How to turn on the flashlight on Xiaomi Mi 10: all ways + troubleshooting

The flashlight on the Xiaomi Mi 10 is one of those features that seems simple until you face unexpected nuances. You can turn it on in two touches, but what if the standard way doesn't work? Or if you want to automate the process with gestures, voice commands or even third-party apps?

In this article, we will not only show you the basic ways to turn on the flashlight (including through the notification panel and quick settings), but also reveal the hidden features of your Mi 10. For example, did you know that a flashlight can be activated by double pressing the power button or even voice through Google Assistant? And if the LED suddenly stopped working, we will analyze the 5 most common causes and ways to eliminate them without contacting the service.

We'll focus on the software limitations of MIUI: why on some firmware flashlights can spontaneously turn off after 30 seconds, and how to fix them, and what alternative applications to install if you don't like standard features. Ready? Then let's get started!

Method 1: Including a flashlight through the notification panel (standard method)

This is the most obvious and fastest way that works on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI.

  1. Unlock the Mi 10 screen (if it is locked).
  2. Swipe your finger down the screen to open the notification bar.
  3. Find the flashlight icon (usually an icon with a lantern) and tap it.

If the icon isn’t in the main panel, swipe down again to reveal the full Quick Settings panel. There it will be – Xiaomi defaults to placing it among the priority elements.

β˜‘οΈ Check before flashlight operation

Done: 0 / 4

πŸ’‘

If the flashlight doesn’t turn on the first time, try holding the icon for 1-2 seconds – sometimes it helps when MIUIs freeze.

Important: On some custom firmware, the flashlight icon can be hidden or replaced, and if you don't find it, move on to the next section, where we'll tell you how to return it to the panel.

Method 2: Add a flashlight shortcut to the Quick Settings panel

If the flashlight icon has disappeared from the notification bar (for example, after updating MIUI or resetting settings), it is easy to return:

  1. Open the notification panel (swipe from top to bottom).
  2. Slip on the Edit icon (pencil in the upper right corner).
  3. In the list of Inactive Badges, find the Flashlight and drag it up to the Active section.
  4. Click "Ready" to save the changes.

Now, the label is always on hand. Please note that in MIUI 12/13/14, you can change the order of the icons, so you can place the flashlight in the front rows to access it faster.

Why can a flashlight disappear from the panel?
This happens after resetting, updating MIUI, or if you manually remove it from active icons, and some β€œoptimizers” (such as Xiaomi’s Security) can hide rarely used items.

Method 3: Turning on the flashlight by double pressing the power button

One of the most convenient ways is to activate the flashlight with a gesture. On the Xiaomi Mi 10, you can configure this through system settings:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Special features β†’ Gestures and movements.
  2. Select the option "Double pressing the power button".
  3. Turn on the switch and set the flashlight action.

Now, to turn on the flashlight, you just need to press the power button twice quickly (even when the screen is locked!) This is especially convenient in the dark when you don’t want to unlock the phone.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware, this feature may conflict with Google Assistant, which is also activated by double tap. If the gesture does not work, check the assistant's settings in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ By default. β†’ Assistant and voice input.

Method 4: Voice activation of the flashlight through Google Assistant

If you have a Google Assistant setup, you can turn on the flashlight with your voice.

  1. Activate the assistant with the β€œOK, Google” command or hold the Home button.
  2. Say "turn on the flashlight" (or "Turn on the flashlight").

The assistant will confirm the command, and the flashlight will light up, which works even with the screen turned off if the assistant settings have enabled the "Allow access from locked screen" option.

Unfortunately, Xiaomi’s voice assistant (built into MIUI) doesn’t support this feature – it can only manage system settings, not hardware modules.

