Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often experience the intrusive visual effect of the device’s screen periodically lighting up when a new message or call arrives.This feature, known as “notification indicator” or “screen blinking,” is designed to attract the user’s attention, but in low light conditions it can be very intrusive, especially annoying at night, when each notification turns into a bright signal that can wake up or disturb the calm before bed.
The developers of MIUI and the new HyperOS shell have made it possible to adjust this setting flexibly, but finding the right option is difficult because of the deep menu. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to turn off the notification pulse on different versions of the firmware, you will learn how to control the light indication so that it only works when you really need it, not the system.
It’s worth noting that the methods may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the specific model of your smartphone.We’ll look at the universal paths that cover most of the brand’s current devices.If you want to get rid of excess light on a locked screen, follow our step-by-step recommendations below.
Why you need a notification indicator and why it is turned off
The flashing screen function was originally designed as an alternative to the LED light, which has disappeared from the design of many modern smartphones to increase the useful area of the display. When a message comes from Viber, Telegram or an incoming call, part of the screen lights up briefly, which allows the user to understand that the phone is active without touching it.
The main reason users tend to turn off this effect is at night, because if the phone is on the bedside table, any notification turns the room into a disco, and if you turn on the display often, even for short periods, it can help you to consume more battery power, and while the energy consumption of one blink is minimal, it can be a tangible result in the sum of a day, especially on older batteries.
Also, many people are annoyed by the constant visual stimulation, which is when you're in "Do Not Disturb" mode or watching movies horizontally, when you suddenly flash your screen, you're going to be unset, and when you turn off that feature, you're going to make your smartphone use more predictable and controlled, and you're going to be deciding when to pick up your device, rather than reacting to every light signal.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off the indicator does not affect the audible notifications and vibration. Your phone will continue to signal events in other ways unless they are separately disabled.
Search for settings in the interface MIUI and HyperOS
The MIUI shell interface, and now HyperOS, is notoriously saturated, but sometimes important features are hidden in obscure places. You don't have to be an expert to find the indicator switch. Most of the time, the path is through the standard system settings menu. The element layout logic is the same for most models, whether it's the flagship Xiaomi 14 or the budget Redmi Note.
The first thing you need to do is open the Settings app, which is usually represented by a gear icon, and then the interface can give you a search by settings, which greatly speeds up the process. Type the phrase "indicator" or "notifications" into the search bar, and the system will highlight the item in question, which is the fastest way if you don't want to wander through the menu.
If the search is unsuccessful or you prefer the manual method, go to the screen and brightness section. This is where all the parameters related to visualization, including autobrightness, refresh rate and read mode, are concentrated. In some versions of the firmware, the desired switch may be in the block screen subsection.
It’s important to understand that newer versions of HyperOS may have changed the menu structure. If you don’t find the option on the standard path, check Notifications and Status Bar. Developers often migrate functions between partitions with major system updates to optimize the user experience.
Step-by-step: disabling through screen settings
Here's a detailed guide to help you remove the flashing effect, and we'll take you through the process Step-by-step so you don't get confused by the menu items, and make sure your screen is unlocked and you're on the main desktop before you start.
☑️ Algorithm of action
The first step is to log into the Settings menu. Find the appropriate icon and click on it. Next, scroll down to the Basic block or immediately select Screen and brightness. Depending on the version of MIUI, the names may vary slightly, but the load remains the same.
Inside the screen and brightness section, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you'll find Notification Indicator (or Screen Blinking at Notifications) and click on the name of the item or the switch next to it. If the switch is on blue or green, the function is active. Click on it to turn gray.
Once the function is turned off, the system will not require a reboot. The changes take effect instantly. You can check the result by asking someone to send you a message or make a test call to your number. The screen should remain black, signaling the event only with sound or vibration.
⚠️ Note: On some models with AMOLED-It can be called "Always On Display" or "Landby Indicator." Make sure you turn off the blinking of events, not the constant timelighting if you need it.
