How to turn off the flashlight on Xiaomi: all the ways (including emergencies)

Why Xiaomi’s flashlight doesn’t turn off and what to do about it

The flashlight on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most popular features, but it sometimes becomes a source of irritation, such as when it accidentally activates in your pocket, drains the battery or simply does not respond to standard methods of shutting down. In this article, we will discuss all possible methods of deactivating the flashlight, including little-known tricks for emergency cases.

The problem is compounded by the fact that the manufacturer regularly changes the location of controls in the firmware MIUI. What worked on the Redmi Note 10 may not work on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. We took these nuances into account and collected current instructions for all modern models (2020-2026).

Important: if the flashlight is turned on spontaneously without your participation, this may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, sticking a button or damage to the plume), in which case it is better to contact the service center.

Method 1: Disconnect through the notification panel (curtain)

The most obvious and quickest method is to use the notification bar, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model and version of MIUI (except for devices with highly customized firmware).

Instructions:

Swipe your finger down the screen to open the notification bar.
If the curtain is not fully opened, swipe again - all icons should appear.
Find the flashlight icon (usually looking like a flashlight or a light bulb) and tap it.

If there is no flashlight icon:

🔍 Check if it is hidden under the “More” button (three dots or arrow down).
⚙️ Go to Settings. → Notification panel → Order of icons and add a flashlight to the active.
📱 In some models (for example, POCO F5) The flashlight can be in the section "Quick settings" in the second swipe.

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If the flashlight does not turn off the first time, try tapping the icon twice with an interval of 1 second - this works when the system freezes.

Method 2: Use the lock button (double press)

Many users are unaware that on most Xiaomi smartphones, the flashlight can be controlled by double-pressing the lock button, a feature enabled by default on the Redmi Note series, POCO and flagships (Xiaomi 12/13/14).

How it works:

🔒 Press the lock button twice in a row (with intervals) ~0.5 sec).
🔦 At the first double press the flashlight will turn on, at the second - it will turn off.
📵 Works even on a locked screen (unless the function is disabled in the settings).

If the function is not working:

Go to Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings.
Find the item "Double press the power button" and select "Flashlight".
Make sure the option is active (slider is enabled).

📊 What way to turn off the flashlight you use more often?

Through the curtain.

Double-press of a button

Voice assistant.

Other

I don't know what it is.

Method 3: Voice Assistant (Google Assistant or Xiao AI)

When hands are busy or the screen is unavailable, voice commands come to the rescue. Xiaomi smartphones support two types of assistants:

🤖 Google Assistant – Works on all models with Google services.
🧠 Xiao AI — brand assistant, available on Chinese and global firmware.

Instructions for each:

Assistant	Command to shut down	Features
Google Assistant	"Okay, Google, turn off the flashlight"	It works on a locked screen if access is enabled in the security settings.
Xiao AI (Chinese version)	''Xiao Ai, turn off the flashlight'' (on Russian firmware)	Requires activation in Settings → Xiao AI → Voice control.
Xiao AI (global version)	"Turn off flashlight""Close torch"	It may not work on some regional firmware.

If voice commands are not recognized:

🎤 Check if the microphone for the assistant is enabled in the privacy settings.
📶 Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (helpers need cloud services).
🔊 Set up voice activation in the assistant menu (e.g., “OK, Google” or “Hey Xiao”). AI").

What if the assistant turns on the flashlight instead of turning off?

Sometimes, due to recognition errors, voice assistants perform the opposite action. In this case: 1. Clarify the command: instead of "turn off" say "turn off the flashlight completely." 2. Restart the assistant through the application settings. 3. Update the Google/Xiao AI app to the latest version.

Situation: Xiaomi's smartphone screen doesn't respond to touch, but the phone is on. How do you turn off the flashlight in this case? The solution is to use special-purpose gestures that work even when the display is faulty.

Algorithm of action:

If the screen is completely black, but the phone makes sounds, try triple pressing the power button – this can activate special features mode.
On a working but non-responsive screen: 👆 Swipe two fingers from top to bottom (gesture to open the curtains). 🔍 If the curtain is opened, try to tap the area where the flashlight icon should be (usually in the upper right corner).

MIUI 12+

Voice access

Activate it in advance in Settings → Special. features → Voice access.
Say "Open the notification panel", then "Push the flashlight".
Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands: Adb devices adb shell input keyevent 26 # turns on/off flashlight

Alternative teams:

🔦 Turning off flashlight forced: adb shell"echo" 0 > /sys/class/leds/torch-light0/brightness"
📱 Checking the status of the flashlight: adb shell"cat /sys/class/leds/torch-light0/brightness" (return"1", if it's on,"0" — if off).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not execute commands unless you are sure of their purpose, such as writing to non-existent system files (/sys/class/leds/...) cause error.

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ADB is a powerful tool, but it requires caution. Always check the commands for compatibility with your Xiaomi model before executing.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes the flashlight on Xiaomi behaves inappropriately: spontaneously turns on, does not turn off or flashes, let's analyze typical scenarios and ways to eliminate them.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The flashlight turns on on itself	Power button sticking Failure in the operation of the proximity sensor Viral software	Check the button for physical damage Disable "Smart Assistant" in the settings Scan the phone with antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes)
The flashlight doesn't turn off in any way.	System freeze Damage to camera driver/flashlight	Reboot your phone forcibly (press the power button for 10 seconds) Reset to factory settings (if the problem persists)
The flashlight flashes or works intermittently	Weak contact in the camera connector Low battery charge Activated SOS mode	Charge your phone to 30% or more Turn off emergency alert mode in security settings Contact the service to check the camera plume

If none of the methods worked and the flashlight continues to work, it could indicate a hardware malfunction.

🛠️ Contact the authorized Xiaomi service center.
📦 If the phone is warranty, do not try to disassemble it yourself.
🔋 On models with removable battery (for example, Redmi) 4A) You can temporarily turn off the power, removing the battery for 10-15 seconds.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I turn off the flashlight on Xiaomi via Siri or Alice?

No, voice assistants from Apple (Siri) and Yandex (Alice) do not have access to flashlight control on Android devices, and you can only use Google Assistant or Xiao AI for this.

Why did the flashlight stop turning off with a double push of a button after the MIUI update?

This is a common problem after major updates (e.g., from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13). Solution: Go to Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings. Find "Double press power button" and reset the default settings. Select the flashlight function again. If the option has disappeared completely, it may have been removed for your model. In this case, use a curtain or voice commands.

How to turn off the flashlight on Xiaomi if the phone is locked and does not respond to touch?

In this case, it will help: 🔊 Voice assistant (if access is enabled on a locked screen). 🔒 Double press of the power button (if the function is activated). 🖥️ Connection to PC and management through ADB (If nothing works, it is only forced reboot (press the power button for 10-15 seconds) or battery extraction (on models where possible).

Are there applications to automatically turn off the flashlight after a predetermined time?

Yes, there are utilities on Google Play that allow you to set up a timer for a flashlight: 🔦 Flashlight Timer – Simple Timer with Interval Setting. ⏱️ Flashlight Auto Off – Turns off the flashlight after a set time or when the screen is locked. 🤖 Tasker – for advanced users (allows you to create complex scenarios). ⚠️ Caution: Some apps require permission to access special features, which may not be secure.

Can I turn off the flashlight on Xiaomi through a smart watch or fitness bracelet?

Yes, but only if your watch or bracelet supports smartphone function control: 📱 Xiaomi Watch S3 Redmi Watch 3 can control the flashlight through the Mi Fitness app if notification synchronization is enabled. ⌚ Amazfit GTR 4 allows you to send commands to your phone, but requires you to set up in a companion application. To do this: Make sure that the latest software is installed on the watch. In the pairing settings of the phone, allow control of the device. Use a voice assistant on your watch (if supported) or a special widget.