πŸ“Š What way to turn on the flashlight you use?
Through the notification panel
Double press of the power button
Voice (Google Assistant)
Appendix-sided
Other

Method 5: Using third-party applications for advanced management

If the standard functions are Mi 10 You don't like it (for example, you want to set the flashlight or control the brightness), you can install third-party utilities.-3 tested applications:

  • πŸ”¦ Flashlight Widget – Adds a widget to the home screen with quick access and brightness settings.
  • πŸ”¦ Tiny Flashlight + LED β€” supportive SOS-Signals and Color Effects (not working on all firmware).
  • πŸ”¦ Flash Alerts 2 – allows you to configure flashing flashlights when incoming calls or notifications.

Before installing, check the app’s permissions – some utilities require access to a camera and microphone, which may be redundant for a simple flashlight.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 and later some apps may not work due to Android 13 limitations+. If the flashlight is not enabled through a third-party utility, try disabling Battery Optimization for this application in the settings.

Table: Comparison of ways to turn on flashlight on Xiaomi Mi 10

MethodSpeed.Working with a locked screenAdditional functionsDeficiencies
Notification panel⭐⭐⭐⭐❌ No.No.Requires unlocking.
Double press of the power buttonβ­β­β­β­β­βœ… Yes.No.You may be in conflict with Google Assistant.
Voice Command (Google Assistant)β­β­β­βœ… Yes.Works from a distanceRequires the Internet for Recognition
Party of annex⭐⭐❌ No (usually)Blinking, SOS, brightness settingRisk of incompatibility with MIUI
"Shake up" gesture.⭐⭐⭐❌ No.No.It's just an accident.

Problem Solving: The flashlight doesn’t turn on – what to do?

If the flashlight on the Xiaomi Mi 10 stopped working, the reasons can be both software and hardware.

  • πŸ”‹ Low battery charge (less than 5%) - Xiaomi locks flashlight to save energy.Solution: plug in charging.
  • πŸ“± Failure MIUI β€” Restart your phone or reset the notification panel settings (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ System settings β†’ Reset).
  • πŸ”§ Camera access is disabled, the flashlight uses the camera's LED, and if access is blocked, it won't work. β†’ Confidentiality β†’ Application authorizations.
  • πŸ› οΈ LED damage - if the flashlight is not lit by any means, the diode itself may have burned out.
  • πŸ“² Conflict with firmware - on some custom ROM (For example, LineageOS, the flashlight might not work. Try to flash the phone to the official one. MIUI.

Critical information: On the Xiaomi Mi 10 (model M2001J2E), the flashlight automatically shuts down after 30 minutes of continuous operation - this is overheating protection. If you need longer lighting, use an external light source or cyclically turn the flashlight on again.

πŸ’‘

If the flashlight flashes or spontaneously turns off, check for moisture in the camera connector – this is a common reason for unstable operation on the Mi 10 after contact with water.

FAQ: Frequent questions about flashlight on Xiaomi Mi 10

Can I adjust the brightness of the flashlight to the Mi 10?
Unfortunately, standard MIUI firmware doesn't have a flashlight setting, but you can use third-party apps like Tiny Flashlight + LED that offer multiple levels of brightness, and at maximum power, the flashlight discharges the battery faster and warms up.
Why does the flashlight turn off after a few seconds?
This could be related to: Battery Savings β€” in Battery settings β†’ Power mode, turn off restrictions for system applications; Overheating β€” if the phone is heated, MIUI forcibly turns off the flashlight; Firmware failure β€” try updating MIUI to the latest version.
Can a flashlight be used as a strobe (blinking light)?
Yes, but only through third-party applications like Flash Alerts 2 or SOS Flashlight. The standard Mi 10 settings don't have that feature. Note that frequent blinking can damage the LED over long-term use.
Does the flashlight work with a discharged battery?
At a charge level of less than 5%, Xiaomi blocks all "non-critical" functions, including a flashlight, to save power for emergency calls. If the battery is dead but you need to light the way urgently, connect the phone to a powerbank, the flashlight will start immediately after charging.
Can I turn on the flashlight via Bixby or Alice?
No. Voice assistants from Samsung (Bixby) and Yandex Alice do not support flashlight management on Xiaomi devices. This feature is only available through Google Assistant.