Where to look for a flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi: 7 ways to turn on + hidden MIUI chips

Have you ever been in the dark with a discharged flashlight and Xiaomi Redmi’s smartphone persistently “hid” the backlight button? Or maybe your Redmi Note 12 suddenly lost the flashlight icon after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many owners of the brand’s devices — the MIUI interface likes to move menus and hide obvious features. In this article, we will not just show where the flashlight is on the Xiaomi Redmi, but also reveal all possible ways to activate it, from standard to secret.

The problem is that the location of the element depends on the firmware version, the phone model, and even regional settings. For example, on Redmi 10 with MIUI 13, the flashlight can be in the notification panel, and on Redmi A2 with MIUI 14, only in the quick settings menu. We tested more than 20 models and put together universal solutions that will work even if your smartphone “forgot” that it has backlight. And at the end of the article, an exclusive life hack for Redmi owners with a broken screen, how to turn on the flashlight without a touchscreen.

1. Standard method: notification panel and quick settings

The most obvious method is to swipe down from the top of the screen, but there are pitfalls.

• 📱 Nana MIUI 12-14 The flashlight appears only after two swipes (the first opens notifications, the second - the quick settings panel).
• 🔍 On some models (Redmi) 9A, Redmi 8) is hidden behind the “More” button (three dots in the upper right corner of the panel).
• 🔄 If the icon doesn't exist, it could have been removed after the update. Solution: press "Edit" and drag the flashlight to the active area.

What to do if the swipe does not work?

⚠️ Note: On Redmi with custom firmware (like Pixel Experience), the quick setup panel may look like it is on pure Android. In this case, the flashlight will be in the first row on the right - look for the icon with a magnifying glass and lightning.

If you don’t see the notification bar at all (for example, due to a launcher failure), try:

1. Press the power button for 3 seconds and the shutdown menu will appear.
2. Tap "Emergency Call" (don't press!), then swipe down from the top edge.

2.Voice Assistant: "OK, Google" and Alice

Few people know, but the flashlight on the Xiaomi Redmi can be turned on by voice - even if the screen is locked. This method saves when hands are busy or the touchscreen does not respond.

For Google Assistant:

• 🎤 Say, “OK Google, turn on the flashlight” (in English and Russian).
• 📱 If it doesn’t work, check the permissions for Google in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Google → Permissions (Mic and camera must be included).

For Alice from Yandex:

• 🗣️ Commands: "Alice, turn on the flashlight" or "Light the lights».
• ⚙️ If Alice answers “I can’t” – update the Yandex app to the latest version and restart the phone.

An important caveat: voice-activated flashlights only work when the screen is unlocked (for security reasons) to circumvent this limitation:

Settings → Lock and Protection → Additional settings → Voice Assistant on a locked screen

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If voice commands don’t work, try reinstalling the Google or Yandex app, and sometimes the failure is due to a conflict with MIUI Optimization.

3.Gesturals and secret button combinations

Xiaomi hides a few undocumented ways to control a flashlight.

• 🔦 Double press of the power button: works on the Redmi Note 8/9/10 s MIUI 12.5+. Activated in Settings → Special facilities → Button gestures.
• 🤏 The gesture “clenching the palm”: turn on the Settings → Additional functions → When activated, press your hand in front of the front camera, the flashlight will light up.
• 🔑 Button combination: on the phone turned off, press the Volume up + Meals for food 5 It's working for Redmi. 7/8/9 (not on all firmware!).

On models with an infrared port (Redmi Note 5/6/7), the flashlight can be turned on via the remote control:

⚠️ Warning: This method only works if the phone has Mi Remote installed, and if you click on the flashlight icon, the backlight will burn for 30 seconds, then automatically turn off.

4. Through System Settings: Where to Look in MIUI 13/14

If the flashlight is missing from the notification panel, it can be returned via the menu:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Control Panel → Order of buttons.
2. Find the “Lightlight” list and drag it to the top (in the “Active” section).
3. If there is no item, update the firmware or reset the notification panel settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → System Settings → Storage → Clear Data).

At MIUI 14, the path changed:

Settings → Screen → Control Panel → Customization of buttons

If after these manipulations the flashlight did not appear, check:

Battery charge >5%

No physical damage to the camera/flash

The proximity sensor is not closed.

Updated MIUI firmware

Rebooted phone-->

5. Secret engineering codes for turning on flashlight

For advanced users, there are service commands that allow you to control a flashlight even without an interface. Enter them in the Phone app as a number:

• 🔢 ##3646633## → Hardware Testing → Audio → Flashlight (powered by Redmi) 4/5/6).
• 🔢 ##8683## → Hardware info → Flashlight test for Redmi Note 7/8).
• 🔢 ##232338## → Camera and flash test (some firmware includes flashlight for 10 seconds).

Warning: these codes can reset network settings or cause other side effects. Use them only if other methods do not work.

For Redmi based on Android 12/13, there is an alternative method through ADB:

adb shell cmd -n media_camera_service --torch 1 # include


adb shell cmd -n media_camera_service --torch 0 # turn off

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Engineering codes only work on MIUI stock firmware. On custom ROMs (LineageOS, Pixel Experience), they can cause errors or fail.

Alternative applications: when the standard flashlight does not work

If all of the above methods didn’t work, install a third-party app.The best options for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🔦 Tiny Flashlight + LED — It supports the rhythm of music and SOS-signal.
• 🌟 Flashlight Alerts – Includes a flashlight when an incoming call or SMS.
• 🛠️ Flashlight Widget – Adds a widget to the home screen (useful if the notification bar is buggy).

Important: After installation, give permission to the application:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [App name] → Permissions → Camera and microphone

On MIUI 14, some applications may not see the flashlight due to security limitations.

⚠️ Attention: Go to Settings → Confidentiality → Special access → Manage all files and enable access for flashlight application.

7. Hardware problems: when the flashlight does not burn physically

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be in the iron:

• 💡 Burned out. LED-flash is a common problem after falls or moisture. Check: turn on the camera and try to take a photo with a flash.
• 🔌 The plume went away, and if the phone was broken, the contact could be broken.
• 🔋 Weak battery - on charge below 3%, the flashlight is locked by the system. Connect the charge and try again.

How to check the performance of the flash:

1. Open the camera and turn on the flashlight mode (some versions of MIUI have).
2. Record the video with the flash on - if the lights are flashing, the problem is in the software.
3. Light a flashlight on the wall: if the light is dim or flickering, it is faulty LED-matrix.

Cost of repair:

FAQ: Frequent questions about flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi