How to turn on the flash on Xiaomi Mi 9: all ways and settings

Xiaomi Mi 9 is still a popular smartphone thanks to a powerful camera with a triple module and a bright LED-However, many users have trouble turning it on in different shooting modes. In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can activate a flash, from a standard flashlight to manually setting it in professional camera mode.

The Mi 9 is a feature that has hidden some flash features in non-obvious menus, such as the default flash in video mode, and in the Camera app, its behavior depends on the scenario you choose, and we'll show you how to set up an automatic trigger, force the LED to turn on, or use it as a flashlight with brightness adjustment.

It is important to note that different versions of MIUI (10-14) may have slightly different menu items, all the instructions in this article are relevant for official global and European firmware, and if you have custom build, some features may work differently.

Method 1: Enabling flash in standard camera mode

The easiest way to use the flash is to use it in the main photo shooting mode. By default, the Xiaomi Mi 9 camera automatically determines whether you need backlighting, but you can force it to turn it on or off:

Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
Switch to Photo Mode (usually it opens by default).
Click on the lightning icon in the top left corner of the screen, and you'll see a menu with three options:

⚡ Auto flash is triggered in low light (recommended for most cases).
💡 Incl. – forced inclusion at each shot.
🌑 Off. - Complete shutdown of the lights.

If the lightning icon is inactive (grey), then the current shooting mode does not support the flash, for example, in Portrait or Night modes, its work may be limited, in which case switch to standard Photos.

⚠️ Warning: Forced flash (Incl.) discharges the battery 12-15% faster when you use the camera actively. In dark rooms, it is better to use the Night without flash mode - it gives more natural colors.

📊 How often do you use a flash on your smartphone?

Only in total darkness.

In low light conditions

For macro photography.

Never.

Method 2: Using a flash as a flashlight

The Xiaomi Mi 9 flash can be used as a flashlight, which is convenient for backlighting in the dark. Unlike the camera, it has brightness control. The flashlight is activated in two ways:

Method 1: Through the notification panel

📱 Swipe your finger down to open the notification bar.
🔦 Find the flashlight icon (usually in the front row of quick settings).
🎚️ Press the icon once to turn on, again to turn off. To adjust the brightness, hold your finger on the icon 1-2 seconds.

Method 2: Through the Voice Assistant

If you have Google Assistant or Alice enabled from Yandex, you can use voice commands:

🎤 Say, "OK, Google, turn on the flashlight," or "Alice, light the light".
🔇 To turn off: “Switch off the flashlight".

The flashlight is adjustable in the range from 10% to 100%. At minimum brightness, the Mi 9 can work as a flashlight for up to 4-5 hours in a row (with a fully charged battery). At maximum brightness, the time is reduced to 1.5-2 hours.

💡

If the flashlight icon has disappeared from the notification panel, add it back: swipe down twice → tap the pencil icon → drag the flashlight to the active area.

Method 3: Setup the flash in professional mode

The Professional Mode (Pro) in the Xiaomi Mi 9 camera allows you to manually control all shooting parameters, including the flash, which is useful for shooting in studio conditions or when working with external light sources, to adjust the flash in Pro mode:

Open the Camera app and select Pro (or Professional) mode.
In the upper right corner, find a lightning icon with the inscription FLASH.
Click on it and a menu with options will appear:

Flash mode	Description	Recommendations
OFF	Flash is off.	For shooting in good lighting
ON	Compulsory incorporation	For illumination of close objects (up to 1.5 m)
AUTO	Automatic choice	Optimal for most scenes
TORCH	Constant light (like a flashlight)	For video or long-term illumination

In TORCH mode, the flash works like a flashlight, but with one key difference: its brightness synchronizes with ISO and shutter speed settings. For example, at a high ISO (1600+), the LED will shine brighter, but this can lead to overheating of the camera with prolonged use.

⚠️ Attention: When using the mode TORCH For more than 10 minutes in a row, the smartphone can automatically turn off the flash to prevent overheating, in which case a notification will appear: "The camera overheated. Wait 2-3 minutes".

Check battery power (minimum 30%)| Clear the lens of fingerprints |Install the smartphone on a stable surface |Connect power saving in the settings-->

Method 4: Enabling flash when shooting video

By default, the Xiaomi Mi 9 turns off the flash in video mode to avoid overheating and save battery power, but it can be forced to activate through hidden settings:

Open the Camera app and go to Video mode.
Touch the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper right corner to open the video settings.
Scroll down to the Additional section and find the Flash item when recording the video.
Activate the switch. Now, when you start recording the video, the flash will burn constantly (like a flashlight).

Please note that when the flash is on:

🔋 Battery consumption increases by 20-25% compared to shooting without backlighting.
🌡️ After 7-10 minutes of continuous recording, the smartphone can start trottling (decreased performance) due to heating.
📹 Maximum resolution of video when flash is turned on is limited to Full HD (1080p). Regime. 4K will be unavailable.

