Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality, but some settings, such as activating the light indicator on an incoming call, can be hidden from the eyes of the average user. Owners of the flagship Mi 9 often face a situation when after updating the system or resetting the phone stops flashing in standby mode. This is not a hardware breakdown, but a feature of the MIUI software shell that requires manual activation.
Enabling this feature is critical for those who are often in noisy places or carry their phone in a bag where you can not feel the vibration. Visual signal allows you to instantly know that you are being called, even without sound. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available activation methods. LED-indications and flashes, and also consider the nuances of this function on different versions of firmware.
It’s worth noting that the standard interface doesn’t always offer an obvious on/off switch for calls, unlike notifications.You’ll have to follow a certain path in the settings menu or use additional tools. Below is the full guide to help you set up the Xiaomi Mi 9 as it suits you.
⚠️ Warning: Continuous use of flash as an event indicator can significantly speed up battery discharge, as the LED consumes more power than a conventional one. RGB-notification.
Set up a standard notification indicator
The first thing you need to do is check the basic system settings. In Xiaomi Mi 9, a separate module is responsible for the light indication, which can be turned off by default to save charge, you need to find the partition responsible for notifications and activate the corresponding slider.
Go to the main settings menu and select Additional settings. Here you are interested in Lighting indication (or LED-Make sure the switch is activated. If this item is not on the menu, maybe your version MIUI hide it, and you will need to use third-party applications, which will be discussed below.
It is important to understand the difference between notifications and calls. Standard settings often only blink when messages are missed, ignoring the incoming call. To function properly, the system needs to recognize the call as a priority event requiring a light signal.
- 🔍 Check the presence of the item "Lighting indication" in additional settings.
- 🔍 Make sure that the Do Not Disturb mode does not block visual signals.
- 🔍 Restart the device after changing the settings to apply the changes.
If the phone doesn’t blink when you call it, but it responds to messages, the problem may lie in the settings of the Phone app itself. Some versions of Google Dialer or MIUI Dialer have their own notification priorities that interrupt the system settings.
Using the "Themes" application to activate the flash
One of the most effective and legal ways to make the Xiaomi Mi 9 flash when calling is using the built-in theme store. Theme developers often implement their own scripts that force the camera LED flash or screen display during an incoming call.
Open the Themes app on your smartphone. In the search box, type in "Flash call" or "Flash call." You'll see a lot of free and paid designs. You don't have to use the whole theme, often just activate the Call Style or Lock Screen component from the set.
Once you have the theme installed, go to the settings. There should be a point that allows you to use the hardware flash. This method is good because it does not require superuser rights (Root) and works on the firmware stabilization, but the visual style of the call can change with the activation of the blink.
Risks of using third-party themes
- 🎨 Download theme with the Flash Call function from the official store.
- 🎨 Use the theme in its entirety or only the call component.
- 🎨 Check the operation of the flash with a test call.
The downside of this method is that you get a new design for the call interface that you might not like, and if you care about the stock view of the MIUI call, it might seem like a compromise, and then you should consider installing specialized applications.
Third-party flash management applications
If the built-in tools don't work, Google Play Store apps come to the rescue, and there are many utilities designed specifically to control the LED and screen during incoming calls, intercept the call event and force the flash to activate.
One of the popular solutions is the Flash on Call app, which, once installed, will ask permission to access the phone and camera, so that the program can light up the LED at the right time, and you can choose to use the app's settings to blink, light, or pulse.
Required permissions for flash applications:
1. Access to the telephone (Call State)
Access to camera/flash
3. Background workWhen using such programs, it is important to configure power saving exceptions. MIUI aggressively kills background processes, so the application may not work if the phone is idle for several hours. Go to Settings → Battery and performance and select No Limits mode for the selected application.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party apps, read reviews carefully. Some programs may contain excessive advertising or request access to contacts without the need to.
☑️ Configure access rights for the flash application
Activation via Engineering Menu and ADB (For Advanced)
For users who are not afraid to work with system settings, there is the possibility of activating hidden functions through the system. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows for support LED-system-level notifications if it has been software-disabled by the manufacturer for your region.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section. Then turn on USB Debugging in the Developer menu. Connect the phone to your computer and execute a command to check LED status.
The commands may vary depending on the Android version and MIUI, But you often need to change the value in the settings database, for example, a command might look like a flag change. led_flash_enabled. Be very careful: incorrect change of system parameters can lead to disruptions of the phone.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | Risk of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| led_flash_enabled | 0 (Disconnected) | 1 (Included) | Low. |
| notification_pulse | 1 (Included) | 1 (Included) | Minimum |
| breathing_light | 0 (Off) | 1 (On) | Medium. |
Using ADB requires a PC and installed Xiaomi/Android drivers. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to skip this step and use software methods. A mistake in the team syntax may not work or, in rare cases, cause a cyclical reboot.
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Before making changes through ADB, make a full backup of the data, as a reset may be required in the event of an error.
Problems with the outbreak after the MIUI update
Often users notice that after updating the firmware MIUI flash function stops working, this is due to the fact that new versions of Android (for example, the transition from Android 9 to 10 or 11) change the policy of access to the hardware, the system begins to tighten control over the use of the camera background processes.
In such cases, the standard settings may reset, you'll need to re-enter the activation path, and it's also worth checking whether the Themes or Security app itself, which controls permissions, has updated, and sometimes cleaning the cache of these system applications helps.
If the problem has occurred after a specific update, look for information on the forums about the bugs of this version. Perhaps the developers temporarily disabled the feature due to errors, and its return is expected in the next patch. A temporary solution may be to roll back on the previous version of the firmware, but it is a difficult procedure.
- 🔄 Check for updates for system applications in GetApps.
- 🔄 Clear the cache of the application "Security" and "Settings".
- 🔄 Check the access rights after each major OS update.
In some cases, a full reset of your phone’s settings (Wipe Data) helps, but this is an extreme measure that requires all data to be saved before you go for it, try simply removing newly installed apps that may conflict with the notification system.
Alternative: Screen Flash (Screen Flash)
Modern versions of MIUI have a feature called Screen Flash or Screen Blink, which is a software emulation of a light signal when the display lights up in a certain color when a call comes in, and it's a great alternative for the Mi 9 if the LED camera doesn't suit you.
You can find this feature by going to Settings → Additional settings → Special features → Visual (the path may vary slightly in different versions). Here you can adjust the color and frequency of the screen blinking. This works even if the screen was turned off.
The advantage of the screen flash is that it does not depend on the physical state of the LED and consumes less energy than the constant operation of a powerful light. LED-It also looks more modern and integrated into the interface of the system.
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Screen flash is a built-in MIUI software feature that does not require additional applications to be installed and is more stable than third-party solutions.
But remember, if the phone is down, you don't see a flash, and in this case, the good old LED on the end or the camera flash is the only visual alert option, and the choice depends on your wear habits.