Modern Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have many features to make it easier to interact with the device in a variety of environments, one of which is to flash the LED light or the main flash of the camera when an incoming call arrives, an option that is useful in noisy places or for people with hearing impairments, but in the dark can cause significant discomfort, irritating eyes and attracting unnecessary attention.
Users often experience a phone suddenly flashing bright lights into a room during a night call, interrupting not only the wearer’s sleep, but also those around them. The problem is compounded by the fact that different versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shell can have settings in different sections, and sometimes third-party apps activate the feature without the user’s knowledge. Understanding where to look for the right switches will save you time and nerves.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible reasons why a flashlight is on or flashing, and provide step-by-step instructions for turning this function off by regular system facilities. We will also discuss the operation of third-party calls and specific settings for models with a notification LED, which are often confused with a flash.
Standard settings of the MIUI and HyperOS interface
The first place to look is the standard settings menu for the Phone app itself, which is where the visual alert switch is most often hidden, and the algorithm may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system, but the logic remains the same.
Open the Phone app (green handset) through which you make calls. In the upper right corner of the screen, you will see a three-dot icon or a gear that indicates the menu. Click on it and select Settings. Next, look for Incoming Calls. It is inside this submenu that the option "Flash on a Call" or "Flash on a Flash" is usually located.
☑️ Checking the call settings
If you didn't find the switch right away, look for the "Advanced" tab inside the call settings. In some builds of MIUI 12 and later, this feature has been moved deeper into the menu, and it's also worth checking if Pocket Mode is activated, which sometimes conflicts with proximity sensors and can cause false backlights.
⚠️ Warning: If the flash-on-call slider is already off but the blinking continues, the problem may be in a third-party call app that you installed separately from the system.
It is important to understand that the changes are effective instantly, you do not need to restart the device. However, if you use dual SIM cards, make sure that the settings are applied correctly for both lines, although they are usually synchronized in the Xiaomi system call.
Management LED-indicator
The distinction between the main camera flash and the notification LED deserves special attention. In older Redmi models, as well as in some budget segments, there is a small LED under or above the screen that can flash different colors.
The settings for this indicator are not in the phone app, but in the general settings of the system. Go to Settings on the main menu of the smartphone, then select Additional or Advanced Settings. Find Light Indication. Here you can turn off blinking completely when you miss calls, messages or charge the device.
| Type of indicator | Location. | Where to turn off | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera flash | Back panel. | Application Phone | Bright white light |
| LED-indicator | Frame/Screen | Settings → Additional | Dim colored light |
| Screen indicator | Display (AOD) | Settings → Screen | Only on AMOLED. |
In models with AMOLED screens, the light notification function is often replaced by the Always On Display feature. If you have a modern Redmi, check the screen settings. It may not be the physical diode that flashes, but the part of the display that highlights the status of notifications. You can turn this off in Settings → Screen → Notification Indicator.
Why does the indicator flash different colors?
Some users prefer not to turn off the indicator completely, but only to reduce its brightness or blinking frequency. Unfortunately, standard MIUI tools cannot adjust the blinking frequency, only the on-off binary option is available.
Settings of third-party applications for calls
Often, third-party apps like Truecaller, GetContact, or Google’s alternative “callers” are the cause of intrusive blinking, and these programs have their own visualization settings that override the system.
If you're not using a standard app, go to its settings. Usually, the path is: open the app → menu (three dots) → Settings → Inbox or Alerts. Look for items like Flash, Morse flash or Light up screen. In Google Phone, this feature can be called Flash at Notifications and can be found under Additional.
- 📱 Truecaller: Settings → Truecaller Pro → Flash (must be turned off).
- 📞 Google Phone: Settings → Incoming → Flash on notifications.
- 🔔 GetContact: Settings → Notifications → Light effects.
Special attention should be paid to the number detector applications, which often require permission to use the camera and flash for their work. If you do not use their advanced features visually, it is better to turn off access to the flashlight in the settings of Android resolutions.
To do this, go to the Settings. → Annexes → All apps. Find the right call, press Application Permissions, and disable Camera or Flash if available separately, guaranteed to stop blinking, but may limit the scanner's functionality. QR-codes within the call app, if available.
Pocket-on mode and proximity sensors
Sometimes flashing flashlights are not directly related to the settings of the call, but are a consequence of the proximity sensor or the Pocket Mode function. If the sensor is contaminated or closed with a dense case, the phone may mistakenly think that it is in a dark enclosed space, and turn on the backlight as a reaction to the event.
Check the sensor settings. In Settings → Lock and Protection (or Password and Security), look for Pocket Mode. Try turning it off and see if the problem disappears. This feature is designed to prevent accidental taps in your pocket, but it doesn't work properly on some Redmi models.
⚠️ Warning: Excessive use of the pocket mode function can result in a fast battery discharge, as the proximity sensor is constantly operating in the background.
It’s also worth checking whether the “Raise to Answer” or “Lighting to Raise” function is enabled. In the Settings → Additional → Mode section, the motion response settings may be hidden in your pocket (or similar), disabling these functions will help isolate the problem.
If the blinking continues after all functions are turned off, try to wipe the top of the screen with an alcohol napkin. Fat spots or dirt over the speaker often cause false sensors to actuate, which is interpreted by the system as a signal to activate light indicators.
Use of Do Not Disturb Mode and Profiles
A radical but effective way to get rid of light effects during sleep or important meetings is to use Do Not Disturb mode, which not only turns off sound, but can also block visual notifications, including a flash.
You can activate it through the notification curtain (moon icon) or in the Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb. Inside the mode settings, you can create a schedule so that the phone automatically goes into silence and without light at night. Make sure that the exceptions are not marked with the "Allow flash flash flash flash flash flash" tick.
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Set up the automatic Do Not Disturb mode from 23:00 to 07:00 so that the phone never blinks at night, even if the call settings go wrong.
There's also a Game Mode or Game Turbo feature in MIUI, and if you blink while you're playing when you're incoming, check Game Turbo settings, and you can set the notification behavior to show it as a small banner without flash activation.
For business meetings, it's convenient to use profiles. Create a "Meeting" profile that turns off all the sound and light signals. Switching between profiles takes a second, but eliminates the awkward situations when the phone starts to shine brightly in the middle of the meeting.
Firmware problems and resetting settings
In rare cases, flashing flashlights can be a software bug of a particular version of MIUI or HyperOS. If no settings help, there may have been a failure in the system files responsible for managing the hardware.
The first step is to update the system. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click “Check Updates.” Developers often release patches that fix sensor and indicator errors.
If the problem appears after the update, try clearing the Phone and Xiaomi Services app cache, but don’t delete their data to avoid losing your call history.
As a last resort, you can reset your network settings or completely reset to factory settings. Before that, make sure to back up the data. Reset will return all the indicator settings to factory values, where the flash on the default call is usually turned off.
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If software methods don’t help and blinking is chaotic, it may be a problem in the hardware closure of the volume button or camera module, which requires a visit to the service.