How to turn on light indication on Xiaomi devices: from smartphones to smart watches

The light display on Xiaomi devices is not just a decorative element, but a useful tool for alerting you to events. It helps you quickly determine the status of the device: charging, notifications, errors or mode of operation. However, many users face the problem that the default indicator is turned off or is not working correctly. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to activate LED backlights on different types of Xiaomi equipment, from smartphones to smart watches and routers.

It's important to understand that the switching algorithm depends on the device model and the firmware version. For example, on smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, the indicator settings are hidden deeper than in the older versions. And on smart watches Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch, the LED may not be physically present at all. We will look at each case in detail so you know exactly how to make the indicator work on your gadget.

1. Including light indication on Xiaomi smartphones

On most Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Mi series), the LED light is located next to the front camera, and it can flash different colors depending on the type of notification: green for charging, red for low charge, blue for a new message. To activate it, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Display. → LED indicator (on some models the path may be different: Settings) → Notifications → LED indicator).
• 🔄 If there is no item, check the version. MIUI. Starting with MIUI 14 indicator settings can be moved to Additional settings → Event indicator.
• 🎨 Choose colors for different types of notifications: calls, SMS, Some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) support blinking frequency settings.
• ⚡ Turn on the option during charging if you want the indicator to burn constantly when connected to the network.

On smartphones with AMOLED-displays (e.g., Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5) It might not have a physical LED, but instead it uses the Ambient Display feature, which shows notifications on the display that is off, to configure it:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Ambient Display.
2. Choose the display style: Color or Black and White.
3. Activate the option to display notifications.
4. Set up a schedule or turn on Always Active (be aware that this increases battery consumption).

2. Features of the indication on different models of smartphones

Not all Xiaomi smartphones have the same light display capabilities. 9A or POCO M3 They only have a single-color LED that flashes white when notified, while flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra support it. RGB-lighting with tweaking for each type of alert.

On some models (e.g. Redmi K50), the LED light can be turned off at the firmware level, in which case installing a custom recover (e.g. TWRP) and editing system files will help, but this is a risky procedure that can lead to loss of warranty or a “brick” of the device.

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If your smartphone doesn’t have a physical LED, try using the Always On Display app from Google Play. AMOLED-screen with minimal battery consumption.

3. Light indication on smart watches and fitness bracelets Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartwatches and bracelets (Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch, Amazfit series) usually do not have a traditional LED indicator.

• 🔋 Screenlighting at notifications (on Mi Band 7 and newer).
• 🌈 Color animation on the home screen (for example, with low battery charge).
• 🔔 Vibration. + flashing.
• 💡 LED on the charger (burns red when charging, green when fully charging).

To set up alerts on the Mi Band:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp for new models).
2. Go to Profile → Your Device → Notifications.
3. Enable the screen lighting or vibration option when notified.
4. For Xiaomi Watch S1, you can set up the color scheme of alerts in the Notification Style section.

On some models (such as the Amazfit GTR 4), you can adjust the color status indication through a proprietary app, for example, the screen will be illuminated in red when a missed call is made or green when the daily step norm is reached.

4. Set up the indication on routers and smart devices Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s smart routers (Mi Router, AX3600, AX6000 series) are equipped with LED indicators that signal connection status. By default, they burn blue when normal, red when error, yellow when firmware updates. To change the mode of the indicator:

1. Connect to the router’s web interface at 192.168.31.1 (or via the Mi Wi-Fi app).
2. Go to Settings → System Status → Indicator.
3. Choose one of the modes: 🔵 Always on, always on. 🔄 Blinks when active – responds to data transmission. 🚫 Disconnected - the indicator is not working.

On the Yeelight smart bulbs (owned by the Xiaomi ecosystem), the light indication is configured via the Mi Home app:

• 💡 Select the lamp in the list of devices.
• 🎛️ Go to Settings. → Indication.
• 🔄 Turn on the alarm option at notifications (the lamp will flash when an incoming call to the smartphone).
• 🌈 Adjust the color and frequency of blinking.

Turn off router power for 10 seconds|Connect the power and wait for the loading|Check the color of the indicator (should burn blue)|Connect your device to Wi-Fi and watch the LED reaction|If the indicator is red, restart the router through the web interface.-->

5. Solving problems with light indication

If the indicator on your Xiaomi device is not working, the reasons may be as follows:

• ⚙️ Software glitch – try restarting the device or resetting to factory settings.
• 🔌 Hardware malfunction – check LED contacts (relevant for smartphones after falling).
• 📱 Lack of support – some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) They do not have a physical indicator.
• 🔄 Outdated firmware - update MIUI last-minute.

For smartphones with a missing indicator in the settings, you can use third-party applications:

• 📲 Light Manager – allows you to adjust the color and frequency of flashing for notifications.
• 🔦 Always on Edge – imitates the indication on the edges AMOLED-screen.
• 🔔 Notification Light – works even on devices without a physical LED.

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If the LED stopped working after the MIUI update, try rolling back on the previous firmware version or wait for a patch from Xiaomi. Often, the display bugs are fixed in the next updates.

On Xiaomi routers, a red indicator can mean:

• 🔌 No Internet connection (check the cable from the provider).
• 🔄 Firmware failure (requires flashing through) MiWiFi_repairtool).
• 🔥 Overheating of the device (let the router cool down for 10-15 minutes).

6. LED display on Xiaomi laptops and tablets

Xiaomi laptops (Mi Notebook series, RedmiBook) and tablets (Xiaomi Pad 5/6) are also equipped with indicators, but their setting is limited. For example, on the Mi Notebook Pro, the LED burns white when power is turned on and orange when you sleep. You can not change its behavior through standard settings, but you can use third-party utilities:

• 🖥️ BatteryBar – shows charging status in the taskbar with color indication.
• 🔋 LED Controller - allows you to control the keyboard illumination (on models with RGB).

On Xiaomi Pad tablets, the LED indicator is usually absent, instead it uses the backlight of the power button, which is lit green when charging and red when the battery is discharged. You can not set it up, but you can track the status through the battery widget on the home screen.

7. Alternative ways of alerting without LED

If your Xiaomi device is not equipped with an LED indicator, use alternative methods of alerting:

• 🔊 Sound signals – customize unique tunes for different contacts in Settings → Sounds.
• 📳 Vibration - in MIUI You can adjust the vibration rhythm for each type of notification.
• 💡 Always On Display – displays notifications on the screen turned off (available on the screen) AMOLED-model).
• 🌐 Smart notifications – sync alerts with other Xiaomi devices (e.g., Yeelight will flash when you call).

For owners of smartphones with an infrared port (for example, Redmi Note 9 Pro) you can configure alerts through the IR-The Mi Remote app allows you to program the blinking of external LED-tapes or smart lamps when incoming call.

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On devices with MIUI 14+, you can use Cross-Device Connectivity to duplicate notifications on other Xiaomi gadgets (for example, on a smartwatch or TV).

FAQ: Frequent questions about light indications on Xiaomi

If your Xiaomi device is behaving outside the box (for example, the indicator flashes red for no reason), check it for hardware damage or contact a service center. In some cases, a malfunction of the LED can be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as a plume damage or a power controller failure.