How to turn on flash on a call on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to quickly identify incoming calls, especially when the device is in their pocket or lying down. In such situations, standard vibration or melody may not be effective, and it is the light indication that becomes an indispensable assistant. Many users mistakenly believe that this feature is absent in their model, but in most cases it is simply hidden in the depth of system settings or requires activation through third-party tools.

Activation. LED-notifications on shell devices MIUI or a new HyperOS could make it much easier to use, especially for people with hearing impairments or those who are often in noisy places where the sound of the call is lost. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the available methods, from standard settings to using specialized apps, so that your Xiaomi never misses important messages.

It is worth noting that the presence of a hardware LED or the ability to use the main camera as an indicator depends on the specific model of the device. LED-It's a display that relies solely on the screen or flash, while budget models can have a hidden LED in the speaker. Understanding the technicalities of your smartphone is the first step to properly configuring notifications.

⚠️ Attention: Constant use of camera flash for notifications can lead to accelerated wear of the LED module and increased battery consumption, so use this feature consciously.

Verification of hardware compatibility of the device

Before you start software settings, you need to make sure that your smartphone is physically capable of performing the function of light notification. Not all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models have a separate notification LED that lights up when a call arrives. In recent years, manufacturers have increasingly abandoned this element in favor of saving internal space and using the Always-On Display screen.

If your device doesn’t have a separate small LED near the front camera or speaker grid, the Notification Indicator feature in the standard menu may be inactive or absent, so the only option is to use the main camera flash, which flashes when an incoming call is made, a software emulation that works on most modern Android smartphones.

  • πŸ” Carefully inspect the top face of the smartphone in bright light – sometimes the LED is hidden under black glass.
  • πŸ“± Check the specification of your model on the official website, looking for the item"LED indicator" or "Light indicator".
  • πŸ’‘ If there is no indicator, don’t worry – we activate the blinking of the main camera, which is even more noticeable.
  • βš™οΈ Make sure the shell version is MIUI HyperOS is not stripped down (Global versions are usually full).
πŸ“Š Does your Xiaomi have a separate notification LED?
Yeah, flashes different colors.
No, just the screen.
I don't know, I didn't pay attention.
I have a button phone.

It's important to distinguish between a notification LED and a camera flash. One is a small dim light that burns constantly while there are unread messages. The other is a bright flash that blinks only when you call. Our goal is to customize the latter, because it's universal for all models, including those that don't have a standard indicator.

Activation through standard MIUI and HyperOS settings

Let's start with the simplest and most reliable way, which doesn't require any additional software. In MIUI and HyperOS shells, flash flashing is often hidden in the feature menu, so that you don't overload the interface with unnecessary options for ordinary users, but for those who are looking, the path is open.

To activate the function, you'll need to go to the main settings of the system. Find the Settings section, then scroll down to the Additional Settings section. This is where the options that control the availability and special features of the device hide. Some firmware versions may have slightly different paths, but the logic remains the same.

Inside the option menu, look for Special Opportunities (or Accessibility). Next, select the Hearing (or Audio/Visual) tab. Here you will find the Flash switch when you call. Activate it, and you will make your smartphone camera flash brightly when an incoming call arrives. On some models, this option may be called "Notification Flash."

β˜‘οΈ Checking flash settings

Done: 0 / 4

If you don't find this item along the path, try searching by settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings menu screen and type "flash" or "blink." The system will offer you the right switch if it's available for your version of the software. This is the fastest way to find hidden features.

⚠️ Note: On some global versions MIUI The "Call Flash" option can be removed from the menu, then you need to use third-party applications or change the region.

Using the Camera app to set up

In some cases, especially on older versions of MIUI or in Chinese firmware, the notification flash control is made directly to the Camera app. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is the camera module that controls the LED, so the settings are duplicated there.

Open the standard Camera app on your smartphone. In the shoot interface, find the menu button, usually represented by three horizontal bars or a gear in the corner of the screen. In the settings list that opens, look for Flash on Notifications or Flash on call. If there is one, just turn the switch to the active position.

Note that in newer versions of Google and MIUI, this option often migrates from the Camera app to the system settings described in the previous section. However, on devices with Android 10 and below, as well as on MIUI 11-12, this method is the main one. If the switch is active but the flash does not work, check the app's permissions.

  • πŸ“Έ Open the Camera and go to the settings menu (three bars).
  • ⚑ Find the β€œNotification Flash” and activate it.
  • πŸ“ž Make a test call from another number to check the work.
  • πŸ”„ If there is no item, go back to system settings or use apps.

Sometimes it happens that the settings get lost after the system update. If you are sure that the feature worked before and now stopped, it makes sense to reset the camera application settings. To do this, go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ All Apps β†’ Camera β†’ Clean β†’ Reset. This will not delete your photos, but return the camera settings to factory settings.

