Many Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone users face a situation where the device lies down screen and it becomes very easy to miss an important call: The standard vibration or melody can be drowned out by external noise or simply not heard if the phone is in another room. In such cases, it is the built-in LED-flash becomes an indispensable tool for warning, instantly attracting attention with bright light signals.
Unlike some other manufacturers, however, Xiaomi doesnβt always make this feature prominent in the basic audio settings. Users often wander around the menu for hours, unaware that the desired switch is hidden in a specific section of system parameters or even depends on the version of the installed shell MIUI or HyperOS. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to activate this feature.
We're going to look at not only the standard methods for current firmware versions, but also ways to bypass restrictions when menus are hidden, how to set the indicator's operating modes so that it doesn't interfere at night, and which models support this feature at the hardware level.
Search for settings in the standard MIUI and HyperOS menus
The first place to go to Xiaomi is the classic system settings menu. The interface logic in the latest shells has changed, and now the features associated with light indicators have often migrated from the Sound section to the more general system settings. First, you need to open the Settings app and scroll down to the Additional Settings item.
This is where the key switch is hidden in the back of the system menu, and you need to find a section that can be called Accessibility or stay in the category of Additional Settings depending on the region of the firmware (Global, Chinese, EEA), and inside this section you look for a subsection related to the hearing aid or visual alerts.
If you're using a new version of HyperOS, the structure may have changed, and the path may look like Settings β Sound and Vibration β Visual Effects. In some builds, the feature is integrated directly into the telephony settings. Check each sub-item carefully, as the name may vary slightly depending on the translation.
- π Open the main menu of your smartphone settings.
- π± Go to the "Additional settings" or "Special features" section".
- π‘ Find "Hearing aids" or "Visual alerts".
- β Activate the switchboard "Flash at notifications" or "Flash at call".
β οΈ Note: On some global firmware versions for the European market, this item may be hidden or renamed as "Visual Call Identifier".
Alternative path through the phone application
There is a second, less obvious way to activate the indicator, which works on a number of Redmi and Poco models. Since the function is directly related to the incoming call process, it is logical to look for its settings inside the Phone app itself. However, the standard Google call, which is often installed by default on global versions, does not have this functionality.
If you have a MIUI Dialer on your device, you have to open the app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select Settings. Next, look for Incoming Calls, and that's where the switch that blinks the LED lights when you make a call can be located.
It's important to understand that this method only works if the system application has not been replaced by a user, and if you have installed a third-party call from the Play Market, this path will not be available, in which case you will have to rely on system settings or third-party software.
β οΈ Note: After upgrading to Android 11 and higher, Xiaomi often forcibly replaces its call with Google Dialer, making this method unworkable on many new devices.
Why did your family call go missing?
Use of third-party applications for activation
In cases where the standard system means to activate the flashing is impossible (for example, on devices without LED-indicator notifications or in stripped down versions of firmware), applications from the Google Play store come to the rescue. There are many utilities that intercept the incoming call signal and force the flashlight. One of the most popular and proven solutions is the Flash on Calls application or its analogues.
Once you install an app, you'll need to give it a number of critical permissions, which should have access to your contact list, your phone status, and most importantly, your phone's status, quyα»n Control the camera/light-light, and without these rights, the software will not be able to function properly.
Using third-party software has its advantages, such as flexible blinking patterns or color gamut (if the AMOLED screen is available). However, there are also disadvantages: these applications can consume additional battery power in the background.
- π₯ Download a proven Flashlight for Calls app from Play Market.
- π Provide all requested permissions at the first launch.
- βοΈ In the application settings, select the mode of operation "When incoming call".
- π Keep an eye on battery consumption, as the flashlight is an energy-intensive module.
Setting up work schedules and schedules
Once activated, it is critical to adjust its behavior properly so that it does not cause discomfort. The constant flashing of a flash in a movie theater, at a meeting or at night can be a serious problem. Modern versions of MIUI and third-party applications allow you to flexibly manage these parameters.
You can usually set the duration of the flash, the frequency of the flash, the number of repetitions, and some systems allow you to set a list of contacts that the light alert will work for, ignoring the rest of the calls, which is useful so that you don't miss a call from your boss or close family.
Special attention should be paid to the Do Not Disturb setting, and make sure that in sleep or silence modes, the flash also turns off if it does not contradict your goals, and the balance between visibility and comfort of use is a key factor in the proper setting of the smartphone.
π‘
The ideal setup is when the flash only works for selected contacts and shuts down automatically at night.
Compatibility table for different versions of MIUI
Not all models and software versions support this feature the same way, and here is a table to help you navigate where to look for customization based on your current version of the system, and itβs relevant for most global and Chinese firmware.
| MIUI/HyperOS version | Location of settings | Status of function |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 - 12 | Supplemental settings β Special opportunities | It's stable. |
| MIUI 13 (Global) | Sound and vibration β Visual effects | Often hidden |
| MIUI 14 / HyperOS | Settings β Special. opportunities β Hearing | Depends on the region. |
| Android 13+ (Clean) | Not in the system. | Only through the apps |
As you can see from the table, with the release of new versions of Android and shells, manufacturers are gradually removing native support for this feature, probably for the sake of minimalism or energy efficiency. If your version of the menu is empty, do not despair - there are always third-party solutions.
β οΈ Note: On smartphones with AMOLED-The flash may not light up if the screen energy saving mode is turned on, since the system prioritizes turning off all light indicators.
Solution and technical nuances
Even with the right setup, users can face a situation where the flash does not light up.The first and most common reason is that the function in the background is limited to energy saving. Xiaomi is known for its aggressive battery optimization, which can "kill" the processes necessary for blinking.
To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the Phone app or the flash utility installed, and set the Unlimited mode, and check whether the power saving mode is on altogether, as it often forcibly turns off the flashlight.
Another nuance is hardware: on some budget models, the flash LED is physically unable to operate in strobe mode for a long time because of the risk of overheating. In such cases, the system can block the function software. Hardware constraints are almost impossible to bypass software methods.