How to find and turn on the flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi 9: step-by-step instructions with pictures

Why Redmi 9 owners can't find a flashlight - and where does it really go?

You just bought a Xiaomi Redmi 9 and you're trying to turn on a flashlight but don't see a familiar icon? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone users, especially those who have switched from other brands. The fact is that the flashlight is not as obvious hidden in the shell of MIUI (the Xiaomi firmware), as it is on Samsung or iPhone. Moreover, its location can vary depending on the version of MIUI and regional settings.

In this article, we'll not only show you where the flashlight is on Redmi 9, but we'll also show you all the ways you can turn it on, from the standard notification bar to voice commands and hidden functions. You'll also learn why the flashlight icon sometimes goes missing and how to get it back. And if you like to optimize your smartphone experience, we'll share quick access life hacks.

Before you get to the instructions, check: Does your Redmi 9 run on MIUI 12 or newer? If yes, all the ways in the article will be relevant. If you have an older version (like MIUI 11), some menu items may be slightly different, but the overall logic will remain the same.

Method 1: Turning on the flashlight through the notification panel (fastest)

This is the basic method that works on all Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones regardless of the firmware version.

1. Swipe your finger down the screen to open the notification bar.
2. If the panel is not fully opened, swipe again - now you will see all the icons of quick access.
3. Find the flashlight icon (🔦) and tap her once.

If the flashlight icon is not in the visible area, it is hidden behind the "More" (or "Edit") button. Click on it, then find the flashlight in the list of inactive icons and drag it to the top of the screen.

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To turn the flashlight on from the first swipe, pin its icon in the first 6 icons of the notification panel. To do this, hold the flashlight icon and drag it to the left at the beginning of the list.

On some versions of MIUI, the notification panel is split into two parts: the left is responsible for notifications, the right is responsible for quick settings. Make sure you swipe from the top right corner, otherwise the flashlight may not show up.

Method 2: Use the “Shake for the flashlight” gesture

If you're too lazy to open the notification bar every time, you can set the flashlight to turn on by simply shaking your phone, which is available in Redmi 9, but is disabled by default, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select the item "Gestural and Motion".
3. Find the option “Shake for the flashlight” and turn on the switch.

Now, just shake the phone three times quickly and the flashlight will turn on, which is convenient in the dark when you don't want to unlock the screen, but beware: accidental shaking (for example, while running) can lead to false positives.

Method 3: Voice control via Google Assistant or Alice

If you have a voice assistant set up (Google Assistant or Alice from Yandex), you can turn on the flashlight with a voice command, which is especially convenient when your hands are busy or the phone is lying on the table.

For Google Assistant:

• 🗣️ Say, “OK Google, turn on the flashlight»).
• 📱 Make sure the assistant has access to the camera and flashlight (check in Settings). → Annexes → Google → Permits).

For Alice:

• 🗣️ Say, Alice, turn on the flashlight».
• ⚠️ If Alice answers that she can’t execute the command, update the Yandex app to the latest version.

Voice control works even on a locked screen if the assistant settings enable the option “Allow access from a locked screen”, but for security reasons, it is better not to leave this feature active all the time.

Method 4: Adding a flashlight widget to the main screen

If you use a flashlight a lot, you can put it on the home screen as a widget, which will eliminate the need to open the notification bar, and add a widget:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
2. In the menu that appears, select “Widgets”.
3. Find the flashlight widget (or "Tools" → "Flashlight") and drag it to the screen.

The flashlight widget is usually a small round button that can be placed anywhere conveniently, and on some versions of the MIUI, the widget may be called something else, such as "Tools" or "Fast Actions."

Make sure there is free space on the main screen.|

Update the launcher (if using a third-party)|

Check if the widget is hidden in the settings MIUI|-->

If the flashlight widget is not listed, it may mean that your version of MIUI does not support displaying it, in which case use alternative methods from this article.

Method 5: Hidden MIUI settings – if the flashlight is missing

Sometimes the flashlight icon disappears from the notification panel after a system update or reset, in which case it can be returned via hidden MIUI settings.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to About Phone → MIUI version and tap the version number 7 times in a row to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select a new item for developers.
4. Find the option “Fast settings Flashlight”.

If the flashlight still doesn’t show, try resetting the notification bar settings:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Notifications and status bar → Quick setups.
• 🔧 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset to default values».

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be a hardware malfunction of the LED, in which case we recommend contacting the Xiaomi service center.

Table: Comparison of ways to turn on a flashlight on Redmi 9

Important: On the Redmi 9 with MIUI Global firmware, the flashlight can be turned off by default in some regions (e.g. the EU due to legal restrictions), in which case it can only be activated through hidden settings or third-party applications.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after setting the flashlight correctly, the Redmi 9 can malfunction, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Warning: If the flashlight turns on but goes out, check if the phone overheats. Redmi 9 has overheating protection, and temperatures above 45.°C LED automatically turns off.

Problem 1: The flashlight does not turn on through the notification panel.

• 🔧 Solution: Check if it is disabled in Settings → Notifications → Quick setups.
• 🔄 Solution: Reboot your phone – sometimes a simple reboot helps.

Problem 2: The “shake” gesture doesn’t work.

• 📱 Solution: Make sure the feature is included in Special Options → Gestures.
• 🔋 Solution: Check if the power saving mode is activated - it can block motion sensors.

Problem 3: The flashlight is flashing or not working smoothly.

• 🔦 Solution: This may be due to LED damage. Try turning on the flashlight in another app (e.g., in the Flashlight from Google Play).
• 🛠️ Solution: If blinking occurs when the battery is low, plug your phone into charging.

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If the flashlight stopped working after the phone fell, the LED module is likely damaged, in which case a replacement part at the service center is required.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About the Redmi 9 Flashlight