Flashlight when calling on Xiaomi: how to turn on automatically and manually

Have you ever missed an important call because your phone was down and the vibration was mixed with the noise in your pocket? Xiaomi smartphones offer a simple solution: automatically turning on the flashlight when you call it, not only making notifications more visible in the dark, but also helping you quickly find your phone in your bag or on your desk. However, not all users know that it can be customized to suit their needs — or even unaware of its existence.

In this article, we will analyze all the ways to activate the flashlight when calling on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — standardized MIUI to hidden features and third-party applications, you will learn how to enable the function on models with IR-And then you have a blaster, and why it might not work on some firmware, and how to get around the manufacturer's limitations. FAQ Frequent questions and model compatibility table.

Why is a flashlight when calling a useful function?

At first glance, a flashing flashlight may seem like a trifle, but in practice it solves several important tasks:

• 🔦 Visual notification – in noisy places (clubs, construction sites, transport) vibration and sound may be invisible, and the light signal will attract attention.
• 📱 Phone search – if the smartphone is tumbling between the sofa pillows or lying in the bag, a flashing flashlight will help you quickly find it.
• 🚗 Driving safety – for drivers, a light signal is less distracting than a loud ringtone.
• 🔋 Saving charge – short-term flashlight use less energy than the constant backlight of the screen.

According to a survey of Xiaomi users, 68% of respondents use the feature regularly, and 22% did not even know it existed, and on forums, there are frequent complaints that the option disappeared after the MIUI update or does not work on new models.

Method 1: Standard setup in MIUI (for most models)

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the function is enabled through the call settings menu. Instructions are relevant for devices on MIUI 12-14 (Android 10-14):

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to Incoming Calls (or Call Notifications on some firmware)
4. Find the flashlight option when calling (may be called Light Indication or Flashing Lantern).
5. Activate the switch and select the mode: 🔄 Blinking – the flashlight will be switched on/off periodically. 💡 Burn constantly – the lights will be on until the end of the call.

If this item is not on the menu, your model does not support the function at the software level (see the compatibility table below), and the option may not be available on custom firmware or regional versions of MIUI for Europe (MIUI EU).

Method 2: Configure with "Special Features" (for older models)

On Xiaomi smartphones from 2018 to 2020 (e.g. Redmi Note 7, Mi 9), the flashlight feature is sometimes hidden in the feature menu, which is due to the fact that it was originally positioned as a tool for people with hearing impairments.

To find her:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Go to the section "Hearing" (or "Sound and vibration").
3. Find Call Light Indication or Visual Notifications.
4. Turn on the option and set the blinking parameters.

Instructions for Flash On Call:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Run it and give permissions to access calls and camera (needed to control the flashlight).
3. Enable the Enable Flash on Call switch.
4. Set up the parameters: 🔄 Flash Rate - the speed of blinking. 🎨 Flash Color – Color (if supported). 📵 Blacklist – Exclusions for certain contacts.

⚠️ Note: Some applications may conflict with system notifications MIUI. If after installation, the standard sounds of calls stopped working, check the default settings in the Application section. → Notifications.

Method 4: Configure with ADB (for advanced users)

If you’re ready to dive into the technical details, you can activate the hidden flashlight feature when calling through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that works on most Xiaomi devices, even if the option is not on the menu.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-plug-in.

Instructions:

adb shell settings put global flash_notification_enabled 1


adb shell settings put global flash_notification_light 1

After you've done the commands, restart your phone. If the flashlight doesn't work, try an alternative method:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$FlashNotificationSettingsActivity

This command will open a hidden flashlight settings menu if it is in the firmware.

⚠️ Note: Change system settings through ADB This can cause unstable phone operation.Before experimenting, back up your data in Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 5: Alternatives to a flashlight (if nothing works)

If none of these methods worked, consider alternative light indication options:

• 📱 Screen lighting - in the settings of calls (Phone) → Settings → Incoming calls) turn on the screen light option. The screen will light up when the call is incoming.
• 🔋 LED-indicator - some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11) have notification LEDs. Set it up via Settings → Notifications → LED indicator.
• 🛠️ Smart watch or bracelet – if you have a Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch, set it to vibration and backlight when calling through the Mi Fitness app.
• 💡 Smart lamp – with Mi Home you can program a smart lamp Yeelight to blink when incoming call (requires automation in the application).

On Xiaomi 12 Pro and later, the flashlight function can be blocked due to hardware limitations (a different type of LED is used), in which case the only option is third-party applications or alternative notification methods.

Compatibility table for Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones support flashlights when calling out of the box. The table below shows the data on popular models (relevant to MIUI 14):

If your model is not in the table, check for the function experimentally or look for information in forums (e.g. 4PDA or Mi Community).

💡

On new flagships (Xiaomi 13/14), the flashlight function is often disabled due to power optimization, in which case only third-party software or manual activation via ADB will help.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even if you set your flashlight correctly, you can experience failures. Consider typical situations and how to fix them:

• 🔋 The flashlight does not turn on when you call: Check if it is turned off in the battery settings (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Find the Phone app and turn off optimization. Make sure there are no conflicts with other apps (like Greenify or Battery Saver).
• 📵 The flashlight works but doesn't blink: Switch from Burn constantly to Blink. Update the firmware - in older versions MIUI Could be an animation bug.
• 🔄 Lantern turns on with a delay: This is normal behavior on some models (latency) ~1–2 seconds. If the delay is too long, try turning off animations in the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → The scale of window animation → Choose No Animation).

If the problem is not solved, try resetting your phone to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Resetting).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions