How to turn on the flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi 4: 5 proven ways + problem solving

The flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi 4 (including the Redmi 4A and Redmi 4X) is one of the most popular features that helps in the dark, when searching for small items or in emergency situations. Despite its apparent simplicity, many users face difficulties: the flashlight button disappears from the curtain, the LED does not respond to pressing, or the device does not support this option. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to activate the flashlight – from standard to hidden, and also tell you what to do if nothing works.

The Redmi 4 was made with different firmware (MIUI 8-14) and Android versions (from 6.0 Marshmallow to 7.1 Nougat in unofficial ports), which affects the location of controls and the availability of features. We took into account all the nuances and prepared universal instructions that will be suitable even for custom firmware. And if your flashlight suddenly stopped working, at the end of the article you will find the diagnosis of malfunctions and ways to fix them.

1. Standard method: notification panel (curtain)

The fastest and most obvious method is to use the notification bar, which works on all versions of MIUI, unless the flashlight is turned off in the settings.

Unlock the Redmi 4 screen (fingerprint, pattern lock or PIN is fine).
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
If the curtain is not fully opened, make another swipe down - so you will see all the icons.
Find the flashlight icon (usually a flashlight with rays of light) and tap it.

✅ The flashlight will turn on instantly and the icon will light up (yellow or blue depending on the theme of the design), re-pressing the LED will turn off the LED. If the icon is not, read the section "Why the flashlight icon is missing" below.

The flashlight icon is in the curtain, but does not respond to pressing|The curtain does not open completely (double swipe is needed)|The flashlight is turned off in the settings of fast switches|Device discharged (charge below 5%)-->

2. Alternative method: Lock button (for MIUI 9–14)

In MIUI firmware, since version 9, a useful feature has been introduced: activating the flashlight with a double press of the lock button. This is convenient when the screen is off and there is no time to unlock the smartphone.

Open Settings → Lock and Protection → Additional settings.
Find the option “Double press the power button” (or “Block flashlight” in older versions).
Activate the switch and select the flashlight action.

Now, to turn on the flashlight, press the lock button twice quickly (even on a locked screen).

🔋 Battery discharged below 10% (the system blocks energy-intensive functions).
🔒 A third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher) is installed that conflicts with system gestures.
🛠️ In the developer settings, optimization is disabled MIUI (Turn it back on).

💡

If double-pressing is triggered by accident (such as in a pocket), reduce sensitivity in gesture settings or turn off the function.

3. Voice Assistant (Google Assistant or XiaoAI)

If you have a voice assistant on, you can activate the flashlight with a voice command, which is especially convenient when your hands are busy. Both popular assistants are supported:

Method 1: Google Assistant

1. Say “OK Google” or hold the Home button (if physical).

2. dictate the command: "Switch on the flashlight" or "Turn on the flashlight" (in English, it works faster).

3. The assistant will confirm the execution - the LED will light up.

Method 2: XiaoAI (Chinese assistant Xiaomi)

1. Activate XiaoAI by saying "**" (if the language of the system is Chinese) or by clicking on the microphone icon in the MIUI search box.

2. Tell me: «»** (dǎkāi shǒudiàntǒng — «flashlight»).

⚠️ Attention: XiaoAI only works on Chinese-located firmware. MIUI, Use Google Assistant.

Google Assistant|XiaoAI|Not using.|Other-->

If you need to turn on your flashlight often (for work or night out), it makes sense to bring it to the home screen as a widget.

Click and hold the empty space on the desktop → select Widgets.
Scroll through the list to the Tools or Utilities section.

Now you have a separate flashlight button — tap it in one click. In some firmware, the widget allows you to adjust the brightness of the LED (if it supports the hardware).

How to remove the flashlight widget if you don’t need it?

To remove the widget, click and hold its icon on your desktop, then drag it to the cart (or the “Delete” label), which will appear at the top of the screen.

If standard methods don't work (for example, after firmware or settings are reset), you can try hardware commands, which will work for advanced users.