Configure the indication for individual applications
You don't always have to turn off the lights completely. Sometimes you can see a blink when you call someone you love, but you don't want the screen to light up every time you send a promotional message or a notification from the game. Xiaomi's system allows you to flexibly adjust this setting.
The same menu where the shared switch is, often has an app list, where you can individually choose which programs have the right to wake up the screen, for example, you can keep the blinking active for WhatsApp and Calls, but turn it off for Instagram and news aggregators.
- 📱 Open the notification indicator settings.
- 🔍 Find the list of “Apps” or “Apps Selection».
- ✅ Activate the switches only for important messengers.
- 🚫 Turn off all others to avoid excess light.
This approach balances awareness and comfort, and you won't miss an important call, but the screen won't flash every five minutes because of less significant events, which is especially true for people who are in multiple work chat rooms.
Hidden opportunities are always on display
It is worth remembering that setting for individual applications only works if the global indicator switch is active. If you turned off the function completely in the previous section, individual settings will not apply.
Operational modes and activation schedule
Xiaomi's smart features allow you to not just turn the indicator on or off, but to tie it to certain conditions, such as time of day, location or phone mode, for example, you can set the system so that the blinking only works during the day and automatically turns off at night.
To implement this scenario, use Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode, which often has a separate clause in the settings to prevent the screen from turning on when notifying, eliminating the need to manually switch switch switch switch switch switch switch switches every morning and evening.
| Regime. | Behavior of the indicator | Where to set up |
|---|---|---|
| Normal. | Blinks according to general settings | Screen and brightness |
| Don't disturb. | It doesn't blink (by default) | Settings -> Sound and vibration |
| Games | Disabled for immersion | Security -> Accelerating Games |
| Cinema. | Automatically suppressed |
And you also have to pay attention to In-Pack mode, which uses a proximity sensor to prevent the phone from turning on the screen inadvertently when it's in your bag or pocket, and although this isn't really about notifications, it's very much about controlling backlights and saving energy.
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Use In-Air mode at night if you want to guarantee to turn off all types of communication and indications, but leave Wi-Fi on for instant messengers - then the screen can still blink unless an exception is configured.
Problem Solving: If the indicator is not turned off
There are times when the user has done everything, but the screen keeps on lighting up, which can be caused by third-party apps or system failures, first of all, check if you're using third-party themes. Some custom themes have their own indicator settings that override the system ones.
If the theme is standard, try clearing the Settings cache or restarting the device. Sometimes temporary system files may conflict with new settings. Also check for MIUI or HyperOS updates. Older firmware versions may have bugs patched in newer releases.
- 🔄 Perform a full reboot of the smartphone.
- 🎨 Temporarily return the standard theme of the design.
- 📲 Check access rights from flashlight applications.
- ⚙️ Reset the settings of special features.
In rare cases, applications in the flashlight or notification category that have screen permission may be the cause. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All apps and check if suspicious programs have permission to display over other windows or control the flash.
⚠️ Attention: If the screen flashes in rhythmic mode without notifications, this may indicate a malfunction of the proximity sensor or moisture entering the speaker area.
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If standard methods don't work, check the phone in safe mode, and if it's blinking, one of the apps you've installed is to blame.
The impact of settings on the autonomy of the device
Many users are asking, how much does the notification indicator affect the battery? The answer depends on the type of screen on your smartphone. On IPS-matrix devices, the backlights use the entire screen, which consumes more power. On AMOLED screens, only a fraction of the pixels light up, which is much more economical.
However, even a short-term display turn on requires processing power and power. If you get hundreds of notifications a day, the total screen time in lock mode can be tens of minutes, and turning off this feature is one of the easy steps to optimize power consumption, especially on devices with already worn-out batteries.
In addition, the constant inclusion of the screen can lead to uneven burnout of pixels on the old AMOLED-if a static interface element (such as a watch or an application icon) is displayed too often in the same zone.