How to permanently turn off the flashlight when calling Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often face unexpected behavior of the device: during an incoming call, the flashlight automatically activates. This feature, designed to attract the attention of the user in a noisy environment or dark room, is often annoying — especially at night when bright light wakes up the household, or in public places where it attracts unnecessary attention. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not include this option in the main settings, so many users do not know how to deactivate it.

Complicating the problem, the flashlight’s algorithm depends on the MIUI version, smartphone model, and even regional firmware. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 14, the path to shutdown is different from what is offered for the Redmi 9A on Chinese firmware. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways – from standard settings to hidden developer parameters and third-party utilities – and explain why the flashlight can turn on even after allegedly successful shutdown.

Why the flashlight turns on when you call: the official logic of Xiaomi

The automatic flashlight on incoming calls was introduced in MIUI as part of Flash Alerts, originally intended for users with hearing impairments or for situations where the smartphone is in silent mode, but over time, the feature has become activated by default on many Redmi models, including:

• 📱 Redmi Note 11/12/13 (modifications)
• 📱 Redmi 10/9/8 (especially in the firmware for India and China)
• 📱 POCO X3/X4/X5 (base MIUI for POCO)
• 📱 Redmi K50/K60 (in some regional versions)

According to the documentation of Xiaomi, the trigger for the flashlight is:

1. Incoming call (including VoIP calls via WhatsApp, Telegram).
2. SMS notifications (on some firmware).
3. An alarm clock (rare but found on older versions of MIUI)

Important: If the flashlight only flashes when you receive notifications (like Viber or Instagram), the problem is not with the call settings, but with the Flash Alerts settings for the specific application, which we will explain in a separate section.

Method 1: Disconnecting through “Special Features” (works on 80% of models)

The most reliable method that works on most MIUI 12-14 devices is to deactivate the function through the special feature menu, and the instructions are universal for Redmi, POCO and even some Mi models:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Special Features section (sometimes called Additional Features).
3. Select Flash Notification or Flash Alerts (in English firmware).
4. Turn off the slider next to Incoming Calls (or Calls).
5. For reliability, also deactivate Messages and Alarm options, if any.

Note: On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10S), this item may be called Flash Notifications or hidden in the Rumor → Flash submenu.

If after these manipulations the flashlight still turns on, the reason may be:

• 🔄 Cache system - requires a reboot of the device.
• 📱 Regional firmware - on Chinese versions MIUI The path to settings may be different.
• 🛠️ shell conflict – for example, if you use a launcher from a third-party manufacturer.

💡

If your menu does not have the option “Flash-notification”, try to enter in the search by settings (lamp at the top of the screen) the request “flash” or “flash” – the system will tell you the current path.

Method 2: Hidden developer settings (for advanced users)

If the standard method didn’t work, the cause could be an activated option in the developer menu, which is suitable for users who have previously enabled Developer Mode (for example, to unlock the bootloader or debug over USB).

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode if it is disabled: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Go back to the main Settings menu and open a new Developer Options section.
3. Scroll down to the Debugging block and find Disable flash on call.
4. Activate this switch and restart the device.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Redmi K60), this option may be called Flash notification override, which should be turned off.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the settings in the developer menu can affect the stability of the smartphone. Do not activate other options if you do not understand their purpose - for example, debugging. USB Public networks may not be secure.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (if system methods don’t work)

If none of these things worked, the problem could be firmware or system services conflict, and then third-party tools that block applications from accessing the flashlight come to the rescue, and we tested a few solutions and selected the most reliable ones:

Annex 1: Flash Alerts 2 (for manual control)

This application does not disable the system function, but intercepts the control of the flashlight, allowing you to flexibly configure its operation:

• 🔦 Allow flashing only for alarm clock.
• 🔕 Turn it off for calls and texting.
• ⏱️ Set an automatic shutdown timer.

You can download it from Google Play (free, no ads) after installation:

1. Open the app and grant permissions to access notifications.
2. In the Call Alerts section, uncheck the Enable Flash on Call box.
3. Reboot your smartphone.

Appendix 2: MacroDroid (for automatic rules)

MacroDroid allows you to create a rule that will force the flashlight to be turned off when you call.

1. Create a new macro (Add Macro).
2. Select the Incoming Call as the trigger.
3. Add the Turn Off Flashlight action.
4. Save and activate the macro.

Warning: MacroDroid requires permission to access the phone and notifications, which can be privacy-risky.Use only the official version from Google Play.

Method 4: Manual editing of system files (for experienced ones only)

This method is only suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights, and it involves editing the configuration file responsible for notifications. Wrong actions can lead to system failure!

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/csc/others.xml
3. Find a line: <CscFeature_FlashNotification>Enable</CscFeature_FlashNotification> Replace Enable with Disable.
4. Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---).
5. Reset the device.

If the file others.xml No, try the way:

/system/csc/feature.xml

(for new versions of MIUI):

/vendor/overlay/framework-res__auto_gen_rro_vendor.apk

(This will require decompilation of APK to edit resources.)

⚠️ Note: Editing system files without a backup can lead to a device blink (undownloadability). TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

Method 5: Resetting settings to factory (extreme case)

If all previous methods were powerless, and the flashlight continues to turn on when the call is made, the cause may be damage to the system settings - for example, after a failed update or using tweaks through Magisk, in which case the reset to factory parameters will help.

How to reset your settings without losing data:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (not Reset to factory!).
3. Confirm the action. The device will restart, but the files in the memory will remain intact.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to do a full reset (with deletion of data).

• 📲 Backup your contacts, photos and apps with Mi Cloud or Google Account.
• 🔐 Write down passwords from accounts (they will be deleted).
• 📡 Make sure you have access to Mi Account – after a reset, the device may require you to enter a linked account.

Important: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+) may require re-activation of Mi Account via SMS or email after reset.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after successfully turning off the flashlight, users experience relapses, and consider typical scenarios and ways to eliminate them:

Special case: If the flashlight is only turned on on headphones (for example, when connected Xiaomi Earbuds), the problem lies in the settings of the Bluetooth device.

1. Turn off the headphones and check the behavior of the flashlight.
2. Reset Bluetooth settings (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Reset the settings).
3. Update the firmware of headphones through the Mi Earphones app.

💡

If the flashlight is only turned on when calling over a mobile network (not VoIP), check your settings. SIM-Cards: sometimes operators (e.g. Airtel in India) force this feature to be activated via the USSD-team.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions