How to remove flashing flashlight when calling Xiaomi: all ways (including hidden)

Flashing the camera, which automatically triggers an incoming call on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones, is one of the most annoying features of MIUI. Especially in the nighttime, when bright light wakes up households or attracts unnecessary attention in public places. Despite the fact that the feature was originally intended as an additional notification for users with hearing impairments, most device owners want to turn it off - but can not find this option in the settings.

Complicating the problem is that Xiaomi regularly changes the location of the settings in new versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14+), and on some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) the option is not at all in the standard menu. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to turn off the flashlight when calling, including hidden settings, editing system files (for advanced users), and alternative solutions for devices with custom firmware.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure your smartphone is updated to the latest version of MIUI – sometimes the problem is solved after the update. Also check if there are third-party applications for managing calls (such as Truecaller or Drupe) that can override system settings.

Why does the flashlight flash when you ring and can it be turned off?

The flash flash flash feature is called Flash Notifications and was added to MIUI since version 8. It was originally intended for disabled users, but has become the default feature on all devices. Xiaomi's logic is simple: a bright flash attracts attention better than vibration or sound, especially in noisy places.

However, in practice, this leads to a number of problems:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: frequent flashes increase power consumption by 5-15% (based on tests on the Redmi Note 9 Pro).
• 😴 Night wakes: bright light wakes people sleeping next to them, even if the phone is down.
• 📱 Camera overheating: With long calls (such as hands-free) the flashlight may overheat, resulting in automatic shutdown.
• 🚫 Privacy: In a dark room, blinking gives you your location (relevant to photographers or journalists).

You can turn it off, but it depends on the version of MIUI and the model of the smartphone. On new devices (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12), the option is hidden deeper, and on some firmware it has been removed from the interface altogether. Next, we will look at all possible options, from simple to complex.

💡

If you're using a magnetic lock case, check if it's blocking the proximity sensor, and sometimes that leads to false flash alerts.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings (for most models)

Let’s start with the simplest method, which works on 80% of Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14. The instructions are relevant for the Redmi Note 8/9/10/11 series, POCO X3/F3, Mi 10/11 and other popular models. Importantly, the path to settings may vary slightly depending on the firmware version.

Steps to shut down:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Special Opportunities section (sometimes called Universal Access).
3. Scroll down and look for Flash notifications (or Light notifications).
4. Turn off the switch next to Incoming Calls (or Calls).
5. For reliability, also disable the Message option if it is active.

If there is no flash notification on the menu, try an alternative route:

1. Settings → Applications → Application management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find the Phone (or Calls) app and open its settings.
4. Check the Notification tab – sometimes the option is hidden there.

Make sure that the flashlight is not used as a charging indicator|Check the settings of the phone application"|Update. MIUI last-minute|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

What if you don't have an option? On some devices (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the item may be missing due to the MIUI (MIUI Lite) lightweight version.

Method 2: Using a Hidden Menu of Engineering Settings (for Advanced)

If standard settings don’t work, you can try turning off the flash through the engineering menu.This method works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, but requires caution – wrong actions can disrupt the phone. On models with a Snapdragon processor (for example, POCO F3 or Redmi K40), the menu may differ from devices on MediaTek.

Instructions for Snapdragon:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##36446337## (this is a hardware test code, also known as MMITEST).
2. In the menu that opens, select LED or Flashlight.
3. Find Call Flash and turn it off (set Disable value).
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

Instructions for MediaTek:

1. Enter the phone app: ##4636##
2. Go to the Hardware Testing (or Hardware Testing) tab.
3. Select LED and turn off the Incoming Call Flash option.

Warning: The engineering menu contains options critical to the operation of the device. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose!

Method 3: Editing system files (root access)

If previous methods have failed, the most radical way is to edit system files, which requires super-user rights (root) and is only suitable for power users, and on devices with a locked bootloader (most global versions of Xiaomi), this method will not work without unlocking.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/csc/others.xml or (for newer MIUI versions): /system/csc/feature.xml
3. Find the line with the parameter CscFeature_FlashNotification_IncomingCall and change the meaning from true to false.
4. Save the file, set the rights to 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the phone.

Alternative path (for MIUI 13+):

1. Open the file: /system/vendor/overlay/FlashNotificationConfigOverlay.apk
2. Remove it on PC, edit the settings in res/values/bool.xml and repack the APK.
3. Return the file back to the system with the same rights.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can result in bootloop ( looped boot) or loss of camera functionality.Before making changes, back up through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

If you do not have root rights but have access to a computer, you can use the ADB-commands to disable the flash. This method works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14 and does not require unlocking the bootloader.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On your phone, activate Debugging via USB: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to unlock Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute: Adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 0
4. For reliability, also do: adb shell settings put secure flash_notification_call 0
5. Reset the device.

To return the settings back, use the same commands, replacing 0 by 1.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting your phone to factory settings or updates MIUI The parameters can go back to the default values.

💡

ADB-commands are the safest way to disable a flash without root. It's reversible and doesn't affect warranty, because it doesn't require unlocking the bootloader.

Method 5: Third-Party Notification Management Applications

If the system methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities, which are not always reliable, but sometimes help you bypass the limitations of MIUI.

• 📱 Flash Notifications (by Kieron Quinn) - allows you to flexibly configure the flash for calls and messages. runs on Android 10+ without root, but requires permission from Notification Access.
• 🔧 MacroDroid — create a macro that will turn off the flashlight when an incoming call.
• 🛠️ Tasker is a powerful tool for automation. Task example: Profile: Status → Phone. → Inbound Challenge Task: Plugin → Secure Settings → Turn off the flashlight (SecureTask plugin required).

Important: Check the permissions before installing third-party apps. Some utilities (such as those from unknown sources) may request access to SMS or calls, which is not secure.

Alternatively, if you only need a flash for messages, but not for calls, set it up via the Messages: Settings → Notifications → Lighting Effects app and turn off the call option.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the flash is turned off, users sometimes experience it spontaneously, and consider typical situations and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 After updating MIUI flash turns on again: This is because Xiaomi resets some settings to default values.Solution: Repeat the shutdown through ADB ore-menu.
• 📞 Flash only works for specific contacts: Check if individual notifications are set up for these contacts in the Phone app.
• 🔋 Flashlight flashes when battery is low: This is a separate feature MIUI, It's a signal that's going to be discharged. It's going to be switched off in Settings. → Battery → Low-charge indicator.
• 🔒 No access to engineering menus: On some firmware (e.g. for Xiaomi) EU) Access is blocked. Try using it. ADB or root-method.

If none of these methods worked, the last option is to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or PixelExperience), where the flash function is turned off by default when calling, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may take away your warranty.

💡

On devices with MIUI China, the option to disable the flash is often absent, in which case only switching to a global or European version of MIUI will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions