How to turn on flash when SMS on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Modern smartphones Xiaomi brand offers users a wide range of personalization features, however, some basic settings can be hidden or changed in new versions of firmware MIUI and HyperOS. One of these frequently requested options is the light indication of incoming messages and calls, which helps not to miss an important notification, even if the device is in “No sound” mode or lies down. Many owners face a situation when after updating the system the usual path in the menu disappears or stops working correctly.

In this article, we will explore all the possible ways to activate light notifications on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poko smartphones. We will look at standard methods through system settings, specific combinations for different versions of shells, and also touch on the topic of hidden engineering menus that allow you to control equipment at a deeper level. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to flexibly customize the gadget to your needs.

It’s worth noting that having a feature can depend not only on the software version, but also on the hardware of a particular device. Some budget models may not have a separate notification LED using a main camera flash for this purpose, which requires special settings. Let’s figure out how to get your smartphone to respond with light to incoming events.

Staff notification settings in MIUI and HyperOS

The first and most logical step to include the display is to check the standard settings menu, which changes in Xiaomi shells with each major update. In the latest versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, developers often change the location of points responsible for light signals, transferring them to special features sections or leaving them only in the menu of specific applications. If you are looking for how to turn on the flash, start with the basic partition of the system.

To access the basic settings, you need to open the Settings app and find the Sound and Vibration section. This is where the main switches for audio and visual events are concentrated. However, new firmware may not have the Notification Flash option on the main screen of this menu, requiring you to go to the Additional Settings or Special Opportunities subsection, which is done to simplify the interface but often confuses users.

⚠️ Note: The location of menu items may vary across smartphone models. If you don't find the right switch in the specified location, search by settings by typing "flash" or "indicator».

It is important to understand the difference between an event indicator (a small LED next to a conversational speaker) and a flash of the main camera. Android hardware can often only be controlled by the first, while to control a powerful camera. LED-The camera flash may require additional actions or third-party applications.The system tries to save battery power, so by default this feature is often disabled.

If you have a flash notification option on your menu, just activate it. If you don't have one, it doesn't mean it's not available. It may be hidden in the feature menu below. It's also worth checking the Messages app settings, because newer versions of Android have their own hardware rights.

Activation through special opportunities

The most reliable way that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices is to use the special features section, which was introduced by Google in Android 10 and adapted by engineers from the Chinese company for their shells, where the control of the light signal is implemented more straightforwardly and does not depend on the whims of the theme of the design or version of the launcher.

To activate the feature, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. In the list that opens, you need to find the Visual tab or immediately see the “Flash at Notifications” item. By clicking on it, you will be taken to the menu where you can choose the light source: an integrated LED (if any) or a camera flash. The switch should be blue, which means active state.

The same menu often has a "Call Flash" setting that works in a similar way, which is especially convenient for people with hearing impairments or in situations where the phone is in the bag with the screen down. Using special features ensures that the system will prioritize the request to turn on the lights, bypassing some software restrictions.

Consider that activating this feature through the accessibility menu can cause the corresponding icon (usually a person or an eye) to appear in the status bar or in a floating window. This is normal and indicates the service. If the icon interferes, it can be hidden in the special features display settings, but the function itself will continue to work in the background.

Setting up a flash for specific applications

Modern versions of Android give the user granular control over application permissions, which means that even if the system allows a flash, a particular application, such as Telegram, Viber or standard Messages, may not be allowed to use the camera for display, which is a common reason why users do not receive light signals.

To set up, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the right messenger or messaging service in the list. Select Notifications or Other Permissions from the app menu. It's important to find the item associated with using the camera or flash and resolve it. Without this step, system settings can be ignored.

Also, the app notification settings themselves often have a separate Light indicator or Flash switch, which can be in the deep menu: Notification settings → Message category → Additional. Make sure that the tick is there. Sometimes the system offers “Important” and “Usually” notifications, and the settings for them may differ.

Remember that MIUI’s aggressive energy saving system can kill the background processes of messengers, preventing them from running a flash in time. For critical applications, selecting the “No Limits” mode in the Battery and Performance menu will ensure stable operation of background services and timely response to events.

Use of engineering menus and codes

For advanced users who didn't find the right options in the standard interface, there's an engineering menu, a hidden part of the system that's designed to test equipment by engineers in the factory, and you can check the flash's performance and, in some cases, change its behavior, although direct SMS settings are rare here.

The most common code for MediaTek and some Qualcomm devices is ##6484## or #4636##. CIT (Customer Integration Test: Find Flashlight or «LED test" to check the physical health of the module.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the engineering menu, changing unknown parameters can cause the radio module or the system to malfunction.

There is also a method of activation through hidden settings, available through the Engineering Mode app, which can be found in the application directory or installed via APK. In the Telephony → LED Settings section (if available for your model), you can try to force the light indicator support to be enabled. However, on global firmware versions this functionality is often stripped down.

Using engineering codes is more of a diagnostic tool, so if a flash flash flash lights up in a CIT test but doesn't work in a SMS, it's the Android or MIUI software settings that are the problem, not the hardware, so going back to the special features settings is a more effective solution.

Third-party flash management applications

If Xiaomi's regular tools don't get the results they want, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are a variety of utilities, like Flash Alerts, LED Blinker Notifications, or NotifyBuddy, that take over the control of the lighting module, and they work on top of the system, intercepting notifications and making the flash flash flash.

When you install an app, you'll need to give it a wide range of permissions, including access to notifications, a camera, and startup when you boot, so that it can "sleep" in the background and wake up when the SMS arrives. Once set up, you can select the flash color, frequency, and duration of the flash for different contacts.

However, this method has a significant disadvantage – increased battery consumption: constantly asking the system for new messages and frequent activation of a powerful camera LED can significantly reduce battery life, and such applications can conflict with system optimization of MIUI memory, requiring constant manual check of power saving settings.

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To minimize battery consumption in third-party apps, set the “Screen off only” or “Silence only” mode, so the flash will not light up when you are actively using your phone.

However, for older models without built-in LED light, this is often the only way out: Choose apps with high ratings and more installations, as they are better optimized for different versions of Android.

Diagnostics and troubleshooting

There are times when all the settings are correct, the switches are active, but the flash when SMS on Xiaomi does not light up, in which case you need to conduct a diagnostic to exclude software failures or hardware malfunctions, often the problem lies in a trivial conflict of processes or a crowded cache of the system.

First, try rebooting your device. This is a banal but effective tip that resets temporary notification services errors. If that doesn't work, check if Do Not Disturb or Battery mode is on, which can block the flash to save energy. It's also worth checking for system updates, as new patches often fix bugs.

If the flash doesn't flash in any application, including tests in the engineering menu, there may be a hardware breakdown of the flash module or the plume, in which case the software methods are powerless. The problem may also be the light sensor: if it "thinks" that the room is very light, it may not light the indicator, although this is a rare behavior for flashing notifications.

In a pinch, if you're sure it's a software glitch, you can try resetting all the apps (Settings → Applications → All Apps → Three Dots → Reset App Settings) and it will return the permissions and configurations to the factory ones without deleting your personal data.

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If the flash doesn’t work in any application and doesn’t light up in the CIT test, it’s likely the problem is hardware and requires a visit to a service center.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)