Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the device starts flashing a flash during an incoming call.This feature, known as the Pocket Lantern, is useful in the dark, but can be extremely annoying in the cinema, in a meeting or just in the dark.The Android system in the shell of MIUI has several levels of settings that can activate this mode.
Many users mistakenly believe that the problem lies in third-party applications, but most often it is in the system settings of the HyperOS or MIUI. Understanding how the hardware flash works in conjunction with telephony will quickly solve the problem. In this article, we will discuss all possible causes and ways to fix them.
Not only do you have to look at standard switches, but you also have to look at hidden menus, and you have to look at features for people with disabilities. Notification flash and flashlight when you call are different but related mechanisms. We'll detail each step so you can customize your gadget for yourself.
Main Cause: The Pocket Lantern Function
The most common cause of flash flash flash flash flashing is the activated Pocket Lantern feature, which was introduced by the developers so that the user can find the phone in the dark simply by taking it out of his pocket or bag. The accelerometer and proximity sensor detect movement, and the system automatically turns on the LED.
But the algorithms don't always work perfectly. Sometimes the phone is on the table, but because of the vibration from the incoming call or the messages, the sensors are false, and as a result Xiaomi starts flashing, attracting extra attention, and turning off this feature is the first step to solving the problem.
⚠️ Warning: If you turn off the pocket flashlight, you will have to manually turn on the backlight in the dark.Make sure you don't really need this feature before changing the system settings.
To find this setting, you need to go to the main settings menu of the device. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. The MIUI interface is structured so that the basic functions are available in a few clicks.
When you log into the Additional Features menu, you'll see the switch. Its "On" state means that the flash will respond to movements. On newer versions of HyperOS, this switch is sometimes hidden inside the "Pocket Mode" submenu.
Disabling this option is guaranteed to stop the blinking caused by the movement of the device, but if the problem persists, it is worth checking other sources of activation of light indicators.
Setting up special features and accessibility
The second important area where the light settings are hidden is the section for people with disabilities, the Notification Flash feature is designed for deaf or hard of hearing users to visually see the incoming call. The system priority level of these settings is very high.
Even if you don't use special features, this feature can be activated accidentally or after updating the system. Unlike a pocket flashlight, here the flash flash flashes rhythmically and continuously, during the beeps, in which case the visual alarm duplicates the sound.
To turn off, you need to find the Advanced Settings or Additionals section in the main menu, and you should look for the availability item, and in some versions of MIUI it is placed in a separate menu called Special Opportunities.
- 🔍 Open Settings and go to the Advanced Settings section.
- 👁️ Find the Special Opportunities (or Availability).
- 🔔 Select the Visual or Hearing tab.
- 🚫 Find the Flash switch at notifications and turn it off.
It is important to check the settings not only for the system as a whole, but also for specific applications such as Phone or Contacts. The notification priority may override the general settings. If the switch is active, the flash will fire at any sound signal.
When the settings change, it is recommended to restart the device, which is necessary for system services to properly update the hardware configuration, sometimes changes take effect only after a full cycle of activation.
☑️ Checking availability settings
Do Not Disturb Mode and Sound Profiles
A third scenario in which strange flash behavior may occur is associated with silent modes. Users often confuse screen blinking and flash blinking. However, in some custom themes or when using third-party launchers, Do Not Disturb mode may be interpreted by the system as a signal for visual alert instead of audible.
If you have a No Sound or Vibration profile enabled, the system may try to compensate for the lack of sound by flashing. MIUI
It’s also worth checking the theme settings. Some third-party themes have their own scripts for notifications. If you’ve recently changed the visual style of the interface, try going back to the standard theme of “Classic” or “Standard”.
Make sure that the sound settings don't activate exotic effects. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration. Check if there are options like "Lighting effects when you call." Although pure Android doesn't, manufacturers often add their own improvements.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party themes may contain malicious code or errors. If a problem occurs after you install a new theme, delete it immediately.
Checking the sound profiles is an important diagnostic step, and make sure that none of the profiles are set to activate the LED module instead of the speaker.
Impact of Third-Party Applications and Launchers
Often the problem is not system settings, but user-installed applications. Call management programs, number detectors, or smart launchers can intercept flash management. Caller apps from Play Market often have their own notification settings.
If you use an alternative caller program, such as Truecaller, GetContact or Google Phone with a modified interface, check their internal settings. There, the "Call Flash" option can be activated regardless of Xiaomi's system settings.
Also worth looking at are flashlight applications, some of which have a "SOS" or "Signal" function that can be activated under certain conditions, and the background processes of these applications sometimes conflict with the system's flash management.
- 📱 Check out the list of recently installed apps.
- 🚫 Turn off camera permissions and flashes for suspicious programs.
- 🔄 Try to start your phone in Safe Mode to eliminate the impact of third-party software.
To enter Safe Mode, you usually need to press the turn off button and then press the Turn off icon on the screen for a long time. After rebooting, only system applications work in this mode. If the flash does not flash when you call in Safe Mode, then the third-party application is to blame.
How do we find the culprit?
Removing the conflicting app will solve the problem, and if you can't find the culprit, try resetting the app settings through the recovery menu.
Diagnostics of hardware problems and sensors
If software methods didn't work, maybe it's hardware malfunction. Sticking on the power button or damaging the flash plume can cause spontaneous switching on. Physical wear and tear of components is a natural process for devices that have been in use for several years.
It's also worth checking the proximity sensor. If it's contaminated or covered with a protective film, the phone may mistakenly think it's in your pocket and turn on the flashlight.
You can use an engineering menu to check the status of the sensors, and type in the ##6484### code in the Phone app, and this will open the CIT test menu, where you can check the flash and sensors in real time.
| Component | Symptom of malfunction | Method of verification | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approximation sensor | The flashlight goes on in your pocket. | Testing at the CIT menu | Cleaning or replacement |
| Activation button | Self-inclusions | Visual examination | Replacement of the button |
| Flash plume | Blinking without a system | CIT Test | Replacement of the module |
| Battery | Power surges | Diagnostics of the battery | Calibration or substitution |
If the flash test shows a malfunction in the engineering menu, you'll probably need repairs at the service center. Hardware problems are almost impossible to solve.
Resetting and system update
The latest software method to fix the problem is to update the system or completely reset. Firmware errors can cause camera drivers and flashes to malfunction. Xiaomi developers regularly release patches that fix such bugs.
Go to Settings → About your phone and check for updates. If a new version of MIUI or HyperOS is available, install it. Make sure to back up your data before upgrading.
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Before upgrading your firmware, charge your phone to at least 60% and connect to a stable Wi-Fi network to avoid booting errors.
If the update didn't work, you can try resetting everything to factory settings, which will delete all the data, so (backup) is critical. Once reset, the phone will go back out of the box and the software conflicts will be fixed.
To reset, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset → Delete all data. This process will take a few minutes.
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Full resetting eliminates 99% of software conflicts, but takes time to recover data and reset applications.