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

Have you ever been in the awkward situation of a flashlight on Xiaomi suddenly turning on during an important call? This feature, designed to be convenient in the dark, often becomes a source of irritation — especially if you are in a public place or at a business meeting, the screen is lit, the flash flash flashing, and you are in a panic trying to find a way to turn it off.

Compounding the problem, different versions of MIUI and different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) may have different paths to settings, and after system updates, settings are sometimes hidden in non-obvious menus. In this article, we will look at all possible ways to turn off the flashlight when you call, from standard settings to hidden functions of the engineering menu and even alternative solutions for stubborn devices.

We warn you right away: some methods require super-user rights, but most solutions work without them. If you're ready to get rid of an annoying flash once and for all, read on.

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

The automatic flashlight activation feature for incoming calls was introduced by MIUI as part of the Smart Services (formerly Smart Help) system, originally designed to:

• 🔦 Comforts in the dark – to quickly find your phone in your bag or pocket.
• 🚨 Attracting attention in noisy places (such as clubs or concerts).
• 🆘 Emergency situations when you need to take a call (for example, from the rescue service).

However, in practice, most Xiaomi users are faced with the reverse side of the coin:

• 😤 The flashlight works at the most inappropriate moments (at meetings, in the cinema).
• 🔋 Quickly drains the battery due to frequent switching on.
• 🤯 There is no obvious switch to disable in new versions MIUI 14/15.

Fortunately, 90% of the time, the feature can be deactivated without root rights, but the path to settings depends on the firmware version and smartphone model. Next, we’ll look at all the current ways, from simple to advanced.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings (without root)

The most obvious and safe method is to use the built-in options of the system. MIUI (starting MIUI 12.5) The path to settings has changed, and in some regional firmwares, the item is completely missing. MIUI 13/14/15:

Open the Settings app (cog on the desktop)

Go to the section Sound and vibration (or Sound and vibration)

Select Incoming Calls (or Call Settings)

Find the flashlight when you call (may be called flash when you call)

Switch the slider to the off position.-->

If your menu doesn’t have a flashlight item when you call, try an alternative route:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter the Phone and select the standard call app.
3. Go to Permits. → Additional authorizations.
4. Find the flashlight or the camera and turn off access.

On some models (Redmi 10, POCO M4 Pro), the function is hidden in the Settings menu → Special features → Hearing → Notifications with vibration and light. If there is nothing there, move to the next method.

💡

On smartphones with MIUI Global (European firmware), the function can be called Flash on call – search for it through the search in the settings (the magnifier in the upper right corner).

Method 2: Use of the engineering menu (hidden settings)

If the standard settings didn’t work, try turning off the flashlight through the engineering menu (#4636###).This method works on most Xiaomi devices, but you need to be careful – incorrect changes can lead to crashes.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that appears, select Testing (or Testing).
3. Go to the Hardware Testing → Flashlight section.
4. Find the Flash when incoming call and set the Disable value.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

If the Flashlight partition is missing, try an alternative path:

• Select Hardware Testing → Single Item Test from the Engineering Menu.
• In the list, find Flashlight and click on it.
• The test that opens must have a switch for the function when calling.

⚠️ Attention: Changes to the engineering menu may affect other functions (e.g. network or sensor settings).If communication problems occur after the flashlight is turned off, reset the network settings to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level system management tool that doesn’t require root rights, but requires command-line work.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (or PowerShell in Windows) 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_on_call 0
4. Reboot the phone.

To return the function back, use the same command, but with a value of 1 instead of 0.

💡

Team team. flashlight_on_call It works with most Xiaomi devices. MIUI 12+, but may not be supported on custom firmware or older models (e.g. Redmi) 4X).

⚠️ Attention: If after completion ADB-commands the phone began to behave unstable (for example, notifications stopped working), reset the phone application settings to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Method 4: Third-party applications for flashlight control

If you don’t want to dig into settings or use ADB, you can use third-party utilities, which are especially useful for devices with custom firmware or stripped-down versions of MIUI (for example, for the European market).

Top.-3 applications to turn off the flashlight when calling:

How to configure MacroDroid to turn off the flashlight:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Create a new macro with an Inbound Call trigger.
3. As an action, select Turn off the flashlight (or Turn off the flash).
4. Save the macro and activate it.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Flash Alerts 2) may conflict with standard settings MIUI. If after installation the flashlight began to turn on even more often, delete the application and clean the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → [name] → Clear the cache.

Method 5: Radical measures - shutdown through root or custom firmware

If none of the above methods work, there are two extreme options:

1. Getting root rights and editing system files.
2. Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

For the first method you will need:

• Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• Installed TWRP recovery.
• Root Explorer or BuildProp Editor.

Instructions for root users:

1. Open Root Explorer and go to /system/build.prop.
2. Find a line. ro.miui.flashlight_on_call=True and replace true with false.
3. Save the file and restart the phone.

If there is no line, add it to the end of the file:

ro.miui.flashlight_on_call=false

For the second method (castom firmware), the algorithm is as follows:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool.
2. Install TWRP for your model.
3. Swipe the firmware without pre-built MIUI “chips” (for example, Pixel Experience).

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights reset all data on the phone and can lead to loss of warranty. 12T, Redmi K50) Bank applications stop working after unlocking (due to lack of SafetyNet).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the flashlight is turned off, Xiaomi users sometimes face a return of the feature, and here are typical scenarios and ways to solve them:

If the flashlight is only turned on when calling from specific contacts, check:

• 📞 Customizations for individual melodies for contact (sometimes there is a flash option hidden there).
• 🔄 Spam blocking apps (like Truecaller) – they can intercept call settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions