How to turn on call highlighting on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Modern smartphones are full of features, but basic elements such as light displays are often hidden in the depth of the menu or not at all in the standard sense. Users switching from other brands or buying new Xiaomi models often wonder why the screen flashes but does not light up a special LED? The answer lies in the evolution of the MIUI interface and hardware changes.

In this article, we will go into detail about all possible ways to activate light signals, learn how to adjust the on-screen indicator, return the LED (if you have one in your model), and use third-party applications to simulate this feature.

Understanding the differences between software and hardware displays will help you avoid confusion. We will look at the settings for different firmware versions, since the notification algorithms in MIUI 12, MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 differ significantly.

Differences between LED-indicator and screen indicator

The first thing you need to do before you look for settings is to determine the type of display available to your device. Early Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones had a physical LED that was located at the top of the case, and it could burn in different colors depending on the type of notification: green for calls, red for low charge, blue for messages.

With the introduction of new generations of smartphones, manufacturers have begun to move away from a separate LED in favor of screen displays, to save space inside the case and increase battery capacity, and now the display itself is used as an indicator, which lights up with a certain color when a call or message arrives, even if the screen is locked.

It's important to understand that the software settings for these two types of devices may be called the same, but work differently. If your model doesn't have a physical LED, the system will use software emulation through the screen.

⚠️ Note: If you are looking for a Light Indicator setting on a model released after 2020, it is most likely a screen display, since the physical display is a physical display. LED-Budget and Medium-Segment Elements Disappeared.

Checking for a hardware LED is simple: look at the top of your smartphone when the screen is off during an incoming call. If the small dot doesn't light up, your device relies solely on software.

Activation of the screen indicator in standard settings

For most users who want to see a visual signal about missed calls, just activate the built-in function of the system. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works steadily. The algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the general logic remains.

Follow the step-by-step instructions to enable the desired option:

• 📱 Open the Settings app on the main screen.
• 🔍 In the search at the top, write “Indicator” or “Light” to quickly find the desired section.
• ⚙️ Go to the “lock screen” or “always on screen and lock” menu».
• 🔔 Find the item “Notification Indicator” or “Light Indicator” and activate the switch.

Once this function is enabled, when a call or message arrives, the top of the screen will briefly light up, which is especially useful when the phone is lying up on the table.

It is worth noting that in some versions of the firmware, this setting may be hidden in the “Advanced Settings” section. If the search does not yield results, try updating the system to the latest version, since Xiaomi often changes the location of menu items.

Setting up the indicator for specific applications

Android’s MIUI-based system allows you to flexibly customize which apps can use light display, which helps you weed out information noise and respond only to important events, such as calls from loved ones or messages from work chats.

To set up the list of applications, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Indicator. Here you will see a list of all installed programs. Importantly, for each application you can set a color or blinking frequency, if the program itself supports it.

Often, users are faced with the fact that messengers do not blink, even though the phone is ringing, this is due to aggressive energy savings.

• 📲 Go to the settings of a particular application (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp).
• 🔔 Select the item “Notifications».
• ✅ Make sure that there is a tick “Light indicator” inside the settings of the messenger itself.

Without permission inside the application itself, the system setting may not work. It's a two-tiered protection against random switching.

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If the indicator stopped working after the application update, try resetting the notification settings for that application in the Apps menu → All Apps → Settings reset.

It’s also worth checking permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the right app, click Other Permits and make sure that notifications are allowed.

Using the “Themes” application for customization

One of the unique features of Xiaomi smartphones is the deep implementation of visual elements through the theme store. Many users are unaware that the style of light display often depends on the installed theme.

If you don’t like the standard white or color splash on the screen, you can try changing the theme:

1. Open the Themes app (Mi Themes).
2. In the search, type “LED” or “Notification”.
3. Select a topic that describes the effects of notifications.
4. Apply the theme and check the indicator.

Some themes offer sophisticated animations that mimic the operation of a physical LED at different pulsation rates, a great way to personalize a device without obtaining superuser rights.

However, be careful: third-party themes may be adverts or may not work smoothly. Always check the theme’s ranking before installing.

Using themes is a safe way to change the appearance of notifications, but it won’t add a physical LED if it’s not in the hardware part of the device.

Third-party applications for emulation of LED-indicator

If standard tools fail to achieve the desired effect, applications from the Google Play Store come to the rescue, and they create a layer on top of the system that lights up with color when an incoming call is made.

One of the most popular solutions is the NotifyBuddy app, or its analogues, which can darken the screen and highlight only the area around the camera, mimicking the operation of a real LED.

Installing such programs requires special permissions, and the system will alert you to potential security risks as the app accesses your notifications.

The advantage of third-party solutions is flexibility: you can adjust the response to specific words in SMS, calls from hidden numbers or events in the calendar, and often you can adjust the brightness and color of the glow.

⚠️ Attention: Constant operation of emulator applications can increase battery consumption 5-10% The screen needs to light up more often than usual.

Before installing, make sure the app has good reviews and has been in the store for a long time to minimize the risk of collecting personal data.

Indication problems on different versions of MIUI

Users often encounter bugs when the feature stops working after a firmware update. In MIUI 12 and later, the logic of "Always On Display" was changed, which could conflict with the notification indicator.

If you have upgraded and the light is gone, try the following algorithm:

• 🔄 Restart the device (a simple restart often solves cache problems).
• 🗑️ Clear the Settings app cache through the app menu.
• 🔌 Check if the Do Not Disturb or the Alarm and Shutdown mode is turned on».

It is also known that some global firmware versions can cut the feature software, although in the Chinese version it is present, in which case only waiting for an update or changing the region in the settings helps.

Sometimes the problem lies in the proximity sensor, and if it's contaminated or covered with a safety glass, the phone can "think" what's in its pocket and not turn on the screen when it calls.

Don’t ignore the problem if the phone has stopped responding to calls visually – it can lead to missing important contacts.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The activation of call highlighting on Xiaomi depends on the model: new devices use a screen indicator, on old devices – a physical LED, and the setting is made through the “lock screen” or “Notifications” menu.