The incoming light alert feature is one of the most popular but often hidden settings in Xiaomi smartphones. Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 8T model, which runs on the MIUI shell, sometimes find it difficult to activate this mode, since the standard call menu does not always contain an obvious switch.
Activating the flash when you call, you don't miss important contacts, even if the phone is down screen or in the bag. Unlike vibration, the light signal is much more noticeable in noisy environments. However, before you start setting up, you should understand that using the phone is a very important way to do this. LED-indicator or main camera as a signal consumes battery power, although slightly.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to enable this feature on the Xiaomi Mi 8T. We will consider the standard system tools, special features settings and third-party solutions if standard methods do not work, and pay attention to possible errors and their elimination.
Checking system settings of calls
The first step should always be to check the basic settings of the Phone app. In some versions of MIUI firmware, the switch can be located directly in the dial menu. To do this, open the call app and go to the settings via a three-dot menu or gear.
Look for a section that might be called Inbound Calls or Extra. There may be a flash-on-call option. If you see this item, just activate it. However, on the Xiaomi Mi 8T model, this item is often missing by default due to regional firmware restrictions.
- 📱 Open the phone application (green handset).
- ⚙️ Click on the three dots in the upper right corner or select Settings».
- 🔍 Carefully read the sections “Incoming calls” and “Additional».
If you don't have the right call in the settings menu, don't despair. It doesn't mean that the function isn't available. It's just put in another system section that's dedicated to the device's special features. Go to the next section of the instructions for a deeper setup.
Activation through Special Opportunities
The most reliable way to make the Xiaomi Mi 8T flash when you call is to use the Special Features section, which hides features for people with hearing impairments who duplicate the sound signal with light, which works on all versions of MIUI without exception.
You need to go to the main settings menu of your smartphone, find the "Advanced Settings" section or immediately "Special features." In the list of available features, look for "Flash at notifications" or "Flash at call." Once you turn on this option, the phone will start using an LED or screen for alarms.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI This feature may be called the Notification Indicator and require a separate permission for the Phone application».
Once the function is activated, the system can request confirmation or issue a warning that the feature is for the hearing-impaired. Agree with this. Also make sure that the feature has a tick in the settings opposite to Incoming Calls, as sometimes only messenger notifications are turned on by default.
☑️ Verification of activation of the function
Configure flash and screen settings
Once the feature is turned on, it is important to adjust its behavior correctly so that it does not interfere with everyday use. In the Xiaomi Mi 8T, you can adjust how the indicator will behave, for example, you can choose whether only the LED flash will flash or the entire screen will light up.
Using the screen to indicate more energy, but more noticeable during the day. LED is more economical, but it may not be visible in bright sunlight. From the flash settings menu, choose your preferred option. Also often available is a setting for the duration of the blinking or its frequency.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| LED | Short-term pulses of the flash | Minimum |
| Screen. | The whole display lights up. | Average. |
| Vibration + Light | Combined mode | High. |
| Only in the silent | It only works in silenced mode. | Depends on the setting. |
It is recommended to test both modes at different times of the day, ask someone to call you or use a second phone, and make sure the flash is bright enough for you to perceive, but not blinding in the dark.
Why can't the flash work in your pocket?
Use of third-party applications
If the MIUI tools on Xiaomi Mi 8T are not working properly or you need more advanced functionality (for example, flashing different colors for different contacts), you should turn to the help of third-party software. There are many applications-callers with advanced features in the Google Play Market.
One popular solution is the Flash Alert app, or its analogues, which intercepts an incoming call signal and forces the camera flash at predetermined intervals, and often has its own contact databases and allows you to customize complex blinking scenarios.
- 📥 Download the flash management app from Play Market.
- 🔐 Give the necessary permissions to access calls and camera.
- 🎨 Customize the color and frequency of blinking for each contact separately.
Remember that installing third-party calls can conflict with system calls, so after setting up, it is best to leave only one application for handling calls active. In Android settings, select the installed application as the main one for calling.
Resolving problems and conflicts
Often, users are faced with a situation where everything is turned on, but the Xiaomi Mi 8T does not blink. Most often the problem lies in energy saving. The system can kill the process responsible for blinking to save battery power.
Go to the battery settings and find the Phone or Special Features app, set the "No Limits" or "No Limits" mode, and this will prevent the system from turning off the background processes necessary for the light indicator to work.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling power saving for system processes may lead to increased charge consumption in standby mode.
Also check if Do Not Disturb or Quiet Mode is enabled. In some MIUI configurations, these modes prioritize flash settings and block any visual notifications. Turn them off for verification or add important contacts to exceptions.
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If the flash stopped working after the MIUI update, try clearing the Phone and Settings app cache through the application management menu.
Impact of the energy saving regime
Power saving mode is the main enemy of background features on Xiaomi smartphones. When the charge drops below 20% (or another set threshold), the aggressively system restricts all non-critical services.
If it is critical that you don't miss a call, try not to keep your phone in energy-saving mode. In battery settings, you can create an exception for the alert function, but in practice it's easier to just turn off the economy mode when needed.
There are also sleep modes that the user manually turns on, in which the screen does not light up and the flash does not activate until the device is unlocked.
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For a stable flash operation, you need to add system call services to the list of energy saving exceptions.