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination:

##36446337##

2. From the engineering menu, select Hardware Testing → Audio → Flashlight.

3. Press "Turn On"** - the flashlight will turn on to bypass system restrictions.

⚠️ Warning: Don't change other options in the engineering menu - this can disrupt the smartphone.

Method 2: ADB-teams (for PCs)

If you have access to a computer, you can turn on the flashlight via ADB (Android Debug Bridge):

Connect Redmi 4 to your PC via USB and enable USB Debugging in the developer settings.
Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type: adb shell input keyevent 89 This command simulates pressing the flashlight button in the curtain.

Method	Difficulty	You need a PC?	Works on custom firmware?
Notification panel	⭐	No.	Yes.
Double press of the lock button	⭐⭐	No.	Depends on the firmware.
Voice assistant	⭐	No.	Yes (except XiaoAI)
Engineering menu	⭐⭐⭐	No.	No (often blocked)
ADB-team	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Yes.	Yes.

6.Why the flashlight doesn't work: Diagnostics and solutions

If neither of these methods worked, it could be hardware or software, and let's take it from one place to the next.

Reason 1: The flashlight is turned off in the settings

Check if the icon is hidden in the curtain:

Open Settings → Notification panel and status bar.
Slip on “Change the order of icons” or “Edit the panel”.

Reason 2: Damaged LED or plume

On the Redmi 4/4A/4X, the flashlight often stops working due to a break in the camera plume (to which the LED is connected).

📸 The camera is not working or gives out artifacts.
🔦 The flashlight flashes, but does not burn constantly.
🔌 After a fall or impact.

⚠️ Warning: If you've been disassembling the phone yourself, check if the camera plume is connected to the motherboard. On Redmi 4, it often flies away when it's not built gently.

Reason 3: Conflict with applications

Some programs (especially those that control a camera or LED) can block a flashlight.

Close all background applications through Settings → Applications → Launched.
Remove recently installed camera or flashlight utilities (such as Flashlight Widget).
Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button → Safe Mode) and check the flashlight.

💡

If the flashlight doesn’t work only in a particular application (e.g., in a camera), the problem is with the software, not the hardware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the flashlight on Redmi 4

Can a flashlight be used as a permanent light source?

No, it's not recommended. The LED on Redmi 4 is not designed to last for long periods of time - it can overheat or fail. Maximum continuous use time: 10-15 minutes with breaks. It's better to use an external light for constant lighting.

Why does the flashlight flash and not burn constantly?

This is a sign of a malfunction of the LED or plume. Possible causes: Moisture entering the camera connector, mechanical damage after a fall, wear of contacts (relevant to phones older than 3-4 years), Solution: disassemble the phone and check the integrity of the plume or contact the service.

How to turn on the flashlight on the Redmi 4 turned off?

On a phone that is off, the flashlight cannot be activated — it requires at least a minimum system load to work. However, there is a workaround: 1. Connect the phone to charge — the indicator will appear on the lock screen. 2. Double press the lock button (if configured in Settings → Lock and Protection). 3. If the charge is below 5%, the flashlight will not turn on — the system blocks energy-intensive functions.

Are there any flashlight control apps with great capabilities?

There are some tools in Google Play that allow you to: 🔦 Adjust the brightness of the LED (if supported by hardware). 🎛️ Assign hot keys or gestures. 🔋 Display the battery level when using a flashlight.Recommended applications: Flashlight + LED, Tiny Flashlight, Super-Bright LED But remember, they might conflict with a standard flashlight. MIUI.

Can I replace the LED flashlight by myself?

Technically, yes, but it requires experience in soldering microelectronics. On Redmi 4, the LED is soldered into the camera plume, so if you replace it, you'll have to: 1. Buy a new LED plume (cost) ~300-500 rubles.). 2. Carefully solder the old and solder the new (use a soldering station with a thin sting). ⚠️ Attention: Without skills, you risk damaging the motherboard.