How to remove the flashlight when calling Xiaomi: all ways to turn off the flash

The camera flash that triggers an incoming call on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is a useful feature for alerting in noisy places. But not everyone likes it: bright light can annoy at night, distract others or simply be unnecessary. Unfortunately, in recent versions of MIUI, the manufacturer has hidden or removed the direct switch for this option. Let’s figure out how to turn it off on various models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13.

Complicating the problem is that the path to settings may vary depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14) and the smartphone model, and it may be hidden in the feature menu, but requires editing system files, and we've put together all the current methods, from official to alternative, including the solution for custom firmware devices.

Why does Xiaomi have a flashlight on its phone?

Flash Alerts was originally designed for hearing-impaired users, and bright flashes help keep incoming calls or notifications from being missed, even when the phone is in silent mode. On Xiaomi, this option is activated by default on most models, including:

• 📱 Redmi Note 10/11/12 series
• 📱 POCO X3/X4/X5 and POCO F-series
• 📱 Xiaomi 11T/12/13 and older flagships
• 📱 Budget models: Redmi 9A/10A/12C

The flash works not only for calls, but also for SMS, messaging notifications (WhatsApp, Telegram) and even alarms. The logic is simple: the system sends a signal to the camera LED module, causing it to blink at a given frequency. The problem is that on some MIUI firmware, this feature becomes too intrusive — for example, it works even when vibrating or in Do Not Disturb mode.

On the old versions. MIUI (Before 12th, you could turn off the flash right in the call settings, but now the path became more complicated, and on some models the option disappeared from the interface. This is due to Xiaomi’s policy of simplifying menus – many rarely used features have moved to Special Features or become available only through the service. ADB-team.

Method 1: Disconnection through “Special Opportunities” (MIUI 12–14)

This is the simplest and most official method that works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 firmware, but the path may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the software.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select Special Features (on some models – Additional Features).
3. Stick to the item Hearing (or Sound and Vibration in MIUI 14).
4. Find Flash notifications and turn off the slider.

If you don’t have a Rumor item on your menu, try an alternative route:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Select Additional or Notification Settings.
3. Look for the camera flash or light effects option.

On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the option may be called differently:

• 🔦 Light alerts
• 🔦 Blinking LED
• 🔦 Visual notifications

If you haven’t found this item, move on to the next method – your firmware most likely requires an alternative approach.

Method 2: Use of the ADB-commands (for hidden settings)

On some Xiaomi smartphones (especially those with global firmware), the flash option is hidden from the user, but it can be activated or deactivated via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires connecting the phone to a computer, but produces 100% results.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools (download from Google website)
• 🔧 Included Debugging by USB phone-on

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.

ADB

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

adb shell settings put system flash_notification_enabled 0

Reboot the phone.

To turn on the flash again, use the same command, but with 1 instead of 0.

adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 0

On some firmware, the option is stored in global settings, not system settings.-->

Warning: using ADB can cause failures if you type incorrect commands. Do not change other settings through the adb shell unless you are sure of their purpose.

Method 3: Editing system files (for advanced)

If the first two methods fail, the most radical method is manual editing of MIUI configuration files, which is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP or root rights.

Attention! Incorrectly changing system files can cause the phone to "break down."

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/cust/prop/local.pro or (for newer versions of MIUI): /vendor/build.prop
3. Find a line: ro.miui.has_flashlight_notification=1 and replace 1 on 0.
4. Save the file and restart the phone.

If there is no local.pro file, try creating it manually with the following content:

ro.miui.has_flashlight_notification=0

For devices without root, you can use Magisk modules, such as Disable Flash on Call, but this requires custom recavers.

Method 4: Disconnection through launcher applications

Some third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) allow you to manage system notifications, including flash.This method doesn't guarantee 100% results, but can help on devices where standard settings don't work.

How to set up:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Press your finger on the main screen → Settings.
3. Go to Notifications or Additional Settings.
4. Find the Light Effects option and turn it off.

Alternatively, applications like Flash Notifications (ironically) can intercept system alerts and block flashes, but these utilities require additional permissions and can conflict with MIUI.

Cons of the method:

• ⚠️ It doesn't work on all models.
• ⚠️ May increase battery consumption.
• ⚠️ Requires constant operation of the background service.

Method 5: Resetting settings to factory

If all previous methods didn't work, and the flash on the call became really annoying, then the radical solution is to reset to factory settings, which will delete all user data, but return the phone to its original state, where the flash option can be disabled by default.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Erase All Data (not to be confused with Network Resetting!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Warning: Before reset, be sure to back up photos, contacts and messages via Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud. Once reset, the phone will be like new, all apps and settings will be deleted.

After the reboot, check if the flash is on when you call. If so, try turning it off via Special Options (Method 1). On clean firmware, the option is usually available.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

💡

Start with the simplest method (Special features). If it doesn't work, go to ADB. Edit system files leave it to the last resort.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)