How to remove flash when calling Xiaomi: all working methods for MIUI

The camera flash that triggers an incoming call on Xiaomi is a feature that annoys many users, especially at night when bright lights wake up households or attract unnecessary attention in public places. Although the manufacturer positions this option as “useful” for alerting a call, in practice it often interferes with rather than helps.

The problem is complicated by the fact that in the new versions MIUI (starting MIUI 12) The path to shutting down the flash is hidden deep in the settings or not at all in the menu.Redmi Note users 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5 And other models are faced with the fact that standard instructions from the Internet do not work — either menu items are renamed or they were removed in the latest updates, ADB-commands and circumventing restrictions for different firmware versions.

Why does the flash work when you call and can it be turned off?

Flash Alerts was originally designed for hearing-impaired users, and bright flashes were meant to compensate for the lack of sound, but over time, this option became available by default on many Xiaomi devices, regardless of the owner’s needs.

In older versions of MIUI (before MIUI 11), you could turn it off in a few clicks in the feature settings, but now the manufacturer has complicated the process, and in some regional firmware, it has removed the direct option altogether.

• 📱 Marketing ploy: Bright flash draws attention to brand in public spaces.
• 🔒 Restrictions of regional firmware: in European and global versions MIUI Some settings are blocked.
• 🛠️ Technical nuances: on budget models (for example, Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Hardware limitations do not allow flexible control of the LED.

Good news: Even if your firmware doesn't have a direct switch, you can turn off the flash via hidden menus, ADB or third-party utilities. Below we'll look at all the methods - from the simplest to the most complex.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via "Special Opportunities" (MIUI 12-14)

If you have global or European firmware (not Chinese), try this method first.It works on most models, including the Xiaomi 11T, Redmi Note 10 Pro and POCO F4:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Scroll down to the Rumor section and select Alert Flash (or Flash Alerts in English firmware).
3. Move the slider to the off position.
4. Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 9) this item may be called differently:

• Flash alerts
• Light signals
• Flash on notifications

If you do not find the desired section, use the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

Method 2: Hidden settings with ## code

If the standard path doesn’t work, try activating the hidden engineering menu, which is suitable for devices running MIUI 12.5-14, but requires caution:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##36446337## (this is code for testing hardware components, including flash).
2. In the menu, select LED Test or Flashlight Test.
3. Find the Disable Flash on Call option (called Call Flash Off) and activate it.
4. Save the settings and restart the device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose! incorrect settings can cause the camera to crash or loss of warranty.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods have failed, it remains to disable the flash via the ADB debugging bridge. This is a universal method that works on all Xiaomi models, but requires a connection to a computer.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 🛠️ Google's Platform Tools utility

Step-by-step:

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

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Platform Tools

adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 0

Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: If the flash continues to fire after the command is executed, try an alternative command:

adb shell settings put secure flash_notification_enabled 0

On some firmware, the parameter is stored in secure, not global.

💡

If ADB does not recognize the device, update drivers through the Mi Unlock Tool or install universal ADB-driver.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized utilities.

How to use:

1. Download and install one of the applications (e.g. Flash Notifications).
2. Provide all necessary permissions (access to notifications, camera).
3. In the application settings, find the Call Flash section and turn it off.
4. Add the app to the autoload so that the settings are not reset.

⚠️ Note: Applications from third-party sources (e.g, 4PDA) They may contain malicious code. Install them only if you are sure of security!

💡

Third-party applications are the easiest way, but they consume an extra battery and can conflict with system utilities.

Method 5: Manual editing of system files (root only)

If you have a bootloader unlocked and Magisk or other root access installed, you can turn off the flash permanently by editing system files, a method that is suitable for POCO F3, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and other flagships.

Instructions:

1. Install Root Explorer or a similar file manager with root access.
2. Go to /system/cust/prop/local.prop If there is no file, create it.
3. Add a line: ro.miui.has_flashlight_notification=false
4. Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---).
5. Reset the device.

If neither method worked, your firmware might have hard-wired limitations, so there are two options:

1. Reflash the device to the global or European version of MIUI (instructions are available on xiaomi.eu).
2. Take the phone to the Xiaomi service center with a request to disable the feature at the firmware level.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions