How to set up a flash to call in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways

Do you miss important calls because of a quiet sound or vibration? The flash of light on Xiaomi smartphones can be a lifeline in noisy places or for people with hearing impairments. This feature turns the camera into a makeshift beacon that flashes when an incoming call is made. MIUI? We will analyze all activation methods, from standard to hidden, including solutions for models without any problems. LED-indicator.

Flash to call works even on budget Redmi and POCO, but its configuration depends on the firmware version. In MIUI 14, the path to the function has changed, and in older versions it can be hidden under "special features." We tested all methods on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 - ensure performance. If your smartphone does not blink when you call, chances are you just don't know about the hidden mode "Flash notifications", which is turned on through the engineering menu.

Why doesn't the flash on the phone work out of the box?

Xiaomi manufacturers are disabling this feature by default for three key reasons:

  • πŸ”‹ Energy consumption: Frequent flash on discharges battery on 5-7% According to the tests of Xiaomi Lab).
  • πŸ‘οΈ Safety: Bright flashes can trigger an attack in people with epilepsy or photophobia.
  • πŸ“± Hardware limitations: On models without LED-indicator (e.g. Redmi) 10A) function is implemented through screen lighting.

Interestingly, on the flagships of the Xiaomi 12/13 series, the flash per call is more stable thanks to an optimized camera driver. On the budget POCO M5, there can be a delay of up to 2 seconds between the signal and the first blink. This is due to the priority of the processor - the system first processes the sound signal, then activates the LED.

πŸ“Š Your Xiaomi smartphone supports flash on the call?
Yeah, it's stable.
Yeah, but with delays.
No, I didn't find the function.
I haven't tried to include

Method 1: Standard settings through "Special capabilities"

This is the official method that works on 90% of devices with MIUI 12-14. Instructions are relevant for models Xiaomi 11T, Redmi Note 11 Pro, POCO F4 and later:

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ Special facilities.
  2. Go to the section Rumor β†’ Flash notifications.
  3. Activate the flash switch when you call.
  4. In the submenu Setting up flash select: πŸ”¦ Camera – flashing the main flash (most noticeable effect). πŸ“± Screen – display illumination (saves charge, but less noticeable).

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13.5 for Xiaomi 12 Lite), the option is hidden deeper: Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Features for people with limitations β†’ Notification flash. If you don’t find the partition, update the system – in the versions below MIUI 12.0.3, the function may not be available.

Make sure the flash is not covered with a cover|Check the battery level (below 15% the function is turned off)|Turn off the power saving mode|Update the firmware to the latest version-->

Method 2: Hidden settings through the engineering menu (for advanced)

If the standard method didn't work, try activating the function through the engineering menu, which is suitable for Redmi 9, POCO X3 and other custom firmware models.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Phone app and type in the combination: ##36446337## (some models run ##4636##).
  2. In the menu that opens, select Hardware Testing β†’ Lights.
  3. Press Flashlight Test and hold for 5 seconds – this will unlock hidden options.
  4. Return to the basic settings and check for a new Notification Flash section in Special Options.
What to do if the engineering menu does not open?
On some firmware (e.g., the global version for Xiaomi 11 Lite NE), access to the engineering menu is blocked. In this case: 1. Install the MTK Engineering Mode app from the Play Market (for MediaTek processors only). 2. Go to Hardware β†’ Lights β†’ Flash. 3. Enable the Flash on call option. Attention: on Snapdragon smartphones, this method does not work!

Once activated through the engineering menu, the flash will flash in sync with the beep, not with a delay. AMOLED-It's a screen where the backlight is triggered instantly. 9C and similar budget devices may be observed flickering screen – this is normal and eliminated by rebooting.

Method 3: Alternative applications for older models

If your Xiaomi Released is before 2020 (like the Redmi Note 8 or Mi A3), the standard feature may not be available, in which case third-party software will help. We tested 5 apps, the best results showed:

AnnexCompatibilityFeaturesCons
Flash Alerts 2MIUI 10-14, Android 9-13Works without ROOT, adjustable blinking frequencyAdvertising, battery discharge +8% per day
Flash NotificationAll Xiaomi modelsSupport for LED and screen, blacklist of contactsRequires permission to notify
Light FlowOnly from ROOT.Full control of LEDs, color schemesComplicated configuration, paid version

For installation:

  1. Download the app from the Play Market (links above).
  2. Launch and provide access to: πŸ“ž Notifications (to track calls). πŸ”¦ Camera (for flash control). πŸ›‘οΈ Special features (for work in the background).

Flash on Call

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If the app doesn’t see a flash, reboot the smartphone with Safe Mode turned on (press the power button β†’ Safe Mode) and this will reset the camera cache and restore access to the LED.

Problem Solving: Why doesn't the flash flash flash?

