The situation when the screen of Xiaomi smartphone goes out and the LED flash continues to burn, familiar to many users. This can occur after accidental pressing, system failure or application conflict. In most cases, the problem can be solved in a couple of seconds using standard tools of the MIUI or HyperOS interface. However, sometimes the system stops responding to standard commands, requiring deeper intervention.
The main reason the flash doesn’t go out is because of the camera or flashlight’s hung process in the background. Xiaomi’s shell-based Android operating system has many layers of hardware management. Understanding where the crash occurred will help to quickly return the device to working condition without losing data.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can deactivate a flash, from simple swipes to forced reboots. You will learn how to set up an automatic shutdown and what to do if a problem is caused by a hardware circuit or software bug. If the flashlight is on a locked screen and does not respond to the power button, you will likely have SOS or emergency call activated.
Use of notification curtain and control centre
The most obvious and quickest way to get lost in panic is to check the control center. On modern Redmi and POCO smartphones, the notification curtain is split into two parts. To find the switch, you need to swipe down from the top of the screen. Depending on the interface settings, the flashlight icon can either be on the top (notifications) or in the tab with the switches.
If a standard swipe doesn't open the menu, try changing direction. In some versions of MIUI, the swipe from right to left opens the control center, and from left to right, alerts. Find an icon that represents a flashlight and click on it. If it's illuminated in blue or orange, it means that the function is active. Re-pressing should instantly extinguish the LED.
In rare cases, the interface may react visually, but the LED does not go out, which indicates that the software interface and hardware are out of sync, and in this situation, try to switch the theme to standard or dark, which sometimes reboots the GUI system without fully restarting the device.
- 🔦 Swipe down from the upper right corner to open the control center.
- 🔦 Find the flashlight icon and make sure it’s not active.
- 🔦 If there is no icon, click on the edit icon (square with a pencil) and add it.
- 🔦 Try to activate and deactivate the function several times in a row.
Management through the Security app
In Xiaomi’s ecosystem, the Security system app is not only an antivirus but also a tool management center, and within that app is a separate flashlight module that takes precedence over standard switches, and if the notification curtain doesn’t work, it often turns out to be the only way to save it.
To access the function, open the app with the green shield icon. In the tool list, look for the Tools section or immediately see the flashlight icon in the top menu. When you start this tool, the system forcibly intercepts control of the LED. By pressing the large shutdown button inside the application, you will send a high priority signal to turn off the hardware part.
Sometimes the Security app itself freezes. If the app's switch off button keeps the flashlight burning, try to force the app to close. To do this, press the Menu button (three bars or a swipe from the bottom up with a delay), find the Security or Flashlight window and swipe it up to close.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party flashlight apps from Google Play, they may conflict with system settings. Delete them or disable permissions in privacy settings.
☑️ Diagnostics through the Security App
Forced resetting of the device
When software methods are powerless, a hard reboot comes to the rescue, which is 99% effective because it completely shuts down the smartphone modules and starts the operating system from scratch. Unlike a conventional shutdown, which may not work when the kernel is getting stuck, a forced restart ignores software locks on the interface.
To do this, most Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO models need to press the power button. Hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. The screen will go out, the device vibrates, and the brand logo will appear. It's important not to release the button until the logo appears. Once the system is loaded, the LED module will be reset to the default state (off).
On some older models or in certain regions of the firmware, the combination may be different. If a prolonged pressing of the power button causes the switch-off menu rather than a reset, try pressing both the Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously, which you hold for about 10 seconds before vibration.
There is also a nuance for models with a physical unlock button: If your smartphone has a fingerprint scanner on the power button, the algorithm of actions does not change. However, if the phone is in the case, make sure that the case does not press the side buttons, causing false positives or preventing prolonged pressing.
What to do if the phone is not restarted?
Set up the timer and automatic shutdown
To avoid flashlights that burn for hours and put down the battery, the system has an automatic timer function, which is especially useful if you often forget to turn off the backlight, and activating this feature allows you to set a time limit after which the LED will go out on its own.
To set up, go to the Security app, then to the Flashlight section. In the upper right corner of the screen, there is often a gear icon or three dots opening the settings menu. Here you can activate the Timer option and select a time interval of 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes or 30 minutes.
In addition, new versions of HyperOS have a smart feature that uses a proximity sensor, so if you hold your phone to your ear or put it in your pocket, the lights can automatically go out, and check if you have this option in the advanced flashlight settings, as its location can vary depending on the software version.
| Method of setting up | Where to find out. | Available intervals | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| System timer | Security → Lantern → Settings | 1, 5, 10, 30 min | Tall. |
| Third-party annexes | Google Play Store | Any (seconds/hours) | Medium |
| Approximation sensor | Settings → Special. opportunities | Automatically. | Depends on the model. |
| SOS mode | Settings → Passwords → SOS | On the occasion. | Critical |
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Install the flashlight widget on the desktop with a timer function, which will allow you to start the light immediately with the selected time of operation, bypassing the unnecessary menu.
Checking SOS and Emergency Calls
One of the most common causes of the “non-switched” flashlight is the activated SOS emergency call mode. In Xiaomi smartphones, when you press the power button five times, the device can automatically send coordinates and turn on a loud siren along with a flashing flashlight to attract attention.
If the flashlight flashes or burns constantly immediately after removing the phone from the pocket where it could rub against the fabric, most likely this sensor worked. To stop the process, usually just press the Stop button on the screen. If the screen is locked or does not respond, try briefly pressing the power button once or twice to interrupt the cycle.
To prevent accidental switching on in the future, you need to reconfigure this feature. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Emergency SOS. Here you can turn off the function completely or remove the tick from the "Enable flashlight" option. It is also recommended to turn off the "5 taps" option if it often works accidentally.
- 🚨 Check if the flashlight is flashing in rhythm. SOS (three short, three long).
- 🚨 Try unlocking your phone and pressing the Stop button in the emergency call interface.
- 🚨 Turn off the “5 taps of the power button” function in the security settings.
- 🚨 Make sure that no automatic actions are set in emergency contacts.
⚠️ Note: Do not completely disable the function SOS, If you're in dangerous terrain or traveling, it's best to just remove the automatic lighting, leaving the possibility of a call.
Diagnostics of hardware problems and sensors
If none of the software methods worked, and the flashlight burns even after resetting or in safe mode, the problem can be hidden in the "hardware." The flash in modern smartphones is a high-power LED controlled by a separate controller on the motherboard.
A common cause is also sticking the light sensor or proximity. If the system "thinks" that the phone is in the dark or in your pocket (because of dirt on the sensor), it may misinterpret the commands or, conversely, keep the lights out in some Smart Lantern scenarios.
In rare cases, the culprit is oxidizing the contacts after contact with water, even if the phone is supposedly moisture-proof, salt or chlorine can cause corrosion, creating a parasitic chain, in which case the only solution is to go to a service center to clean the board with ultrasound or replace the plume.
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If the flashlight is on the phone turned off (when you try to turn off) or immediately after you start charging the device turned off, this is 100% a sign of a hardware short circuit.