Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face an unexpected feature when an LED flash flash flash flash flash flashes brightly during an incoming call, an option conceived by developers as a useful tool for visually impaired users or to attract attention in noisy places can actually cause serious discomfort, especially the blind blinking in the theater, on a date or while sleeping while the phone is lying down.
Fortunately, in the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, this feature has a separate control, independent of Android system settings. However, finding the right switch is difficult due to the specifics of the menu localization. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off the flash, including hidden settings and system errors that can prevent you from completing the setup.
It's worth noting that the behavior of the indicator may depend on the firmware version and the specific device model. On some devices, the notification flash is tied to the operation of the Phone application, and on others, to the system accessibility section, we'll look at both options so that you can guarantee that you solve the problem.
The main method through phone settings
The most common and easiest way to turn off flashing flashlights is directly in the application interface for making calls, and this is where the basic parameters of incoming calls are concentrated. To get to the desired menu, you need to open the standard Phone application (green handset) and click on three dots or a gear in the upper corner of the screen.
In the menu that opens, select Settings. Then scroll down to Incoming Calls. This is where the switch you're looking for is hidden, and it can be called "Call Flash," "Call Indicator," or "Flash on incoming calls" in the English version. Put the slider inactive and the blinking stops.
⚠️ Warning: If the flash continues to flash when the test call is switched, try to close the Phone app completely through Task Manager and start it again.
☑️ Checking the call settings
Some users notice that the path to settings may change slightly after the MIUI update, so you should search the app's settings menu, type in the word "flash" or "flash" and the system will highlight the item.
Disconnection through system availability
If the call menu doesn't have a switch or doesn't work, the reason could be a system setting for Android availability, a feature designed to help people with hearing impairments see the visual signal of the call, and you can find it in the general smartphone settings.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Options (or Accessibility). In the list of available options, find Flash for Notifications or Flash notification. There are two options here: global inclusion for all applications or selective for calls.
- 🔦 Open availability settings in the main menu of the system.
- 📱 Find the “Hearing” or “Audio” section in the list of features.
- 🚫 Remove the tick from the item "Flash notifications».
- ✅ Check if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated, which may ignore some settings.
Why are the settings resetting?
It's important to understand that this method turns off flashing not only for calls, but also for other notifications if they're tied to this system setting. If you want flash only for messages, but not for calls, this may be too radical.
Setup in the Camera app
Rarely, there is a flash that flashes not because of the call setting, but because of the camera's background processes. Some versions of HyperOS shells have a Light Effects feature that can conflict with the bell, and you can check this in the Camera app settings.
Open the camera app, click on the three menu bars and select Settings. Scroll down and look for the section associated with the flash or lights. Make sure it doesn't activate features like "Light at Notifications" or "Quick capture," which are sometimes interpreted by the system as a flash signal.
It's also worth checking if the camera is running in the background. If the Camera app is active in the background, it can block flash control from the telephony side. Close all the apps and try to make a test call.
| Location of settings | The path to the menu | Name of the switch | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Phone | Settings → Incoming calls | A flash on a bell | Just calls. |
| Android system | Settings → Special. opportunities | Notification flash | Calls and text messages |
| Design topics | Appendix Topics → Profile | The effects of the call | Visual themes |
| Game mode | Security → Game Center | Notifications during play | Only in games. |
The influence of themes and third-party calls
One of the most common causes of non-disabled flash is the use of third-party themes or alternative calling apps. Users often install beautiful themes from the GetThemes store, unaware that they have their own call effects built into them that override system settings.
To check this out, go to the Themes app, click on the profile icon and select My Themes. Apply the standard Classic or Default theme. If the flash stops flashing after the theme change, then the problem was in the design. In the settings of a particular theme, you can often turn off the effects without removing it completely.
The same situation occurs when installing third-party calls, such as from Google or Truecaller, in which the settings are located in their own menu, open the settings of the installed call, look for the Visual Effects or Caller ID & spam section and turn off the flash option there.
⚠️ Note: Third-party numbering apps may ask permission to control the flash, and even if you have disabled it on the system, the app may force the flashlight to be turned on when you call. → Annexes → Permits → Camera/Flantern.
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Before installing a new theme, always look at the screenshots of the call screen in the description. If the picture shows an active flash or complex animations, then the theme may force the flashlight to turn on.
Problems with the "Do Not Disturb" regime
Paradoxically, Do Not Disturb sometimes causes strange behaviors, and depending on the settings of this mode, the phone may ignore the sound but keep giving lights so you don’t miss an important call from your favorite contacts.
Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Don't disturb. Check the exceptions. If it allows calls from Favorites or Repeat Calls, the system can use the flash as the only way to notify if the sound is off. Adjust these settings by adding or removing exceptions.
It's also worth checking the Do Not Disturb schedule, and you may have automatic power on at night, which is why the flash works at certain times of the day, even if it's off during the day.
- 🌙 Check the schedule of the silence mode.
- 📞 Make sure that the exceptions do not include the item “All contacts».
- 🔇 Try turning off the "Do Not Disturb" mode for the test completely.
- ⚙️ Reset the "Do Not Disturb" mode settings by default.
Resetting and software update
If none of the above methods worked, there may have been a software failure in the system. The cache of the Phone application or system services may have been damaged. In this case, cleaning the data will help. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the Phone and click Clear → Clear everything. Don't worry, contacts and call history will not be deleted, only the application settings will be reset.
Another reason could be bugs in the current version of MIUI. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for updates. Often Xiaomi releases patches that fix exactly such annoying little things. If you have a beta version of the firmware, consider returning to a stable branch.
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If nothing works, reset your phone completely (with a pre-data backup) and this is guaranteed to remove any software conflicts that cause the flash to malfunction.
In rare cases, the problem may be hardware-related, such as a short circuit in the LED control circuit, but this is extremely rare and is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as spontaneous switching on of the flashlight.