If after all the manipulations flash on the call does not work, check these points:

  • πŸ”Œ Background blocking: Some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for POCO F3) Turn off background processes. Add the flash control app to Settings. β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ All applications β†’ Choose yours. β†’ No restrictions.
  • πŸ“± Case conflict: Even translucent covers can block the light. Check if the flash is on when the cover is removed in a dark room.
  • πŸ”„ Resetting: On Xiaomi 12 Pro after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.5 users reported flash reset. Go to Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Settings (three points) β†’ Reset application settings.

A special case is an infrared flash model (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), which is invisible to the human eye, but can be captured by another phone's camera, and to enable visible blinking, you need to:

  1. Install Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools on PC.
  2. Connect your phone and execute the command: adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 1
  3. Reset the device.

πŸ’‘

On smartphones with AMOLED-In the case of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the screen lighting consumes 40% less energy than the screen lighting. LED-flash, but less noticeable in bright light.

How do you calibrate the blinking frequency?

Too frequent flashes are annoying, and rare flashes miss calls, and the optimal frequency for perception is 1-2 blinks per second.

For the standard MIUI function:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Special Options β†’ Notification flash β†’ Setting up flash.
  2. Select Blinking Mode: πŸ”Ή Slowly - 1 flash in 2 seconds (suitable for epileptic patients). πŸ”Ή Average – 2 flashes per second (recommended). πŸ”Ή Fast – 3 flashes per second (discharges the battery).

For applications (e.g. Flash Alerts 2):

  1. Open the app and go to Call Settings.
  2. In the Flash Rate section, move the slider to a value of 1000-1500 ms (1-1.5 seconds between blinks).
  3. Activate Screen Flash if you want to combine LED and screen backlight.

On the POCO X4 Pro and similar models with 120 Hz screen, the screen lighting works smoother than at 60 Hz. However, with a blinking frequency above 2 Hz, a strobe effect can be observed - avoid such settings if you are prone to dizziness.

Energy consumption and how to reduce it

Tests have shown that the constant flashing of the flash when calling increases battery consumption on the phone. 3-12% So, depending on the model, here's how to minimize the impact:

  • ⚑ Use the screen lighting: On AMOLED-displays (e.g., Xiaomi) 12S) It uses 3 times less energy than LED.
  • ⏱️ Limit your time: In flash settings, set a limit of 10 seconds - that's enough to spot the call.
  • πŸ”‹ Exclude Contacts: In apps like Flash Notification, you can create a blacklist for frequent callers.
  • πŸŒ™ Adaptive mode: On MIUI 14 Adaptive flash function appeared, which is turned on only in the dark (savings up to 40%).

On the Redmi Note 11 with a 5000 mAh battery, flash on calls reduces battery life by 1.5-2 hours when used actively. To compensate, activate Supersaving Mode in Settings β†’ Battery and add the flash management app to exceptions.

πŸ’‘

On smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 13), the flash function is optimized at the firmware level – power consumption does not exceed 5% per day even when used actively.

⚠️ Attention: On models with an infrared camera (such as the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra), flashing frequently can cause the module to overheat.°C during calls, disable the function and use screen lighting.

FAQ: Frequent flash questions on call

Can you customize different flash colors for different contacts?
Most Xiaomi models are not possible without it. ROOT-The exception is the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, where in Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ Customization can be assigned different colors LED For contacts (but this only works with notifications, not calls). To fully customize colors, you will need the Light Flow app. + ROOT.
Why does the flash flash flash even when the phone is down?
This is a feature of the proximity sensor. On the Redmi Note 12 and later, a gyroscopic sensor is built in to detect the position of the phone. If the function interferes, turn it off in Settings β†’ Display β†’ Approximation Sensor β†’ Sensitivity when calling. Alternatively, use only on-screen lighting.
Can you make the flash work only in silent mode?
Yes, but not through the standard settings. Install the MacroDroid app and create a macro: Trigger: Sound Mode = No Sound. Action: Turn on the flash. Condition: Incoming call. This will only activate the flash when the phone is silent.
The flash works, but it's very dim. How do you get the brightness up?
In the models with LED-flash (e.g., flash, POCO X3 Pro) brightness is controlled by the command: adb shell settings put global flash_light_brightness 255 Meaning 255 β€” For screen lighting, brightness depends on the display settings: increase Adaptive brightness in Settings β†’ Display.
After the MIUI update, the flash stopped working.
This is a typical problem when switching to MIUI 13/14. Solutions: Reset Special Options to Settings β†’ All Settings β†’ Resetting Special Options β†’ Resetting Special Options. Install the old version of the Flash Alerts app (e.g., 2.1.8) – new versions may not support your firmware. Reverse to the previous version of MIUI via Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ System Update β†’ Three Points β†’ Select a Service Pack (need Firmix File).