Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often experience a device flashing randomly from a flash or screen during an incoming call, which can be not just an annoying distraction in a movie theater or meeting, but also a sign of a system notification failure. There are several levels of settings in the MIUI operating system that can activate this effect, and not all users can find the right switch the first time.
The blinking may be caused by the standard alert function, which is active by default on many models, or by a third-party application that has access to control of the camera and flashlight. Understanding which mechanism triggers the device's response is the first step to fix the problem. In this article, we will discuss all possible causes in detail and provide a step-by-step algorithm for actions for different versions of the shell.
Don’t ignore this symptom if it comes on suddenly, as in rare cases it may indicate a conflict of hardware components or the need to update drivers.We will look at both software methods for disabling through the standard menu, and deeper settings available through the engineering menu or special utilities.
Staff Alerts settings in MIUI
The most common flashing source is a built-in shell feature designed to grab the user’s attention. In the Xiaomi menu, it can be called differently depending on the regional version of the firmware: “Flash at Notifications”, “Blink” or “Call Indicator”. To find this option, you need to go to the basic settings of the phone and select the section responsible for sound and vibration.
It's important to be careful here, because the switch can be in the "Advanced" submenu or hidden inside the settings of the Phone app itself. If you use the standard MIUI feature set, the path most often looks like this: "Settings" → "Sound and vibration" → "Additional audio settings." This is where the main switcher that controls visual signals is located.
Once the function is disabled, the system may require confirmation of actions, as this affects the availability of the device for people with hearing impairments. Make sure that you turn off the blinking and not other important notifications. If after these actions the problem persists, an alternative alert mechanism may be activated.
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Before changing the sound settings, take a screenshot of the current position of the switches, which will help you quickly return everything to the same way if you accidentally turn off an important vibration function.
It’s worth noting that on some models, such as the Redmi Note or Poco, settings can be duplicated in the special features menu. Check the Advanced Settings section → Special Options → Hearing. Here you can also activate the flash when calling, which takes precedence over the basic audio settings.
Settings of the Phone and Google Dialer
Users often forget that not only the system but also the application is responsible for processing incoming calls. Xiaomi smartphones can use two types of “caller”: the standard MIUI Dialer or Google Phone (G Dialer), the interface and location of settings in them are significantly different, which often leads to confusion when searching for the desired parameter.
If you have a standard shell installed, open the Phone app, click three dots in the corner of the screen and select Settings. In the list of options, look for Inbound Call or Call Animation. This is where the setting hides that causes the flash to blink rhythmically or constantly. Disabling here ensures that the system application will not send signals to the LED.
- 📞 Open the Phone app and go to the settings menu via the menu button.
- ⚙️ Find the section “Incoming calls” or “Call settings».
- 💡 Locate the switch labeled «Flash on call» or «M flashlight on incoming call» and turn it off.
- 🔄 Restart the device to make the changes effective.
☑️ Checking the call settings
In the case of Google Dialer, the path may be different. You have to click three dots, select Settings, then Inbound Calls. If there's no explicit mention of a flash, check the "Special Features" section inside the Google app itself. Sometimes service updates return these settings by default, so it's worth checking them again after each system update.
Use of special capabilities (accessibility)
The Android Special Features section is designed to help people with disabilities, but its features are often used by ordinary users, but this is one of the most common causes of uncontrolled blinking. The Flash at Notifications or Flash at Call feature in this section is a high priority and can override basic system settings.
To get to the menu you want, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Opportunities. At the top of the screen or in the category list, find the Hearing tab. Here you'll see the Flash on Call switch. If it's active, the phone will blink regardless of what's on the other menus. This is a global setting that works even in sleep mode.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling features in the special features section may affect other utility applications that use visual signals to alert you to events in the background.
Also in this section, check the Availability Notice settings, some apps may request access to this feature for their work, and if their algorithms have a flash, the phone will respond to events within these apps, carefully examine the list of installed special-optimization apps and turn off suspicious ones.
Third-party applications and software conflicts
If the system settings are off and the phone keeps flashing, the reason is almost certainly third-party software: Call apps, number-detecting "callers," and various cliners and optimizers often have their own notification settings. They can intercept control of the smartphone's hardware.
So you should pay special attention to apps like Truecaller, Call Blocker, or all sorts of themes, and even if you haven't used them in a long time, they can hang in your memory and activate a flash under certain conditions. Try running your phone in Safe Mode. If you stop blinking in this mode, then one of the apps you installed is to blame.
| Type of application | Probability of conflict | Where to look for settings | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number-defining | Tall. | Inside the appendix, section "Admonishments" | Disable in the application settings |
| Design topics | Medium | Themes app → Profile | Reset the topic to standard |
| Lanterns | Tall. | Appendix authorizations | Delete the appendix |
| Notifications for messengers | Low. | Android Notification Settings | Check notification channels |
How do you get into safe mode?
For diagnostics, try removing newly installed apps, especially those that requested access to a camera or flashlight. Often users don't notice how they let a calculator app control a flash. Check the permission list under Applications → Permissions → Camera or Flashlight.
Hardware problems and proximity sensors
Sometimes the blinking is not a software function, but rather a malfunction of the proximity sensor, which is located at the top of the screen and is responsible for quenching the screen during a conversation, and if the sensor is contaminated, taped or damaged, it can send erroneous signals to the system, causing the screen to turn on and off chaoticly or flash.
You can check the sensor using the engineering menu. Enter the code ##6484## in the Phone app. In the CIT menu that opens, select Proximity sensor. Close the top of the screen with your hand and remove it. The indicator must change the state from Far (far) to Near (close). If the reaction is not or is chaotic, the hardware problem is.
In addition, some Xiaomi models have a light bunny effect on the screen during a conversation due to the characteristics of the AMOLED matrix. This is not a flash flash, but the glow of pixels under the ear, which the user may perceive as a defect, in such cases only a replacement screen or software brightness reduction through the engineering menu, if such an option is available for your model.
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If the blinking is accompanied by heating of the top of the phone, this may indicate a short circuit in the proximity sensor circuit, in which case it is better to stop using the device before repair.
Resetting and extreme measures
When software methods fail, more radical measures are needed: Resetting all settings to factory settings (not to be confused with a complete data reset) can eliminate deep conflicts in the system configuration, bringing all system switches back to their original state, including hidden flags that may have been activated incorrectly.
Before you reset, make sure your contacts and important data are saved in the Mi Cloud or Google account cloud. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Select the option to “Erase all data” only if you are ready for a full cleanup, or Reset (if available in your version of MIUI) to save files.
- 🔒 Create a backup of all important data.
- 🔋 Charge the device to a minimum of 60%.
- 📲 Go to the Recovery or Reset Settings menu.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed and the initial setup.
If even after a complete reset and installation of only system updates, the problem persists, there is a high probability of hardware defect of the motherboard or plume, in which case the software methods are powerless, and diagnostics are required at the service center. Do not try to disassemble the device yourself if you do not have experience, as this can lead to loss of warranty.