Flash video only works when recording in.mp4. If you use third-party applications (like FilmoraGo or Open Camera), the settings may vary.

Why can’t we use a flash in 4K?

The Snapdragon 855 processor in the Mi 9 is not optimized for simultaneous high-resolution video processing and LED control. When you try to turn on a flash in a 4K camera automatically reduces the resolution to 1080p to avoid overloading the system, this restriction is laid down at the firmware level and cannot be avoided without root rights.

Method 5: Hidden flash features (for power users)

In addition to the standard settings, the Xiaomi Mi 9 supports several hidden flash features that can be activated through an engineering menu or third-party apps, which are suitable for advanced users who want more control over the backlight.

1. Color adjustment of flash

By default. LED-The Mi 9 flash has a cold white hue (~6500K). It can be mitigated using the Flashlight Color Screen app (available on Google Play):

🎨 Install the app and give access to the camera.
🔄 Choose a shade from warm (2700K) coldly (10000K).
💡 Turn on the flashlight through the app – the flash color will change.

2. Stroboscope (Blinking mode)

To create light effects (for example, at parties), you can turn on the strobe:

Download the Strobe Light app (Developer of Smart Tools Co.).
Select the frequency of blinking (from 1 to 20 Hz).
Activate the mode - the flash will start flashing with a given frequency.

Note that prolonged use of the strobe (more than 3-5 minutes) can lead to flickering of the screen due to overload of the backlight controller.

3.Offbreak control via ADB

To take full control of the LED-flash-able ADB-Team (Developer Mode Required to be Enabled):

adb shell su


echo 255 > /sys/class/leds/torch-light0/brightness # Include at full brightness




echo 0 > /sys/class/leds/torch-light0/brightness #

These commands allow you to control the flash brightness in the range 0–255, but require root rights or an unlocked bootloader.

💡

Hidden flash features can disrupt the camera in standard modes. Before using them, back up your settings through Settings → My Device → Backup.

Solving flash problems on Xiaomi Mi 9

If the flash doesn't work or doesn't behave correctly, the causes can be both software and hardware.

1.The flash is not turned on in the chamber

🔧 Check settings: Make sure that in Photo mode Auto or On is selected for flash.
📱 Reboot your smartphone: Sometimes camera glitches are solved by a simple reboot.
🔄 Reset the camera settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

2. flash flashes or spontaneously turns off

🔋 Check battery power: At levels below 15%, the camera limits power-intensive functions.
🌡️ Let the smartphone cool: If the case is hot, wait 10-15 minutes.
🛠️ Update the firmware: In older versions MIUI There were control bugs LED. Update through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

3.The flash doesn't work like a flashlight

⚙️ Check permissions: Make sure the Camera app has access to the flashlight (Settings) → Annexes → Camera. → Permits).
🔦 Manually Activate: Open any camera app (like WhatsApp) and try turning on the flashlight from there.
📲 Reset to factory settings: If nothing helps, reset via Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.

If the flash does not work in all modes, hardware failure (damage) is possible. LED-In this case, contact the service center.The average cost of replacing the flash with Xiaomi Mi 9 is 800-1200 rubles (2026).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the outbreak on Xiaomi Mi 9

Can I use the flash as a call notification?

Yes, but it will require a third-party app, such as Flash Alerts 2 (available on Google Play). After installation: Open the app and provide access to notifications. Select event types (calls, SMS, Adjust the color and frequency of the blinking. Note that frequent blinking reduces the resource LED-The manufacturer recommends using this feature no more than 50 times a day.

Why does the flash heat up with prolonged use?

LED-Xiaomi Mi 9 flash has a power of 4-5 W, which leads to heating when working for more than 5 minutes in a row. To protect against overheating, a restriction is triggered: At body temperature above 45°C is automatically reduced by 30 percent. At 50.°C the flash is turned off before cooling. To avoid overheating, take breaks every 3-4 minutes or use external light sources.

Can you replace the color of the flash with a warm one?

The default is no, because the Mi 9 has a single-color white LED. However, you can: Use light filters (e.g., stick a piece of orange film on the flash); install Flashlight Color Screen, which mimics warm light by flashing fast at different intensity. Starting with the Xiaomi Mi 10, the manufacturer began using two-color LEDs, but the Mi 9 does not have this feature.

How to calibrate the brightness of the flash?

Calibration of brightness is performed automatically when the smartphone is turned on for the first time. If the flash is dim: Check if there is any dirt on the flash glass (wipe with soft cloth). Reset the camera settings through Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear data. If the problem persists, contact the service (possibly a faulty LED driver).

Does the flash work with the unlocked bootloader?

Yes, but with reservations: If you have installed custom firmware (like LineageOS), the flash may not work properly due to the lack of original Xiaomi drivers. During root access, you can manually adjust the brightness through files in /sys/class/leds/, but this is risky (may cause overheating).