner mode in the Camera app and activate the flash – this will eliminate shadows and improve the clarity of the text.
7.Safety: How not to burn a flash
Despite its apparent simplicity, an LED flash is a sensitive component, and misuse can cause it to fail.
⚠️ Warning: Do not direct the flash into the eyes of people or animals from close range (less than 50 cm) bright light can cause temporary blindness or even burns to the retina.
Also avoid:
- 🔥 Long-term use (more than 10 minutes in a row) – this leads to overheating.
- 💦 Moisture on the LED – even after protection by standard IP53 contact may oxidize.
- 🛠️ Disassembly of the body on their own - on Xiaomi models, the flash is often soldered to the motherboard.
If you notice that the flash has started to flash intermittently or makes extraneous sounds (for example, crackling), immediately stop using it and contact the service center. AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) long-term flash operation can cause pixels to burn out due to the close location of the LED to the display.