How to turn off the flashlight when calling Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often experience a screen flash that lights up during an incoming call.This feature, known as “Flash at Notifications,” can be useful in noisy places, but in the dark or watching videos it becomes intrusive and annoying. Many users do not know exactly where the switch responsible for lighting is hidden in the menu.

In MIUI and the new HyperOS, settings can be set in different sections, which is often confusing. Sometimes it is the system component of calls, and sometimes it is the settings of special features. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to turn off the flashlight when you call, so that your phone no longer flashes at the wrong time.

Settings of the function "Flash at notifications"

The main method of controlling light display is in the special features section, and this is where the settings related to accessibility and visual signals are concentrated, and first you need to open the main settings menu of your device.

Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Special Features. In this menu, you should find a section marked as “Visual” or “Hearing.” There will be “Flash at Notifications” item. When you click on it, you will see a switch that activates or deactivates the flash blink.

Importantly, some firmware versions might call this option "Notification Flash." If you turn on this feature, the phone will flash not only when calling, but also when receiving messages from messengers. So if your goal is to remove the lights during a conversation, make sure the switch is inactive.

⚠️ Attention: frequent use of LED flash as an indicator can lead to faster battery discharge, as this cell consumes energy even in the background.

When you change your settings, you should check the result immediately, ask someone to call you or make a test call to another number, and if the screen flash no longer lights up, you have successfully shut down.

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If the standard path doesn’t work, try searching by settings: type the word “flash” or “notification” in the search bar to find the right switch faster.

Disabling the flash through the application “Phone”

The second way to control the light signal can be directly in the application for making calls. The standard Google Dialer or branded call from MIUI have their own call settings. Open the Phone app on your smartphone.

In the upper right corner of the screen, look for a three-dot icon or a gear icon. When you click on it, select Settings. When you open the menu, look for Incoming Calls or Calling Making. This is where the Flash on Incoming Call option often hides.

If you use a third-party call downloaded from Play Market, the logic may differ. In such cases, you need to go to the settings of the application itself through the general menu of the Android system. Find your Caller in the list of applications, click on App and select Notifications.

  • 📱 Check if the Light Indication feature is included in the app notification profile.
  • 🔔 Make sure that the Incoming Call category does not tick the screen».
  • ⚙️ Reset the application settings to factory if the menu looks incorrect.

Some users prefer to use third-party themes that may force flash. If you recently changed the theme in the Themes app, try returning the standard design to eliminate the conflict of settings.

📊 What a shell you have. MIUI?
MIUI 12
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
HyperOS
other

Specifics of settings in MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS

The interfaces of different versions of Xiaomi firmware differ significantly. In older versions, such as MIUI 12, settings were often scattered across different menus. In MIUI 13 and 14, the company began to unify the structure, bringing most of the visuals to the section “Special features”.

The newest HyperOS shell has the same logic, but the location of some items has changed: Settings path → Additional settings → Special features → Visual → Flash notifications is relevant for most modern devices. However, in some regions (Chinese version of firmware), the path may be different.

For owners of Chinese versions of smartphones (CN ROM), finding the right option can be difficult due to the language barrier, in which case it is recommended to use a translator from a screenshot or look for an eye icon or light bulb in the settings.

Shell versionLocation of settingsTitle of paragraph
MIUI 12Settings → Special. opportunitiesFlash on notifications
MIUI 13/14Settings → Special. opportunities → VisualFlash on notifications
HyperOSSettings → Additional settings → Special. capabilitiesFlash on notifications
Android StockSettings → Special. opportunitiesFlash for notifications

If you upgrade from one version to another, the old settings may conflict with the new ones, in which case it helps to clear the system cache or reset special features to factory values.

What to do if the settings are reset?
Sometimes, after you reboot your phone, the settings return to their original settings, which may be caused by a system process error. Try clearing the Settings app data or resetting all settings (not data!) through the recovery menu.

Third-party applications for call management

If you can't get the blinking out of the system, it's probably a third-party app that's responsible, and often users install smart calls, number identifiers, or conversation recording apps that have their own display settings.

Check the list of installed applications for programs with names like Truecaller, Call Flash, Bright Screen or similar. These programs often request access to the camera and flash to perform their functions, and removing or disabling such applications will solve the problem.

Also worth paying attention to the design theme management apps. Some live wallpaper or lock themes can use the flash as part of the animation when a call arrives. Turn off the theme or return the standard wallpaper for check.

  • 🔍 Go to "Settings» → «Annexes» → «All applications».
  • 🛑 Find suspicious apps related to calls or screens.
  • ❌ Click on “Delete” or “Disable” to check.

In some cases, using Do Not Disturb mode helps.While it doesn't turn off the flash directly, it blocks most visual and audible notifications, which can be a temporary fix.

⚠️ Be careful when removing system components or applications that have the word “Phone” or “Dialer” in their name if you are not sure of their origin.

Driver problems and system failures

Sometimes the problem is not the settings, but the software failure. Android operating system based on MIUI may not properly process commands from the phone application to the hardware of the smartphone, resulting in a flash light up chaotically or does not go out after the configuration is completed.

The first step in diagnostics is to update the system, and manufacturers regularly release patches that fix these bugs. → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS Check for updates and check for updates.

If the update didn't work, try resetting the special features settings. Go to the special features menu, find the menu button (three dots) at the top of the screen, and select Reset, which will return all availability settings to factory values.

☑️ Diagnostics of failure

Done: 0 / 4

In rare cases, the problem may be due to a physical sticking of a button or sensor, although this is less common for a flash. If the phone fell or fell into the water, there may be circuits in the LED control circuit.

Using Safe Mode for Diagnostics

To determine exactly whether the problem is system or caused by third-party software, you need to run the smartphone in safe mode. In this mode, only system applications are loaded, and all third-party programs are disabled.

To enter Safe Mode on Xiaomi, you usually need to press the off button and then (hold on for a long time) the "off" button on the screen until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears. After the reboot, check the flash when you call.

If the flash doesn't catch fire in safe mode, it's one of the apps you've installed that's to blame. Start methodically removing newly installed programs until you find the culprit. If the problem persists even in safe mode, it's the system or the hardware.

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Safe Mode is the best tool to identify conflicting applications, and if the problem disappears, look for the culprit in the software installed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does the flash flash flash even when the feature is disabled in the settings?
This can be due to a third-party app that intercepts the camera, or a system bug: Try restarting your phone or checking settings in safe mode.
Does the flash on when called affect the battery discharge rate?
Yes, an LED flash consumes energy. Although the call consumes a little, frequent notifications with flashing can significantly reduce battery life during the day.
Can you set up a flash only for certain contacts?
You can't do this with standard MIUI tools. Notification flash works globally. You'll need third-party calling apps to customize it.
Missed item "Flash at notifications" after the update, what to do?
In newer versions of HyperOS, the path may have changed. Look under Special Features → Visuals. If there is no item at all, your device model may not support this feature at the software level.
Will the flashlight work normally if I turn it off for notifications?
Yes, disabling the notification function does not affect the flashlight as a light source, you can turn it on and off through the notification curtain or voice assistant as usual.