How to permanently turn off the flashlight when calling Xiaomi Redmi 6: detailed instructions

Are you tired of the flashlight automatically turning on your Xiaomi Redmi 6 every time you call in?This feature, designed to be convenient in dark rooms, is often a source of irritation — especially when the phone is lying down on the table or wakes up at night with a bright light. Unfortunately, in standard MIUI settings, the option to turn off this feature is not always obvious, and in some firmware it is not at all.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to turn off the flashlight when you call, from official settings to hidden developer settings and third-party utilities, why this feature even exists, how it works at the system level, and what to do if the problem returns after the MIUI update, and also we will explain what hidden risks some methods pose (for example, editing system files) and how to avoid them.

Why the flashlight turns on when you call and why it is necessary

The automatic flashlight feature that came into MIUI since version 8 was designed to make it easier to find a phone in a dark room, and the logic is simple: when a call comes in at night or in a bag, flashing lights help you quickly find a device, but in practice, this often backfires:

• 🔦 Battery discharge – flashlight consumes extra energy, especially if the call is long.
• 😴 Nighttime awakenings – bright lights can wake you or loved ones if your phone is lying next to your bed.
• 📱 Overheating of the camera - with prolonged use, the flashlight heats the camera module, which can affect its operation.
• 🚫 Discomfort in public places – flashing lights in a movie theater or meeting attracts unnecessary attention.

Interestingly, newer Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3) can turn this feature off right in the call settings, but owners of Redmi 6 with its MIUI 9/10 based on Android 8.1 Oreo have to look for workarounds. The reason lies in the firmware architecture: in older versions of MIUI, many functions were “sewn-up” at the kernel level and did not have a graphical interface to manage.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

Before you resort to drastic measures, check if the option to turn off is available in your firmware version. In some MIUI 10 builds for Redmi 6, this option is hidden, but you can find it:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select Incoming Calls.
4. Scroll down and find the flashlight item when you call in (may be called Camera Backlight or Blinking Light).
5. Move the slider to the off position.

If you don't have one, don't despair. In 70 percent of cases, Redmi 6 doesn't have one because of the firmware, so move on to the next one.

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Before changing your settings, check the MIUI version in About Phone → MIUI. If you have custom firmware (like LineageOS), this method may not work.

Method 2: Using the Developer Mode

If standard settings are not enough, you can try turning off the flashlight through the developer menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires activation of the hidden mode:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will receive a notification "You became a developer").
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section → For developers.
4. Scroll down and find the Debugging by USB item – turn it on (you’ll need this for the next steps).
5. Next, look for the flashlight option when calling (may be in the submenu of Special Opportunities or Notifications).

If there is no parameter, try using it. ADB-Important: After activation of the developer mode, some functions (e.g., Mi Unlock to unlock the bootloader) may become available, but this also increases the risk of accidental changes to critical system parameters.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings | Download ADB platform from the official Google | Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable |Unlock your phone screen before executing commands-->

Method 3: Third-party applications for flashlight control

If the system methods don't work, Google Play apps will come to the rescue, allowing you to flexibly adjust the behavior of the flashlight, including turning it off when you call.-3 tested utilities:

Instructions for setting up (for example, Flash Alerts 2):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run it and provide all the permissions you have requested (access to notifications, camera).
3. In the main menu, select Incoming Calls.
4. Turn off the flashlight slider or the Camera Light.
5. Save the settings and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications require permission to Overlay over other windows. If you don't provide it, the flashlight may keep flashing. To enable this permission, go to Settings. → Annexes → Special access → Overlay over other windows.

Method 4: ADB-Teams for experienced users

If you're not afraid of the command line, the most reliable way to turn off the flashlight is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works at the system level and does not require root rights.

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 🔧 Installed Xiaomi drivers and platform ADB

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 6 to your computer and enable USB Debugging (see Method 2).
2. Open the command prompt (or terminal) and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
3. Use the command to turn off the flashlight when calling: adb shell settings put global flashlight_notification 0
4. Reboot your phone with the command: adb reboot

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell settings put system flashlight_notification_off 1

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI settings modified through ADB, To avoid this, repeat the procedure after each major update or use a script to automatically apply commands when connecting to a PC.

Method 5: Editing system files (for advanced files only)

This is the most radical method, which requires root rights and knowledge of the Android structure, and it is only suitable if you are willing to risk the stability of the system, the essence is to edit the build.prop file, which contains global firmware settings.

Instructions:

1. Get root access with Magisk or SuperSU.
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
3. Go to /system/build.prop and open the file in the text editor.
4. Add a line to the end of the file: ro.miui.has_flashlight_notification=no
5. Save the changes, set the rights to 644 (r-w-r--r---) and restart the phone.

If the flashlight continues to turn on after that, try editing the file /system/cust/prop/local.prop (if it exists) and adding the same line.

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Editing system files can result in bootloop (locked boot) or loss of warranty.Be sure to back up via TWRP or Mi Flash Tool before making changes!

What to do if nothing helps

If all of these things didn't work, maybe the problem is the firmware itself. Here's what you can try:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Sometimes flashlight bugs get fixed in new builds.
• 📲 Install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where this feature is not the default feature.
• 🛠️ In rare cases, the problem is due to a hardware malfunction of the camera module.
• 🎭 Use a flashlight cover – a mechanical solution, but sometimes the most reliable one.

If you decide to check the phone, please note that:

• The scaling can deprive you of an official warranty.
• Some MIUI features (such as Second Space or Game Turbo) may stop working.
• The firmware process requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets all the data on the phone.

Before you take drastic measures, try checking all settings carefully again or contact the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums – there may already be a ready solution for your particular firmware version.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off flashlight on Redmi 6