How to turn on the flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi 7: all ways + secret chips

The flashlight on Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the most popular features that users activate several times a day. Despite its apparent simplicity, many people face difficulties: the button disappears from the curtain, gestures do not work, and the voice assistant does not recognize the command. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the flashlight on Redmi 7, including hidden MIUI settings and workarounds for non-standard situations.

The Redmi 7 (codenamed onc) is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor with a camera module, where the flashlight is integrated into an LED flash, which means that its operation depends not only on the software settings, but also on the physical condition of the camera. If the flashlight stops turning on after falling or getting moisture, the problem may lie in damage to the flash contacts.

We tested all methods on Redmi 7 with MIUI 12.5, 13 and 14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions). Instructions are valid for all model modifications: Redmi 7 3/32GB, 3/64GB and 4/64GB. If your smartphone is running custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some methods may not work - we will warn about this separately.

1. Basic method: notification panel (curtain)

The fastest and most versatile method is to use the notification bar. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version, but there are nuances that few people know about.

To turn the flashlight on through the curtain:

• 📱 Swipe down from the top of the screen (with one finger for quick access or two to fully open the panel).
• 🔦 Find the flashlight icon (usually located in the front row next to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Mode on the plane).
• 👆 Stick the icon once, the flashlight will go on immediately, without confirmation.

If the flashlight icon is not in the curtain:

1. Open the notification panel in full (swipe with two fingers).
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ Edit (or ➕ depending on the version MIUI).
3. In the list of available tiles, find the flashlight and drag it to the active area.
4. Save the changes.

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If the flashlight turns on but goes out immediately, check the energy saving settings. In Settings → Battery → Applications selection, add the flashlight to exceptions.

2. Alternative method: power and volume buttons

Few people know, but Redmi 7 can turn on the flashlight without unlocking the screen — it is convenient when the phone is in your pocket or you are wearing gloves.

Hold it at the same time:

• 🔋 Power button (on/off)
• 🔊 Volume up button

Hold them for 2-3 seconds until the flashlight lights up. Pressing this combination again will turn it off.

This is especially useful in emergency situations when you need to light the path and the screen is locked, but note that on some custom firmware, this feature may be disabled by default.

3.Voice control: "OK, Google" and Alice

If you have a voice assistant on, you can activate the flashlight with a voice command, which works with both Google Assistant and Alice from Yandex.

For Google Assistant:

1. Say, “OK Google, turn on the flashlight” or “Hey Google, turn on the flashlight.”
2. If the assistant doesn’t respond, check the settings in the Google app: Settings → Voice input → Voice companion.

For Alice:

• 🎤 Say, "Alice, turn on the flashlight".
• 📱 If Alice answers that she can’t do it, update the Yandex app to the latest version.

Important: on MIUI 14 with limited permissions for third-party apps, Alice may not have access to the flashlight. In this case, you will have to manually issue permission to Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Alice → Other permissions → Flashlight.

4. Hidden MIUI settings: gestures and fast actions

Xiaomi hides some of the flashlight's features in the depth of settings, such as setting up a double tap gesture or turning on the flashlight when shaking the phone.

How to set up gestures:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Gestures and movements.
2. Choose Double Touch to Wake Up or Shake to Flashlight (not available on all versions of MIUI).
3. Activate the desired gesture and save the settings.

Another hidden way is to use quick action on Google Now:

• 🔍 Open Google and swipe right to the Open tab.
• 🔦 In the search bar, enter a flashlight - a quick access button will appear.

Double touch on the screen is enabled|Flashlight added to Google's quick action|The shaking of the phone is activated (if supported)|No conflicts with other gestures (for example, for screenshots)-->

5. Applications from Third Party Developers

If standard methods don’t work (for example, after resetting settings or updating firmware), you can use third-party applications. They are also useful if you need additional features: flashing a flashlight into the rhythm of music or remote control.

Top.-3 Proven applications for Redmi 7:

Check reviews before installing – some apps may contain aggressive ads or request unnecessary permissions (such as accessing contacts).

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The side of the application may conflict with the standard flashlight MIUI. If after installation, gestures or buttons stop working, delete the application and restart the phone.

6. Problem Solving: The flashlight does not turn on

If the flashlight on the Redmi 7 stopped working, the reasons could be both software and hardware.

Programmatic failures:

• 🔄 Rebooting your phone – sometimes helps even with serious bugs.
• 📲 Resetting the settings of the Camera application: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🔧 Update MIUI: Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Hardware malfunctions:

• 💡 LED damage – if the flashlight doesn’t burn even after resetting, the diode may have burned out.
• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts – after moisture enters, flash contacts can corrode.
• 🔋 Weak battery – when the discharge is below 5%, the flashlight can automatically turn off.

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To check if the LED is working, try taking a photo of the flash, and if the flash is triggered but the flashlight is not, the problem is the software part.

⚠️ Warning: If the flashlight turns on but immediately goes off with the message "Lightlight is not available", this may indicate a system lock due to overheating. → The phone. → Status.

7.Secret chips: SOS-phonogram

The flashlight on Redmi 7 can be used not only for lighting, but also for distress signals, which can save lives in emergency situations.

How to turn it on SOS-signal:

1. Install Flashlight SOS from Google Play.
2. Select SOS mode (three short flashes, three long, three short – standard distress signal).
3. Activate the mode - the flashlight will start flashing in a given rhythm.

For Morse messages:

• 📱 Use the Morse Flashlight app.
• 🔤 Enter text – the program converts it into flashing code.
• 👁️‍🗨 Point the flashlight at the observer (for example, out the window or at the rescuers).

These features are especially useful in hiking, outdoors or in situations where there is no communication, and the main thing is to train and remember the basic signals in advance.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions