Why does Xiaomi flashlight turn on when you call?
Have you noticed that your Xiaomi flashlight automatically lights up when you make an incoming or outgoing call? This feature, which the manufacturer called Call Flashlight, was added to MIUI 12 and saved in newer versions of the firmware. It was originally intended as a handy tool: a flashlight helps you find your phone in the dark or attract attention in a noisy place. But for many users, automatically turning on the flashlight when you call has become an annoying factor β especially if you often call indoors or during the day when you don't need backlight.
Compounding the problem, it can work differently on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro, where the flashlight only flashes when a call is incoming, and the Redmi Note 12 flashes when it is outgoing. In some regional firmware, the option is hidden in menu depths or not in the standard settings. In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to turn off the flashlight when a call, from obvious to hidden, including methods for devices with custom firmware.
Before you go to the instructions, check the firmware version. To do this, go to Settings β About Phone β MIUI Version. If you have MIUI 14 or later, some menu items may be called differently, we will indicate alternative paths.
Only when inbound |Only when outbound |Any call |Never turned on |I don't know-->
Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings
The easiest way is to use the built-in options, but there's a caveat: depending on the model and the firmware version, the path to customization may vary. Let's start with the most common version for MIUI 13-14:
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the Sound and Vibration section (on some devices, Sound and Vibration).
- Scroll down and find Call Flashlight or Flashlight when calling.
- Turn off the slider next to this option.
If there is no such item, try an alternative path:
- π± Settings β Annexes β Phone. β Notifications β Illuminating the call
- π¦ Settings β Additionally. β Special facilities β Lights when calling (for older versions) MIUI)
- π Settings β Notifications β Additional settings β Incoming lighting
On some devices, such as the POCO X5 Pro or Redmi K50, the option may be called a flash on call. If you don't find it in the sections listed, move on to the next method.
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On some firmware, the call highlight option only appears after the first incoming call. Try calling your phone from another device, and then check the settings again.
Method 2: Use of an engineering menu (for advanced users)
If standard settings donβt work, you can try turning off the feature via the Engineering Mode, a method that works on most Xiaomi devices, but you need to be careful: wrong actions can cause your phone to crash.
Instructions for entering the engineering menu:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636###.
- Select Hardware Testing (Hardware Testing).
- Go to the Flashlight or Sensors section.
- Find the Call Flashlight option and turn it off.
On some models (such as Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the path may look different:
Engineering menu β MTK Settings β Hardware β Flashlight Control β Disable Call FlashWhat to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
After you turn off the function in the engineering menu, restart your phone to make the changes effective. If the flashlight still turns on, move on to the next method.
Make a backup copy of the data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Remember the current flashlight settings|Do not change other parameters without needing-->
Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)
If the previous methods didn't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires connecting the phone to a computer, but gives 100% results.
What you'll need:
- π» Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux
- π USB-cable (preferably original)
- π± Included debugging by USB phone-on
- π Installed drivers ADB and Fastboot
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings β About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings β Additional β For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command line (or Terminal) macOS/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put global call_flashlight_enabled 0
- Reboot the phone.
If the team doesnβt work, try an alternative:
adb shell settings put system flashlight_on_call 0To return the function back, replace the 0 by 1 in the commands above.
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ADB-commands are the most reliable way to turn off the flashlight when you call, but it requires preparation. ADB, It is better to choose another method or seek help from an experienced user.
Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications
If you don't want to go through the settings or connect your phone to your computer, you can use third-party utilities. There are several applications that allow you to control the flashlight function when you call:
| Annex | Functional | Compatibility | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flashlight Notifications | Turning off the flashlight during calls and notifications | MIUI 12β14, Android 10β13 | Google Play |
| MacroDroid | Creating macros to automatically turn off the flashlight | All versions of MIUI | Google Play |
| Tasker | Advanced automation (requires customization) | Android 8.0+ | Google Play |
| MIUI Hidden Settings | Access to Hidden MIUI Settings | Only for Xiaomi | APKMirror |
For example, in MacroDroid, you can create a simple rule:
- Add the trigger: Phone β Incoming / Outgoing call.
- Add action: The flashlight β Turn it off.
- Save the macro and activate it.
The advantage of this method is that you can flexibly adjust the behavior of the flashlight, for example, to turn it off only at night or when the battery is low.
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Before installing third-party apps, check reviews and rankings on Google Play. Some utilities may request excessive permissions, such as access to SMS or contacts.
Method 5: Manual editing of system files (root only)
If you have root rights, you can turn off the flashlight when you call by editing system files, a method that is suitable for power users, as improper actions can lead to loss of warranty or inoperability of the phone.
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Go to /system/cust/prop/local.prop or /vendor/build.prop.
- Find ro.vendor.xiaomi.call.flashlight.enable=true and replace true with false.
- If there is no line, add it to the end of the file.
- Save the changes, set the rights to 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the phone.
Some firmware may have different paths to the file.
- π /system/build.prop
- π /vendor/overlays/flashlight_config.xml
- π /data/property/persist.sys.call.flashlight
What is the danger of editing system files?
If the phone stopped booting after the changes, try resetting the settings via Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume Up when you turn on).
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after the flashlight is turned off, the torch may still work when ringing, and let's look at typical situations and ways to fix them:
β οΈ Note: If you use the second one SIM-map, check the settings separately for each slot. on some devices (Xiaomi) 11T, Redmi Note 10 Pro) Call highlight option duplicated for each SIM.
Problem 1: The flashlight only turns on when calling via WhatsApp or Telegram.
Solution: Open the messenger settings and turn off the βCalllightlightβ option (on WhatsApp: Settings β Notifications β Calls β Backlight).
Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the function returned.
Solution: Xiaomi sometimes resets custom settings after updates. Repeat the disconnect via ADB or engineering menu.
Problem 3: There is no option in settings on the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13 Lite.
Solution: These models use modified firmware.
- π Install MIUI Hidden Settings from APKMirror.
- π± Use it. ADB-Command: adb shell settings delete global call_flashlight_enabled
- π§ Reset the settings of the Phone application (Settings) β Annexes β Phone. β Warehouse β Reset).
Problem 4: The flashlight flashes, but it doesnβt burn all the time.
Solution: This is a feature of firmware for some regions (e.g. India or Europe) and is disabled via the Flashlight Mode β Disable Pulse.
FAQ: Answers to popular questions
Can I turn off the flashlight when calling without root and ADB?
Why does the flashlight turn on again after switching off?
Is there a difference between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO?
Can I turn off the flashlight only for specific contacts?
Will the flashlight work when you call after resetting to factory settings?
If neither method worked, your Xiaomi model may have a unique firmware (e.g. for carriers), leaving you with two options:
- Contact the Xiaomi service center to disable the function.
- Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where this feature is not the default.
Remember: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), the Call Backlight feature can be hard-stitched into the firmware and not be disabled without root.