Flashing flashlight when calling Xiaomi – how to turn on and configure

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where an incoming call goes unnoticed — especially in noisy places or when the phone is down screen. The solution is simple: activating the flashing flashlight function when the call is made, which visually signals an incoming call. This option is available on most Redmi, POCO and Mi devices, but its setting depends on the MIUI firmware version and smartphone model.

Unlike standard vibrations or melodies, the light signal is visible even at a distance or in poor audibility. However, not all users know where to look for this feature - in some versions of MIUI it is hidden in the depths of the menu, and on new devices may not be at all. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the flashing flashlight, including alternative methods for models without a built-in option.

It’s important to keep in mind that the settings may vary depending on the Android version (10 to 14) and the MIUI shell (12 to 14).If your smartphone doesn’t support out-of-the-box functionality, we’ll show you how to get around this limitation with third-party apps or hidden developer settings.

Why the flashlight does not blink when ringing: possible reasons

Before we get to the setup, it's worth figuring out why the feature might not be available.

📱 Outdated firmware: on MIUI Below version 12, the flashing flashing flashlight option is often missing or is not running smoothly.
🔧 Lack of light sensor: some budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) They do not support the function due to hardware limitations.
🔄 Resetting: After updating or resetting to factory settings, the parameter can turn off automatically.
🚫 Manufacturer restrictions: on individual devices (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro) the feature is hidden in the developer menu.

If your smartphone falls into one of these categories, don’t worry – in the next sections we’ll look at workarounds. For example, for models without built-in options, you can use apps like Flash Alerts 2 or Flash On Call that emulate flashing flashlights through the camera’s API.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro) flashing flashing flashing continuously may cause the battery to overheat or discharge rapidly; we recommend using the function only when necessary.

On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-14, the flashing flashlight function is enabled through the "Special Features" section.

Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
Go to Special Opportunities → Rumor.
Find the flashing flashlight when calling (or Light Alerts on newer versions).
Activate the switch and select the flashing mode: 🔦 Just a flashlight - the rear flash flash flash flashes. 📱 Lantern + screen – additionally flashes the display (does not work on all models).

Once activated, check the function by calling your number from another phone. If the flashlight doesn't blink, try restarting the device or updating the firmware.

Is the function included in the "Special Opportunities"?

Is the permission for the phone application checked?

Is the smartphone rebooted after changing the settings?

Have you tried calling from another test device?

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On some devices (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) the option may be called differently – Light Notifications or Vibration and Light. If you do not find an item on the menu, try searching by settings (the magnifying icon in the upper right corner).

Alternative method: Enable via "Developer Settings"

If the standard method didn’t work, try activating the feature through the developer menu, which is suitable for devices where the option is hidden by the manufacturer (for example, on the Xiaomi 12T or POCO X5 Pro).

First, you need to turn on the developer mode:

Go to Settings. → The phone.
Click 7 times on the MIUI version (you are a developer!).
Go back to the basic settings and open a new section for developers.

To install applications:

Download the selected utility from Google Play (for example, Flash On Call).
Launch the application and grant permissions: 📞 Access to call notifications. 🔦 Permission to use the camera (for flashlight control).

Set the blinking parameters (frequency, color, duration).

On devices with MIUI 14 and Android 13+ Some applications may not work due to access restrictions API In this case, try rolling back the app version or using the camera. ADB-commands for compulsory inclusion of the function.

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If the app doesn’t see the flashlight, check if the battery optimizer is blocking it. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Battery Optimization and turn off the limitations for the utility.

Solving problems: The flashlight does not flash when ringing

If you have turned on the feature but the flashlight does not respond to incoming calls, check the following points:

Permissions for Phone: Go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Phone → Permissions. Make sure Camera and Notifications are enabled.
Conflict with other apps: Close programs that use the camera (like TikTok or Instagram) and turn off battery savings for system applications.

Hardware restrictions

On some models (such as the Redmi 8A), the flashlight cannot physically blink due to a weak LED.
Check the flashlight in manual mode (via the Quick Settings Panel).

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings:

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network reset

This can help in case of failure of the system services responsible for handling calls.

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the flashing flashlight may not work properly due to the lack of Xiaomi drivers. MIUI or use third-party applications.

Additional settings: flashing frequency and energy saving

On some devices, you can adjust the intensity and duration of flashing of the flashlight. For example, in MIUI 14, the following parameters are available:

🔄 Blinking frequency: Slowly (1 time in 2 seconds), medium (2 times per second) Fast (4 times per second).
⚡ Power saving mode: Turn off blinking when battery is below 15%. Continue blinking regardless of charge level.

To change these parameters:

Go to Settings → Special features → Hearing → Flashing flashlight.
Click on the Additional settings (or the gear icon in the upper right corner).
Select the desired values and save the changes.

On devices with AMOLED-displays (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro) flashing too often can cause pixels to burn out.We recommend using Slow Mode or turning off the feature at night.

How to turn off flashlight at a certain time?

In MIUI 14, you can set up a schedule for light alerts through the Automation app (part of the Xiaomi standard set). Create a rule: 1. Condition: Time → from 23:00 to 7:00. 2. Action: Turn off the flashing flashlight. This will help save battery power at night.

FAQ: Frequent questions about flashing flashlight on Xiaomi

The flashlight only works when the screen is unlocked. How do you fix it?

This problem is related to security settings. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Additional → Show notifications on the locked screen and turn on the option. Also check if the blinking function is blocking the Private Mode (if it is active).

The flashlight is flashing, but it's very dim. Can we increase the brightness?

The brightness of the blinking depends on the hardware capabilities of the LED. On most Xiaomi devices it is fixed, but on some models (for example, on some models, POCO F4 GT) You can change the intensity through the developer menu (hardware_test → flashlight_duty). Be careful – increasing brightness reduces the LED resource.

After the MIUI update, the flashlight stopped flashing.

The update could have reset. Try: Reboot your smartphone. Reset your special features settings (Settings → Special Options → Reset). Manually turn the function back on (see the instructions above). If it doesn't work, roll back to the previous version of MIUI via the Mi Flash Tool.

Can I adjust the flashing flashlight for specific contacts?

There is no such feature in standard MIUI settings, but you can use Flash Alerts 2: Open the app and go to Blacklist/Whitelist. Add the contacts you want and set up a custom blink for them. Alternatively, create a rule in the Automation app with the condition of Calls from [Contact].

The flashlight flashes even when the phone is silent. How do you turn it off?

This is standard MIUI behavior -- light alerts are independent of the audio profile. To turn off blinking in silent mode: Go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Modes. Select No Sound and turn off the Light Alert option. Some firmware may not have this option, in which case use third-party applications with flexible settings.

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If the flashing flashlight doesn’t turn on through standard settings, first check for the feature in the developer menu. Only then resort to third-party apps – they may consume an additional battery.