Flashlight flickering when calling Xiaomi? How to turn off forever

Are you tired of the flashlight flickering every time a Xiaomi or Redmi receives an incoming call?This feature, designed to alert users to calls in noisy places, often annoys users - especially at night when a bright flash wakes up households or distracts in a movie theater. Fortunately, you can turn off the flashlight flicker when you call in a number of ways, and we'll take a look at each one in detail.

The problem is relevant for all devices based on MIUI (from version 12 to the latest 14) and affects models from the budget Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. In some firmware, the option is hidden so deep that it is almost impossible to find it without instructions. And in some cases (for example, after an update), the settings are reset, and the flicker returns. We will tell you how to permanently remove the flash — both standard system tools, and using hidden menus or third-party applications.

Why the flashlight flashes when you call: the purpose of the function

The flashlight (or camera flash) flickering on incoming calls is part of the MIUI alert system designed for users with hearing impairments or for situations where the call sound is unheard. The feature is activated by default on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, but its behavior depends on the firmware version:

• 📱 MIUI 12-13: flickering only works when the screen is turned on or in Do Not Disturb mode with exceptions for calls.
• 🔄 MIUI 14: the function may be triggered even when the screen is off if the option "Flash at notifications" is enabled".
• ⚡ Special modes: on some models (e.g, POCO F4) flickering is duplicated by vibration, which doubles the irritation.

Interestingly, older versions of Android 9-10 (like Redmi 8) could turn off the flash in two clicks, while new firmware made the way to set up more difficult, due to Xiaomi’s policy of unifying the interface and transferring rarely used options to “extended” menus.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) flashlight flicker when calling can not be turned off through standard settings - you will need to use ADB We'll look at these methods below.

Method 1: Disconnect via call settings (the easiest)

If your device is running MIUI 12 or later, try the most obvious way.This method works on most models, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO X4 Pro and Xiaomi 11 Lite:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Incoming Calls (or Call Alerts on some firmware) section.
4. Find the Flash option when you call (may be called Light indicator or flashlight).
5. Move the slider to the off position.

If you don't have one, don't despair. On some devices (like the POCO M4 Pro), the option is hidden elsewhere:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Rumor → Flash on notifications.
• 📱 Turn off Flash slider when calling (not to be confused with Flash when messaging!).

On the Xiaomi 13 Pro and Redmi K50 with MIUI 14, the path to setup may be different: instead of “Special Features”, look for “Additional Settings → Alerts → Flash”.

Method 2: Using a Hidden Menu of Engineering Settings

If standard methods didn’t work, try turning off flickering through the engineering menu.This method is suitable for power users and requires caution – incorrect changes can disrupt the system. The instructions are relevant for Xiaomi based on Qualcomm Snapdragon (most models, except some on MediaTek).

Enter the following code in the Phone application:

##36446337##

After that:

1. You will be taken to the EngineerMode menu (if the code didn't work, try ##4636###).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing section → LED.
3. Find Flashlight Notification or Torch Notification.
4. Turn off the option (select Disable or Off).
5. Save the changes and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) The engineering menu may not contain options for controlling the flashlight (ADB).

Method 3: Disconnecting through Developer Mode

If previous methods didn’t work, activate the developer mode and try to disable the flicker through hidden settings.This method works on MIUI 13-14 and does not require root rights.

First, turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row until you become a developer!

Now, follow the following steps:

1. Return to Settings → Additional settings → For developers.
2. Scroll down and find the Notifications or Alerts section.
3. Turn off the LED Blink option when notified (or Flash when calling).
4. Reset the device.

On some firmware (for example, on Xiaomi Mi 11 with global MIUI), the option may be called Pulse notification light – it also needs to be turned off.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the most reliable way is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), Google’s official tool for managing hidden system settings without root rights, which works on all Xiaomi devices, including the POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12.

This will require:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Developer Mode and Debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) in the ADB folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
4. Execute the command to turn off flashlight flicker: adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 0
5. Reboot the phone.

If the flicker continues, try an alternative command:

adb shell settings put system flash_notification_enabled 0

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g., Chinese versions) MIUI) These commands may not work because of manufacturer limitations, and only custom recovery and system file editing can help.

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will save you from losing information when crashes occur.

Method 5: Third-party applications for flashlight control

If you don't want to go through the settings or use ADB, you can use third-party utilities.

Flash Alerts 2 is a good example of this:

1. Install the application and grant permissions for notifications.
2. Go to Settings → Calls.
3. Turn off the flash slider when an incoming call is made.
4. Save the changes.

The advantage of this method is the ability to selectively turn off flicker (for example, only for calls, but leave for SMS).

💡

Third-party utilities are the most versatile way, but they can conflict with system alerts. If the flashlight stopped working after installation, delete the application and restart the phone.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you’ve tried all of these methods, but the flashlight still flickers when calling, the following reasons are possible:

• 🔄 Resetting: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A3 With pure Android, flicker is controlled at the firmware level. Try resetting to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and reset, but back up first!
• 📥 Update MIUI: In some versions, the flickering bugs were patched. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Custom firmware: If you’re ready for drastic measures, install an alternative firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that doesn’t have a forced flashlight flickering.

Forums XDA Developers by Redmi users K40 and POCO X3 Pro complain that flicker returns after every major update MIUI. In this case, it will only help. ADB-commands registered in the boot (for example, through Tasker).

If your device is warranty, contact the Xiaomi service center to disable the function at the service menu level. In most cases, the wizards are willing to meet, since flashlight flickering is not a critical function.

FAQ: Frequent questions about flashlight flickering on Xiaomi