How to turn off the flashlight when calling Xiaomi: turn off the flash

Many Xiaomi smartphone users have noticed that when a phone calls or receives a notification, the camera of the device starts to blink actively, a feature known as Mi Flash or Flash at Notifications, is enabled by default on many models with a MIUI shell. It is designed to attract the attention of the owner if the phone is in his pocket or lying down with the screen, but in the dark or in the cinema, it can be a source of severe discomfort.

To make matters worse, in recent firmware versions, developers often change the settings by hiding them in the back of the menu or renaming items. If you want to remove this annoying effect, you don't have to be an Android expert. It's enough to follow the customization path that we'll describe in detail in this article.

In some cases, a standard switch may not be enough, as different system processes can be responsible for blinking: a standard Google caller, a Xiaomi branded shell or even third-party calling apps. So it is important to understand what mechanism activates the LED or screen in your particular case.

Standard method of disconnection through system settings

The easiest and safest way to remove blinking is to use the built-in system settings, which are a separate module in the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, so you don't have to install third-party software or get superuser rights.

To start, unlock your device and go to the main menu. Find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear. Scroll down to the Additional Settings section. This is where the settings for how the system behaves during various events, such as calls or messages, are concentrated.

Inside the option menu, look for Special Opportunities (or “Special Opportunities”). This section contains tools for people with disabilities, but also includes features like Flash for Notifications. Click on it to see a list of options available.

• 📱 Open the Settings app on your smartphone.
• 🔍 Find the Additional Settings section at the bottom of the list.
• ⚙️ Go to the menu Special Opportunities.
• 🔦 Select Flash for notifications or Mi Flash.

Once you log in, you'll see the switch. If it's active, the system will make the camera blink whenever you call in. Just move the slider to the off position. Changes take effect instantly, no reboot is required.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models and POCO This item may be simply called "Flash." If you didn't find it in "Additional Settings," try searching for settings by entering the word "flash».

Configure through the application "Phone"

If the system settings didn’t work, it may be activated directly in the call app. Xiaomi often uses its own caller, but global firmware versions may have a standard Google Phone. The logic of shutting down is similar, but the paths may differ.

Open the Phone app, which you normally call through. In the upper right or lower corner of the screen, find the three-dot icon or gear icon, which is the input to the app's settings menu. Click on it.

In the list that opens, look for Incoming Calls, which is the settings that determine the behavior of the screen and the sound during the call, and look for the option "Flash flash" or "Enable flash." Make sure that the tick against this item is removed.

It is worth noting that in some versions of MIUI, this setting can be duplicated, so it can be included in the system "Special features" and in the phone application itself, and it is recommended to check both places for guaranteed results.

Managing Notifications from Messengers

Often users confuse blinking during a regular call and blinking when receiving a message on WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber. The mechanism here is a little different, since it is responsible for the application of instant messengers or the notification system center.

To turn off the flash for specific applications, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Find the desired app, such as WhatsApp, in the list. Click on the name of the application to reveal the detailed settings.

Inside the notification settings, find the Other Notifications category or just click on the category description text. In the menu that opens, look for Light Indication or Use LED. Disabling this option will prevent the application from flashing the indicator or screen.

It’s important to understand that modern smartphones often don’t have a separate LED light on the front, and in such cases Xiaomi uses a screen or main camera to simulate blinking, so turning off the “light display” in the app settings is the only way to remove this effect.

Use of the "Do Not Disturb" mode

If you want to temporarily eliminate blinking, such as during a meeting or watching a movie, but don't want to change the system's constant settings, the best solution is Do Not Disturb mode, which blocks not only sound, but also visual effects, including flash.

You can activate it through the control panel. Swipe from top to bottom of the screen to open the curtain. Find a crescent icon and click on it. In some versions of the shell, it can be called "No Sound" or "DND."

A more flexible setting is available from the Settings menu → Sound and Vibration → Don’t Disturb. You can set a schedule for automatic mode activation here, for example, you can set a rule to let the phone go into this mode every night from 23:00 to 07:00.

Using this mode is a great compromise: You stay in touch for important contacts (if you set exceptions), but the phone won’t attract attention by blinking in the dark.

Problems with third-party design themes

One of the common reasons why the flashlight keeps flashing even after all the settings is the use of third-party themes from the MIUI Themes store. Theme writers often implement their own visuals that override system settings.

If you recently installed a theme and the problem came up after that, try returning a standard theme. To do this, go to the Themes app, click on the profile icon and select My Themes. Activate the Classic or Default theme.

• 🎨 Open the Topics app.
• 👤 Go to the user profile.
• 📂 Select the section My topics.
• 🔄 Click on the standard Classic theme and apply it.

After changing the theme, be sure to restart the device, which will clear the interface cache and reset conflicts between the flash system settings and the code of the new theme.

⚠️ Note: Some themes may have their own notification settings inside themselves. Check the theme settings by clicking on the Themes app and selecting the “Set up” button if available.

Solving problems through a safe mode

In rare cases, flashing can cause a conflicting third-party app you installed recently, so to diagnose this, you can run your smartphone in Safe Mode, and only system applications load in this state.

To enter Safe Mode, press and hold the power button. When the off icon appears on the screen, press and hold it with your finger for a few seconds. The system will suggest that you go to Safe Mode - confirm the action.

If the flash doesn't light up when you call in Safe Mode, it's definitely third-party software, so remember what apps you've installed lately, related to calls or notifications, and delete them.

After removing suspicious programs, restart your phone in the usual way to exit safe mode. Check the call. If the problem persists, you may need to intervene more deeply.

Resetting and extreme measures

If none of the above methods worked and the flashlight keeps flashing, there may have been a software failure, in which case you can try resetting all the applications or perform a complete reset of the device.

Soft reset is done through Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Phone and Contacts app. Go to each one, select Memory and click Clear. This won't delete your contacts, but will return the call settings to factory.

Settings → Applications → All applications → Phone → Memory → Clean

If that doesn’t work, the last option is a full reset, which will remove all photos, contacts and apps from your phone, so be sure to back up your data to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer before you start.

Turn off your phone to reset. Then press Volume+ and Power at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears. From the Recovery menu, select English, then Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.

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Before performing a full reset, make sure that the battery is at least 50% so that the phone does not turn off during the system recovery process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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If standard methods do not help, check if you have a third-party theme design – it is often the reason for ignoring the system settings of the flash.