Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones of the brand, known for its powerful camera with a quadruple lens and a bright LED-However, many users have difficulty in trying to turn on the flash: the button is inactive, the mode is not saved, the LED flashes unpredictable. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to activate the flash, from the standard camera settings to hidden functions. MIUI and third-party utilities.
The Redmi Note 8 Pro’s feature is that its flash works not only as a light source for photos, but also as a flashlight, a call notification, or even as a strobe in emergency situations. We will show you how to use each of these modes, and also explain why sometimes the flash refuses to turn on (spoiler: both software limitations and hardware malfunctions can be to blame).
If you’re looking for the answer to the question “why is the flash not on my Redmi Note 8 Pro”, scroll to the diagnostics section – there you will find a checklist to check the health of the LED and instructions for resetting the camera settings.
1. Standard method: enabling the flash in the Camera app
The most obvious method is to activate the flash directly in the regular Camera app, but even here there are nuances: for example, in some shooting modes (for example, Portrait or Night), the flash button can be locked or work differently than in Photos.
To turn on the flash:
- Open the Camera app (the camera icon on the home screen).
- Switch to Photo Mode (if you are in a different mode, such as Video or Panorama).
- Click on the lightning icon in the top left corner of the screen.
- Choose one of the modes: 🔦 Auto – flash is triggered with insufficient lighting. 💡 On. - The flash lights up at each shot. 🌑 Off. - Outburst is off. 📸 Torche (for selfies) – available only in front camera mode.
Important! In Video mode, the flash button may not be available, instead using a separate flashlight icon (if supported in your version of MIUI), and the flash automatically turns off in Professional and Document modes, unless you manually activate it in additional settings.
2. Quick flash activation as flashlight
The flash on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can also work as a full-fledged flashlight, which is convenient when you need to light the road or find an object in the dark.
Method 1: Through the notification panel
- Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
- Find the flashlight icon (a flashlight image) and click on it.
- To turn off, re-click on the icon.
Method 3: Touch for flashlight (hidden MIUI function)
Some versions of MIUI have a hidden option to turn on the flashlight by double pressing the Power button (even when the screen is locked) to activate this feature:
- Go to Settings → Special features → Gestures and movements.
- Find the flashlight option when you double press the power button and turn it on.
☑️ Checking the flashlight
3. Flash as a notification of calls and messages
On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, you can set the flash to flash when incoming calls or new notifications, which is useful if you’re in a noisy place or want your smartphone to catch your attention visually.
To enable this function:
- Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Flash at notifications.
- Activate the Flash switch when calling and/or Flash when notifying.
- Adjust the flashing color (if available) and frequency.
Limitations:
- ⚠️ The function may not work if the Battery Settings activated Power Saving mode.
- ⚠️ Some messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) block access to the flash for notifications – you will need a separate setup in the application itself.
How to turn off flash blinking at night?
4.Flash troubles: why isn't it working?
If the flash on your Redmi Note 8 Pro doesn’t turn on in either mode, the causes may be software-based or hardware-based, and here are the most common faults and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The flash does not burn in the Camera app | Failure of the camera or MIUI | Clear the camera cache in Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage |
| The flashlight goes on, but goes out immediately. | Smartphone overheating or current restriction | Let the phone cool down or check the battery settings |
| The flash flash flashes chaotically | Damaged LED or controller | Contact the service center. |
| No flashlight icon in the notification panel | Disabled in the settings of fast panels | Add it manually: swipe down twice → Edit → drag the flashlight |
Critical information: If the flash stopped working after a phone drop or moisture hit, do not try to disassemble the device yourself - this can lead to a short circuit.
⚠️ Attention! If after resetting the settings to the factory flash started, but then stopped turning on again, the problem may be in conflict with installed applications (especially those that request access to the camera). → Confidentiality → Application authorizations.
5. Alternative methods: third-party applications for flash control
If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities to more flexibly control the flash.-3 tested applications:
- 📱 Flash Alerts 2 – allows you to configure flash flash for any notifications (calls, SMS, messengers).
- 📱 TeslaLED – Turns a flash into a strobe or signal light (useful for cyclists or in emergency situations).
- 📱 Flashlight Widget – Adds flashlight widget to the home screen for instant access.
To install any of these applications:
- Download it from Google Play.
- Launch and give access to the camera and flash.
- Configure the parameters according to the instructions in the application.
⚠️ Attention! Some flash management apps may contain ads or request unnecessary permissions (such as access to contacts.
💡
If you use a flashlight often, add its widget to the home screen: clamp the blank space on the screen → Widgets → find the flashlight and drag it to a convenient place.
6.Reset camera settings and diagnostics of hardware malfunctions
If the flash doesn’t work in any mode, try resetting the camera settings to factory:
- Open the settings → Applications → Camera.
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Reboot your smartphone.
If this doesn’t help, do a full reset (data backup is a must!):
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select Reset all settings.
- Confirm the action.
If the flash doesn't go off after that, it's probably a hardware problem.
- 💥 Damaged flash LED;
- 🔌 I left the contact on the motherboard;
- 🔋 Failed flash power controller.
In such cases, it is recommended to contact an authorized service center Xiaomi. the average cost of repairing the flash on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is from 800 to 1500 rubles (depending on the cause of the malfunction).
💡
Before visiting the service center, check if the flash is disabled in the engineering menu (enter ##4636## and select Equipment Testing).
7. Hidden flash functions: strobe and SOS-signal
Few people know, but the flash on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can work in strobe mode (for example, to attract attention in emergency situations) or as a result of the flash. SOS-signal.
To activate the strobe:
- Install the TeslaLED app (see previous section).
- Select Strobe mode.
- Adjust the blinking frequency (for example, 2-3 flashes per second).
For SOS-signal:
- 🆘 Turn on the flashlight and quickly press the lock button to create a discontinuous light signal.
- 🆘 Use applications like Flashlight SOS, which automatically converts the flash into a morse.
These functions can be useful in hiking, in case of accidents or in other emergencies when you need to attract attention.