Flash when calling Xiaomi: how to turn on and configure the notifications highlighting

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a flash on a call and how to fix it

You miss important calls because you can't hear vibrations in a noisy room? A camera flash on an incoming call on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can be a lifeline -- a bright light will attract attention even in the loudest environment. However, many users are faced with the fact that this feature is either disabled by default or completely absent from the settings menu. What is the reason?

The fact is that since MIUI 12, the manufacturer has moved flash control from the Sound and Vibration section to the Special Features sub-menus. In addition, on some models (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the POCO X3 Pro), the function can be blocked due to energy optimization. In this article, we will discuss all ways to enable the flash, from standard settings to hidden commands for the engineering menu.

Before you start setting up, make sure that:

• 🔋 Battery level above 15% (at low charge, the system can automatically turn off the flash).
• 📱 The current version is installed on your device. MIUI (Check in the settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI).
• 💡 The flash is physically healthy (test it in the Camera app»).

If you are a Xiaomi user with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some menu items may not be available, in which case you can immediately skip to the section on alternative methods.

Standard method: enable flash through MIUI settings

On most Xiaomi devices with official firmware, the feature is enabled through the special features menu. Here is a step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Scroll down and select the Special Opportunities section.
3. Tapping on the item Hearing (on some versions of MIUI it may be called Audio/Visual prompts).
4. Activate the slider opposite the Flash at notifications or Call Light Indication.
5. Important! Enable permission to access notifications for the system under confirmation.

Once activated, check the function: ask someone to call you or use a second phone. Flash should flash at intervals of ~1 second during the incoming call. If this does not happen, move to the next section.

Make sure the flash is running in the camera | Check the battery level | Update MIUI to the latest version | Turn off the power saving modes

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Why the outbreak doesn't blink: Common problems and solutions

If you have followed all the steps in the previous section, but the flash still doesn’t work, the reasons may be as follows:

Critical features for models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4): On these devices, the flash may not work due to hardware constraints. The manufacturer prioritizes Always-On Display, which also serves as a notification indicator.

💡

If after updating MIUI flash stopped working, try resetting the settings of special features: Settings → Special features → Reset settings.

Alternative methods for incorporating the outbreak

If the standard method didn’t work, try one of these options:

1. Through ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

This method requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and enabling debugging mode over USB.

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command in the terminal: adb shell settings put system notification_light_pulse 1

After restarting the device, check the flash.

2. Through third-party applications

If your device does not have a built-in feature, install one of these apps from Google Play:

• 🔦 Flash Alerts 2 – supports color and flashing frequency settings.
• 📞 Flash Notification – works even on custom firmware.
• 💡 LED Blinker – Additional Options for SMS messenger.

Configure additional flash parameters

Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi K50 or Xiaomi 13 Lite) have advanced light display settings:

• 🔄 Blinking frequency: you can choose slow, medium or fast mode.
• 🎨 Color of lighting: on devices with RGB-flash (rarely, but occurs).
• 🔔 Exceptions: Turn off blinking for specific contacts.
• ⏱️ Duration: Limit flash life (useful for battery saving).

To access these options:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Additional settings.
2. Select Light Effects or Notification Indication.
3. Set the parameters to suit your needs.

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On infrared flash devices (such as the POCO M3), the light indication may not work – check the specifications of your model.

Energy consumption and battery impact

Many users fear that flashing constantly when calling will negatively affect battery life.

• ⚡ Energy consumption: one flash flashing flash consumes ~0.01% At the charge. 20-A second call is ~0.2-0.3%.
• 🔋 Impact on the battery: modern lithium-polymer batteries Xiaomi designed for 500-800 The flash doesn't reduce the resource.
• 🔄 Optimization: The system automatically disables the flash when the charge level is below 10%.

By comparison, 1 minute of 4G talk consumes as much energy as 10 minutes of flash, so you shouldn't worry about the battery because of this feature.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with module NFC (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) Prolonged flash operation may cause the rear panel to heat up. This is normal and does not indicate a fault.

Comparison with other brands: who performed the function better

For objectivity, compare how light notifications work on Xiaomi and competitors:

Xiaomi is in the middle of the game: it has a feature, but its implementation depends on the model and version of the firmware, the main advantage is low power consumption compared to Samsung, where the LED screen lighting consumes more charge.

Frequently asked questions

If your question is not covered in this section, check out Xiaomi’s official knowledge base or contact the Mi Community app for support.