How to remove the flashlight when calling Xiaomi Redmi 7: all working methods

The flashlight, which automatically turns on when you call a Xiaomi Redmi 7, is a useful feature for many users, helping you quickly find your phone in the dark or light up the space around you when you answer a call. However, not everyone likes this "addition": some find it annoying, some worry about battery life, and some just prefer to control the flashlight by hand.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to turn off the flashlight when making calls, from standard MIUI settings to hidden settings and third-party utilities. It’s important to note that Redmi 7 (released in 2019) does this differently than newer Xiaomi models, so universal instructions from the Internet may not work. We tested each method on MIUI 10-12 firmware and ensure that they work.

Why does the flashlight turn on when you call and can it be turned off?

The automatic flashlight on incoming calls came to MIUI as part of the Smart Assistants system, originally designed for convenience: for example, if you make a call at night or are in a poorly lit place, the LED will help you navigate, but over time, many users have complained about:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption – even a short-term flashlight on each call is added up at the end of the day.
• 😤 Irritation from unnecessary lighting – especially if the phone is lying upside down on the table or in your pocket.
• 📱 Random positives – the flashlight can light up when notified by messengers if the settings are lost.

Fortunately, it's possible to turn it off -- but not always in the obvious way. Depending on the MIUI version and regional firmware, the path to settings may differ. For example, in European versions of MIUI 11, the option is hidden deeper than in global builds for Asia. We'll look at all options, including those that work even after resetting.

Method 1: Disconnect via Smart Assistant settings (MIUI 10–12)

The simplest and most official method is to deactivate the Smart Assistants option, which works on most Redmi 7 firmware, but may not be available in custom builds.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Additional settings → Smart assistants.
3. Find the flashlight item when you call (or Automatic flashlight switching on).
4. Move the slider to the off position.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

Settings → Applications → Installed → Calls → Permissions → Additional settings

Some firmware has a hidden option called Call Lighting or Light Effects, and if there's nothing here, move on to the next one.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure you have global/European firmware (not Chinese)

Close all background apps before changing settings

Reboot your phone after disconnecting-->

Method 2: Using a Hidden Menu of Engineering Settings

If the standard path didn't work, you can try turning off the flashlight through the engineering menu, which is a method that requires caution, because the wrong changes can affect the phone's performance, and we recommend it only to power users.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##6484## (or #64663## for some versions).
2. You’ll be taken to the MTK Engineer Mode menu (if you have a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the combination may not work).
3. Go to the Hardware Testing → Sensors section.
4. Find the Proximity Sensor and check its calibration, and sometimes it malfunctions and causes the flashlight to falsely fire.
5. Return to the main menu and select LED Testing → turn off the Auto Flash on Call option.

⚠️ Note: If after changes to the engineering menu, the phone started to work unstable (for example, the sound is lost or the screen is not responding), reset the settings through Settings. → Additionally. → Reset settings. Do not change settings that you do not know the purpose of!

Method 3: Disconnection through ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If the first two methods didn’t work, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) option is a versatile method that works on any firmware, but requires connecting the phone to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Turn on the phone Developer Mode (7 times click on the Build Number in Settings → About phone).
3. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect Redmi 7 to your computer and type in the command line: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified.
5. Use the command to turn off the flashlight when calling: adb shell settings put global flashlight_call_enabled 0
6. Reboot the phone.

This team only works on firmware. MIUI 10–12. On newer versions (MIUI 13+) You may need another parameter, for example. flashlight_auto_call.

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If, after the execution, ADB-The flashlight is still turned on, check if it is blocked by a third-party application (for example, “Lightlight” from Google or the manufacturer).

Method 4: Third-party applications for flashlight control

If you don't want to go through the settings, you can use third-party utilities that not only turn off the flashlight, but also add additional features (like brightness control or automatic shutdown timer), and we tested several applications and selected the most reliable ones:

Check reviews before installing, some apps may not work on Redmi 7 due to firmware features, and note permission requests: If the utility requires access to SMS or contacts for no obvious reason, it is better to refuse to use it.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the light is turned off, the flashlight can still go off, and let's look at the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔄 The flashlight is turned on after the update MIUI → Resetting the Calls application settings (in Settings) → Annexes → Calls. → Warehouse → Reset).
• 📱 The function returns after restarting → Check if a duplicate flashlight control application is installed (e.g. from a communications operator).
• 🔧 There is no item in the settings, but the flashlight works → This may be a hardware feature of your Redmi 7 (like the India or China version). → Additionally. → Language and region.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi 7 firmware (especially Chinese ones) have the flashlight function hard-stitched into the system files, in which case only flashing to the global version will help. MIUI or using a Magisk module to disable (requires root rights).

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If none of these methods worked, check to see if your Redmi 7 is an “operator” version (with the mobile provider logo on the case), which often has limited settings that can only be changed through the operator’s official software.

Alternatives: If you can’t turn it off

If all methods are useless, but the flashlight when calling you annoys, consider alternative solutions:

1. Use a flashlight cover to physically block the light, and any case with a cutout under the camera will do, but without a flash hole.
2. Set up Do Not Disturb for call times – in Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Don’t Disturb You can create a rule that will turn off all light effects.
3. Install an alternative calling app, like Google Phone, which doesn't use MIUI's built-in functions to control the flashlight.

The last option is to turn off the flashlight entirely through editing system files (root rights are required), but this will prevent you from using it manually, so only use this method if absolutely necessary.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions