How to turn on the light indicator on Xiaomi Mi 9: all working ways

The light indicator on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that visually alerts you to missed calls, messages or low battery charge. However, on the Mi 9 model (codename cepheus), the manufacturer by default turned off this option in most versions of the firmware. MIUI. The reason lies in the optimization of power consumption and design decisions – instead of a physical LED, it is used here. AMOLED-screen to display notifications via Always-on Display.

But what if you want a classic light indicator? In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can activate it, from standard settings to hidden ADB commands and third-party applications. It's important to keep in mind that the effectiveness of the methods depends on the version of MIUI (10 to 14) and regional firmware. For example, on global assemblies (Global ROM), the option can be blocked completely, while on Chinese (China ROM) it can sometimes be turned on through the engineering menu.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI
• 🔧 Type of firmware: Global (Global), European (EEA) or Chinese (China)
• 🔋 Battery charge: not less than 30% for stable operation when settings through ADB

1. Check the presence of a light indicator on Xiaomi Mi 9

Not all Xiaomi Mi 9 versions are physically equipped with LED, for example, in some regional versions (for example, in India), the indicator could be removed from the design.

🔍 Visual examination:

• 📸 Light a flashlight on the top of the screen next to the speaker. Most Mi 9 LEDs are on the left of the front camera.
• 🔦 Enable Always-on Display (Settings) → Screen. → Always-on Display – if the screen is illuminated even when it is off, there may be no physical indicator.

🛠️ Checking through the test menu:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. Go to the Phone Information tab and scroll to the Hardware block.
3. Look for LED or Notification Light string – if it is missing, there is no indicator.

⚠️ Attention: On firmware MIUI 13+ The test menu can be blocked, and in this case, use an alternative method: installing the application. CPU-Z from Google Play and check the Sensors section.

2. Include indicator through standard MIUI settings

In some versions of the firmware, the option is hidden, but is available through advanced settings.

📌 For MIUI 10–12 (Global/European firmware):

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Slip on Notifications on the lock screen.
3. Activate the Light indicator switch (if the option is present).

📌 For MIUI 13–14 (Chinese firmware):

• 🌐 Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Special facilities.
• 🔍 Find the Notification Indicator section (may be called the LED-notice).
• 🎛️ Customize the color and frequency of flashing for different types of notifications (calls, SMS, messengers).

If the option is not on the menu, it means that it is locked at the firmware level, in which case move on to the following methods.

💡

On MIUI 12.5+, try changing your phone region to India (Settings → Additional → Region) and sometimes this will unlock hidden features, including lights.

Activation via ADB (for power users)

The method requires connecting the smartphone to a computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).It is suitable for firmware where the option is blocked software, but the hardware (LED) is present.

🖥️ Preparation:

• 💻 Install. ADB-PC drivers.
• 📱 On the phone, activate Developer Mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times).
• 🔌 Turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

📝 Commands to turn on indicator:

adb shell settings put global notification_light_pulse 1


adb shell settings put global notification_light_color 0xFFFF0000 # Red




adb shell settings put global notification_light_on 500 # Duration of inclusion (ms)




adb shell settings put global notification_light_off 2000 # Duration of shutdown (ms)

🔄 Application of changes:

• After you enter the commands, restart the phone: adb reboot.
• Check the indicator by sending a test notification (for example, via Telegram).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 teams ADB If you have a security policy, try an alternative method using the Magisk module (root access required).

Install ADB on PC|

Enable the developer mode on Mi 9|

Activate debugging via USB|

Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable |

Check device detection by adb devices-->

4. Use of third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work, Google Play apps come to the rescue, mimicking the light indicator through the screen or activating hidden MIUI functions.

📱 Top.-3 applications for Xiaomi Mi 9:

⚙️ Setting up LED Blinker Notifications:

Important: Applications without root access can significantly reduce battery life due to constant screen activity.

5. Alternative solutions: Always-on Display and widgets

If you can’t turn on the light indicator, consider alternatives that perform the same function:

🌈 Always-on Display (AOD):

• 📱 Activated in Settings → Screen. → Always-on Display.
• 🕒 Shows time, date, notifications and charge level even when off.
• ⚡ Consumes minimal charge thanks to technology AMOLED.

📲 Notification widgets on the lock screen:

• 🔄 Set up in Settings → Lock screen → Notification style.
• 🎨 Select Detail Style to Display App Icons with Notifications.

🔋 Battery savings:

⚠️ Note: When using Always-on Display on Xiaomi Mi 9 with a worn-out battery (capacity below 80%), it is recommended to turn off the function at night or connect the phone to charging. Otherwise, the discharge in 8 hours can reach 10-15%.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When setting the light indicator on Xiaomi Mi 9 users encounter typical errors.

🚨 The indicator does not flash after setting up:

• 🔌 Check if it is disabled in Settings. → Battery → Battery Optimization (exclude notifications from optimization).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.
• 📵 Make sure notifications for the desired application are allowed: Settings → Annexes → Management of notifications.

⚡ Fast battery discharge:

• 📉 Turn off Always-on Display if it is on at the same time as the light indicator.
• ⏱️ Reduce the lighting time in the application settings (for example, in the LED Blinker set blinking interval 1 second on / 3 seconds off).

🔧 ADB-commands are not applied:

• 💻 Update platform-tools to the latest version.
• 📋 Check that you are entering commands on behalf of the administrator (on Windows, run cmd via Run on behalf of the administrator).
• 🔐 Some firmwares require pre-entering: adb shell pm grant com.android.settings android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS.

💡

If none of these methods worked, chances are your Xiaomi Mi 9 isn’t equipped with a physical LED, so you’ll have to use alternatives like Always-on Display or widgets.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions