How to turn off flash when calling on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 12, 13 and 14

The flash of a camera flashing when you make an incoming call or notification is one of the most annoying features of Xiaomi smartphones, especially at night when bright lights wake up households or distract people in the theater. Despite the fact that the manufacturer positions this feature as “useful” for alerts, many users want to turn it off forever.

The problem is that in standard MIUI settings, the flash deactivation option is often hidden or missing – especially on newer firmware versions (MIUI 13/14). In this article, we’ll break down all possible methods, from basic settings to hidden settings and even commands through ADB.

Why does Xiaomi flash when calling?

Flash Alerts was added to MIUI as an alternative way to alert people with hearing impairments, and is designed to:

• 🔦 Attract attention in noisy places (for example, at a concert or construction site).
• 🚨 Signal important notifications (calls, SMS, alarm-clock).
• 💡 Operate in No Sound mode when vibration is off.

But in practice, this function is more likely to interfere than to help.

• 🌙 At night, a bright flash wakes up others.
• 🎬 In a movie theater or lecture, she distracts others.
• 🔋 Discharges the battery — LED-The flash consumes energy even with short blinks.

In addition, on some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) flash is triggered not only on calls, but also on any notifications – from WhatsApp messages to low-charge alerts, which makes it even more intrusive.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

On most Xiaomi devices (especially those with MIUI 12 and later), the option to turn off the flash is hidden in the special features menu.

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the Special Features section (sometimes called Convenience).
3. Select Hearing → Flash at notifications.
4. Move the slider to the off position.

If you have a MIUI 13/14, the path may be slightly different.

Settings → Special features → Flash notifications

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. global version for the POCO F3) This item may not be available, so move on to the next one.

Find the section "Special Opportunities" in the settings"|Make sure you have the latest version. MIUI|Check if the item is hidden in the submenu "Hearing"|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

Method 2: Use the Sound and Vibration menu

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi K40), flash control is duplicated in the audio settings section to disable it:

1. Go to Settings. → Sounds and vibrations.
2. Scroll down to the Flash on Calls (or Notifications Flash) block.
3. Turn off the slider.

If there is no such item, try:

• 🔍 Click on Additional (three dots in upper right corner).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes the settings are only applied after the reboot.
• 📱 Check if the options for the Developer Settings are hidden (activated by 7-fold pressing on the Version) MIUI in the section About the telephone).

Important: On the European firmware (EEA), this item may be called Flash notifications – look for it in the English version of the menu.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which is suitable for 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.
• 🔧 Included Developer Settings and Debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and allow debugging (a request will appear on the phone screen).
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Execute the command to disable the flash: adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 0
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: If the flash is back on after the reboot, the firmware resets the settings, in which case only manual editing of system files (requires root rights) will help).

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → System → Backup. This will help restore your phone if something goes wrong.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use apps from Google Play.

How to use Notification Flash Control:

1. Install and open the application.
2. Select Flash Notification Settings.
3. Turn off the Enable Flash Notifications slider.
4. In the App Settings section, you can configure exceptions (for example, leave the flash only for the alarm clock).

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Flash Alerts Off) may conflict with system services MIUI. If after installation the phone started to brake, delete the program and use it. ADB.

Method 5: Manual editing of system files (for advanced ones)

If none of these methods work, you have to change the system settings manually, which requires root rights and is only suitable for advanced users.

Instructions:

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
3. Go to /system/csc/others.xml or /system/csc/feature.xml
4. Find the line with the parameter CscFeature_FlashNotification and change the meaning to false.
5. Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---).
6. Reboot the phone.

📌 Example of editing:

<CscFeature_FlashNotification>false</CscFeature_FlashNotification>

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to loss of warranty or device brik.If you are not sure of your actions, use ADB third-party.

Why does the flash continue to work after the shutdown?

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the flash keeps flashing.

If the problem persists, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI — Beta-based bugs are more common.
• 🔄 System cache - clean it through Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🛠️ Conflicting apps – some launchers (like Nova Launcher) can reset settings.

💡

If the flash turns on on itself after the upgrade, it's a firmware bug. A rollback to an older version of MIUI or waiting for a patch from Xiaomi may be the only solutions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the outbreak on Xiaomi