How to permanently disable flash when calling Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: 4 proven ways

A flash camera blinking when incoming calls or notifications is a useful feature for those who often miss important calls. But for many owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, this turns into an annoying source of distraction, especially at night or in dark rooms. Bright flashes not only interfere with others, but also quickly drain the battery, and in some cases can even cause discomfort for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Unfortunately, in standard MIUI settings, the option to disable the notification flash is not always obvious — its path has changed depending on the firmware version, and in some builds it is completely hidden. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways, from basic settings to editing system parameters through ADB and third-party utilities, you will learn how to remove the blink for both calls and messages, and what to do if the option is blocked by the operator.

Why does the flash blink when calling and can it be turned off?

Flash Notifications has been added to Android as part of the accessibility standard for people with hearing impairments, and on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, it is activated by default and works in three scenarios:

• 📞 Incoming calls – intense blinking with frequency ~1 Hz.
• 💬 SMS and notifications – short flashes (usually 1-2 times).
• 🔔 Alarm clock – in some firmware flash is triggered along with the sound.

Technically, the function is implemented through LED-The indicator, but since the Redmi Note 9 doesn't have one, the system uses the main camera (its LED:

1. Fast battery discharge – each flash consumes ~0.5% of the charge.
2. Overheating of the camera module with prolonged blinks (relevant for alarm clocks).

You can turn it off, but the methods depend on the version of MIUI:

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (for most firmware)

If you have MIUI 12-14 or HyperOS, the first thing you need to do is check the basic settings. The path to the option may be different, but it usually looks like this:

1. Open Settings → Special Features (or Additional Settings).
2. Choose the Rumor. → Notification flash.
3. Transfer the slider to the off position for calls and notifications.

On some assemblies, the option is hidden deeper:

If there is no flash notification at all, it means:

• 🔄 Your firmware is modified (for example, custom LineageOS).
• 📱 The device is tied to the operator (e.g. Redmi Note). 9T for MTS).
• 🔧 Function disabled at kernel level (relevant for some regions).

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If there is no option in the settings, try updating the firmware to the latest version - in new MIUI builds, the path to the function is often simplified.

Method 2: Disconnect via the settings of the “Phone” application

In some cases, the flash blinking is not controlled by the system, but by the Phone app itself.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone and tap it.
3. Select Notifications → Incoming challenge.
4. Look for the flash or light indicator option.

If there is no option, try resetting the app settings:

Attention! The reset will delete the call history and individual settings (e.g., blacklist).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware after a reset, the flash option may reappear in the Special Options menu. If it was not available before the reset, this method will not help.

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can turn off the flash via the ADB debugging bridge.This method requires connecting the phone to a PC and basic command line knowledge.

Steps:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 0

notice

adb shell settings put global flash_notification_for_all 0

Reset the device.

Attention! Some Xiaomi firmwares block these commands with security policies, and if nothing changes after execution, try an alternative method:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.flashlight

⚠️ Warning: Disabling the com.android.flashlight system application may cause the flashlight in the notification panel to fail. To return everything back, use the command: adb shell pm enable com.android.flashlight

Method 4: Third-party applications (if nothing helped)

If all of the above methods fail, there is a variant with utilities from Google Play.

To completely shut down through Flash Alerts 2:

1. Install the application and provide all permissions.
2. Select Disable Flash on Calls from the menu.
3. Connect to the ADB and execute: adb shell pm grant com.kozikov.flashalerts android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

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Third-party apps are the last option if system methods don't work. They can conflict with MIUI updates, so check compatibility after the firmware upgrade.

What if the flash blinks even after the shutdown?

If you have followed all the instructions, but the flash continues to work, the problem may be:

• 📲 Operator firmware – some builds (for example, for Beeline or Tele2) block the change.
• 🔄 Application conflict – messengers like WhatsApp or Viber can have their own flash settings.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction – if the flash blinks arbitrarily, it may indicate damage to the camera plume.

Decisions:

1. Check the settings of messengers: WhatsApp: Settings → Notifications → Light indication. Telegram: Settings → Notifications → LED.

Reset the network settings:

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network reset

MIUI

:

If the problem is the operator’s firmware, install the official global version via Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the outbreak on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9