Third-party flash management applications

If the built-in flashing doesn't work, the Google Play Market comes to the rescue, and they've created a lot of tools that intercept the incoming call and force the flash on, which is a great solution for models where the manufacturer has cut this feature out of the firmware.

One of the most popular and proven solutions is the Flash on Call app or its analogues, such as Call Flashlight, which are minimally weighted, do not require root rights and run in the background, and once installed, you only need to give the app permission to use the camera and access the phone.

Security of Third Party Applications
Use only popular apps with high ratings and a lot of downloads. Avoid unknown programs that require suspicious permissions, such as contact access or SMS, unless their function is directly related to calls. A good flash app only requires access to Camera and Phone.

Once you install the app, go to its settings, and you can flexibly set your operating modes: blink only when incoming, only when outgoing, or during both types of calls, and you can often adjust the blink frequency and duration of the flash, which saves battery power.

Title of the annexRatings.FeaturesSize
Flash on Call4.7Flexible settings, SOS mode5MB
Call Flashlight4.5Minimalism, low energy consumption3MB
LED Flashlight Alerts4.6It works as a message indicator.4.5 MB
Flash Alert4.4Support for multiple profiles6MB

MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving, which can kill background processes. To avoid this, find the installed application in the list of running, click on the lock or select "No restrictions" in the battery settings.

Set up notifications for specific contacts

And with standard Android tools and MIUI shells, you can assign unique melodies and actions to individual contacts. Although there's no direct "Mother-only flash" setting on the system, we can use the notification logic. If the flash is activated globally, it will fire for everyone, but you can highlight important calls with color (if there's an LED) or vibration.

You can use Shortcuts scripts or third-party automatizers to fine-tune your phone, but if your goal is to just keep a call from a particular person, you'd better use Favorites. Add contact to your favorites, and the phone will ignore Do Not Disturb mode, necessarily turning on the flash if it's active on the system.

Some custom launchers or design themes for MIUI Theme Store can find themes that have their own indicator settings, and installing such a theme can add visuals to the lock screen that will duplicate or replace the physical flash, creating a beautiful lighting effect when you call.

  • πŸ“ž Open the contact of an important subscriber in the phone book.
  • ⭐ Click "Add to Favorites" for priority pass.
  • 🎨 Check the theme for unique screen notifications.
  • πŸ”” Make sure that no β€œno sound” mode is available for contact".

πŸ’‘

To make the flash work more stable, add the call management app to the autoload list and allow it to work in the background in the battery settings.

Problem Solving and Frequent Errors

Even after setting it up properly, users may find themselves in a situation where the flash does not light up, most often the problem is application conflict or aggressive battery optimization, and the system may block access to the camera at the time of the call, considering it to be the action of another application.

The first thing you need to do is check if the flash is being used by another app, for example, if you have a flashlight running in a rolled-up form or if you have a scanning app running. QR-If you have a code, the flash will not turn on when you call, close all background tasks and try to call again.

The second common problem is the power saving mode: If the battery power dropped below 20% and the saving mode is activated, the system turns off all functions, including light signaling of calls, charge the device or turn off the energy saving mode in the notification curtain.

⚠️ Warning: If the flash flash flash flashes chaotically or does not stop flashing after the call is complete, this may indicate a failure in the operation of the camera drivers.

It's also worth checking for system updates. In rare cases, bugs in a particular version MIUI They can block the work. LED-indicator. Go to Settings β†’ About the phone and check for updates. Installing the current version of the software often fixes similar software errors.

πŸ’‘

The stable operation of the flash depends on the system’s resolutions and the absence of conflicts with other applications using the camera.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the flash on affect the call's lifespan?
Yes, any use of LEDs has a resource. LED-They're designed to last thousands of hours, and the periodic blinking of calls reduces their lifespan slightly, but within the normal use of a smartphone (2-3 You will not notice the deterioration of brightness.
Why does the flash flash flash but the screen doesn't light up?
This is normal behavior for In-Pack mode or for certain screen settings. If you have Mode in-Pack enabled, the proximity sensor blocks the screen from turning on to avoid accidental taps, but the flash continues to work because it is on the other side of the case.
Can you customize different flash colors for different contacts?
Standard means MIUI This is not possible if your phone does not have a multi-colored LED-The main flash of the camera is usually one-colored (white or yellowish). Multicolored signals require root rights and deep modification of the system.
Does the flash work if the phone is turned off?
No, the flash is an active electronic component that requires power from the processor and operating system. If the smartphone is turned off, neither the flash nor the alarm clock (on most models) will work.
Does the flash setting reset when you update the firmware?
In most cases, the settings are saved. However, if the update is major (for example, switching from MIUI 13 to 14 or HyperOS), the system may reset some availability parameters, and it is recommended to recheck the settings after a major software update.