The flash on Xiaomi smartphones is not only a tool for shooting in poor lighting conditions, but also a full-fledged flashlight that can be useful in everyday life. However, many users face difficulties when first turning on: the button is not where you expected, then the settings are hidden in the depths of MIUI. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to activate the flash, from standard to hidden functions that are not written in the official instructions.
The feature of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones is that the manufacturer regularly changes the location of the controls depending on the version of the shell (MIUI 12/13/14/15) and the device model. For example, on flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra flash can be controlled by gestures, and on the budget Redmi Note 12 – only through the notification panel. We took into account all the nuances and collected universal methods that work on 90% of the brand’s devices.
Method 1: Quickly enable through the notification panel
The most obvious and quickest method is to use the notification bar, which works on all models starting with MIUI 10, and doesn't require any additional adjustments.
- 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
- 🔦 Find the flashlight icon (usually located in the front row of quick settings).
- 🖱️ Slap it once, flash will turn on, repeat tap will turn it off.
If the icon is not in the visible area, swipe down to expand the full panel. On some models (for example, POCO F5), the icon can be hidden - you can add it manually:
- Open the full notification panel.
- Click on the icon. ⚙️ Edit (pencil).
- Find the flashlight on the list and drag it to the active area.
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On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T), the flashlight icon may be called “Flashlight” or “Flashlight”.
This method works even when the screen is locked: just swipe down and tap the icon. AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro) when blocking may need to unlock to access the panel.
Method 2: Use of gestures (for MIUI 12 and later)
Xiaomi has added a hidden flash control feature with screen gestures. It's not available on all models, but if your phone supports Double-Tap to wake up, then this trick is likely to work.
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Gestures.
- 💡 Find the option "Double touch for flashlight" (or similar).
- 🔛 Activate the switch and save the settings.
Now, tapping the screen twice to turn on the flash (even if the phone is locked) is especially useful for models without physical buttons, such as the Xiaomi Mix 4 or the POCO X5 Pro.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European market), the gesture option can be disabled by default, in which case it can be activated via Settings. → Additionally. → Functions Laboratory (if available).
Method 3: Enabling flash through the camera
If you want a flash for shooting, rather than a flashlight, you can control it in the Camera app.
| Camera mode | How to turn on the flash | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Photo | Slap the icon. ⚡ top-down | Available modes: Auto, On, Off, On in low light |
| Video | Click on the icon. 🔦 pre-record | The flash only works as a backlight, does not blink |
| Portrait | Icon ⚡ It appears after focusing. | It can automatically shut down in good lighting. |
| Night mode. | The flash turns off automatically. | Only long exposure is used. |
On new models (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K60) in the "Professional" (Pro) mode, you can adjust the flash power manually.
- Open the camera and select Pro mode.
- Slap the icon. ⚡ and select "Hand".
- Use a slider to adjust the brightness (from 1 to 10).
Why does the flash not work in some modes?
Method 4: Voice Control (Google Assistant or XiaoAI)
If you have a voice assistant on, you can control the flash without touching the screen, which is convenient when your hands are busy or your phone is on the table.
For Google Assistant (works on all models with Google Mobile Services):
- 🎤 Say, OK, Google, turn on the flashlight".
- 🔦 Or, "Hey Google, turn off the flash".
For XiaoAI (Chinese firmware or global with installed application):
- 🎤 Say:" (for the Chinese version).
- 🔦 XiaoAI, turn on the flashlight (English firmware).
⚠️ Note: On models without Google services (e.g. Xiaomi for the Chinese market), voice commands via Google Assistant will not work.
Voice control is especially useful for devices with Always On Display (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro) when the screen does not need to be unlocked to turn on the flashlight.
Method 5: Hidden functions and third-party applications
If standard methods do not work (for example, on custom firmware or after resetting), alternative solutions can be used.
Codes for the engineering menu (not work on all models):
#36446337## – Test of hardware components (flash checked in the section "Flashlight")
#4636### - Testing menu (on some firmware)2. Third-party apps from Google Play:
- 🔦 Flashlight Widget – Adds a widget to the main screen.
- 💡 TeslaLED – allows you to use the flash as a stroboscope.
- 📱 Flash Notification – flashing with notifications.
1.Make sure there is no flash-blocking case on the phone
2. check if the power saving mode is turned on (can turn off the flashlight)
3.Reboot your phone if the flash doesn't respond to commands
4. Update the firmware to the latest version of MIUI-->
On infrared-lighted models (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra), the standard flash may conflict with the IR port, in which case, when the flashlight is turned on, the camera may produce an error "Occupied with another application." Solution: turn off the IR camera in the settings or use third-party flash control apps.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even on new Xiaomi smartphones, users are facing typical flash problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🚫 Flash does not turn on at all: Check if the flash connector is contaminated (wipe with alcohol). Run the hardware component test using code ##36446337##. Reset the camera settings in Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.
- 🔋 Flash flash flashes and turns off: Turn off power saving mode or add Camera app to exceptions. check if the phone overheats (flash automatically shuts down at temperatures above 45)°C).
- 📸 Flash only works in some camera modes: Update the Camera app via Google Play or MIUI App Store.Reset camera settings to factory.
If none of the methods worked, the problem could be hardware.
- Check your phone for physical damage (cracks near the flash, moisture).
- Contact the Xiaomi service center - for new models (up to 1 year) this is covered by the warranty.
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On models that support wireless charging (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), long-term flashlight use can lead to overheating, and the manufacturer recommends limiting the continuous operation of the flash to 5-10 minutes.