Many Xiaomi smartphone users face the unexpected situation when an incoming call or notification begins to flash an LED flash, a feature conceived by developers as a useful option to attract attention in noisy places or for people with hearing impairments, in everyday use often becomes an irritant, especially in a darkened room, when the phone screen is lying on the table, and bright light constantly hits the eyes, distracting from rest or work.
The reason is that the MIUI shell system settings and the new HyperOS are deeply integrated, where accessibility options intertwine with normal call settings. The standard shutdown path that other Android smartphone owners are used to may not work here or be hidden in a non-obvious menu. Understanding the logic of these sections will help you quickly regain the comfort of using the gadget without unnecessary light noise.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to deactivate this feature, from standard system settings to hidden engineering menus. We will look at the nuances for different versions of firmware, as the location of menu items can differ significantly on the Redmi Note, Poco and flagship models of the Mi series. You will learn to manage notifications flexibly, leaving only what is really necessary.
Why you need a flash and why it interferes
The flash flash flash function was originally designed as a universal accessibility feature to help hearing-impaired people visually detect the arrival of an incoming call. However, in today's smartphone environment, this option is often turned on by users randomly or remains active after resetting the default settings. In the dark, the bright light from the camera can be not only unpleasant, but also interfere with sleep if the phone is lying next to the bed.
Also, using flash as an event indicator all the time leads to faster battery drain. Although flashing consumes a bit of power, frequent notifications from instant messengers and social networks can collectively significantly reduce the battery life of a device. So turning off this feature is not only a matter of comfort, but also a way to optimize your Xiaomi power consumption.
It's important to understand that there are two types of displays in the Xiaomi ecosystem: blinking for incoming calls and blinking for app notifications. Often users turn off one thing, forgetting about the other, and are left with a problem. These settings are set up in different system sections, which is the main confusion. Below we will break down each type separately so that you can fully control the light signals of your smartphone.
⚠️ Note: On some models with AMOLED-Blinking may conflict with Always-On Display. If you notice strange lock screen behavior, try temporarily disabling both settings.
Disabling the flash for incoming calls
The most common scenario that requires intervention is the camera blinking during an incoming call, and in the MIUI and HyperOS interface, a separate switch is responsible for this, which is located in the special features menu, and you can find it through a global search for settings or by going through the full path manually, which works on the vast majority of current models, including Redmi and Poco.
To get to the right place, you need to open your device settings and search the top of the screen, type in "flash" or "light indicator." The system will suggest the desired menu item. If you prefer manual navigation, the algorithm of actions will be: first go to the additional settings section, then find the block responsible for accessibility.
☑️ Algorithm of disabling the call
Inside the special features menu, you're interested in the tab associated with hearing, and that's where the flash switch is located, and when you put it inactive, you're going to stop the system from using the camera LED to signal the call, the changes are effective instantly, you don't need to restart the device, and you can check the result by asking someone to call you or making a test call to your number.
It's worth noting that some firmware versions may have slightly different paths, like older versions of MIUI, where they sometimes hid that item directly in the phone settings, so you open the call app, click on three dots or a gear in the corner, and find the incoming calls section, but in the current versions of the OS, developers have unified the interface, bringing all the accessibility features into a single center.
Managing the notification light indicator
The situation with the notification light indicator (blinking a small LED next to the speaker or under the screen, if it is in the model) is solved differently. In modern Xiaomi smartphones, the physical LED is often absent, and its role is played by the screen or camera flash. If you have a flash when you receive messages from WhatsApp, Telegram or SMS, you need to configure notifications specifically for these applications.
Android allows you to flexibly customize the behavior of each application. You need to go to the settings, select "Notifications" and then "Notification Management." In the list, find the desired application, such as WhatsApp. Inside the notification menu, find the category "Messages" or "General." By clicking on the category name (not the switch, but the text), you will be placed in the advanced settings.
If it is active, the system will use the available means (screen or flash) to attract attention, and disabling this item for each application individually will allow you to create a personalized notification profile, leaving the light alarm only for the really important contacts.
- 🔦 Open the settings of your smartphone.
- 📱 Go to Notifications and Status bar.
- 📲 Select Notification Management and find the right app.
- ⚙️ Click on the notification type and turn off the Light indicator.
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If you don’t have a physical LED, the “Light indicator” function in the application settings can use the screen or camera flash to simulate its operation.
Setup through the Camera app
There is another source of problems that is often overlooked: a flash can flash not only when calling, but also when using certain camera or scanner features. QR-codes, if the camera app itself has the option enabled. Although this does not directly apply to calls, users often confuse these modes of operation.
Check the settings of the Camera app. Open the app, click on the three bars in the upper right corner and select Settings. Scroll down to the Flash section. Make sure that Flash on Notification or similar is off. In some firmware regions, this item may be called Light Notification.
It is also worth checking the scanning mode of documents and QR-Sometimes when you hover over the code, the flash lights up for backlighting, and if the light sensor is not working properly, it can happen too often. In the scanner settings, you can turn off the automatic backlight, which will save battery power.
| Type of indicator | Location of settings | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| A flash on a bell | Special Opportunities/Hearing | High (with frequent calls) |
| Notification LED | Application settings | Average. |
| Notification screen | Always-On Display | Low (on AMOLED) |
Hidden settings and engineering menu
For advanced users who have not found a solution in the standard interface, there is access to advanced settings through the engineering menu, which requires caution, since changing the wrong parameters can lead to unstable system operation.
To enter the engineering menu, open the Phone app and type ##6484##. The test menu (CIT) will appear on the screen. Here you need to be very careful. We're interested in the LED or Flashlight section. It can be called differently in different models.
The Way to CIT: -> LED -> Flashlight TestIn this section, you can test the flash and sometimes change its behavior, but most often, only diagnostics are available. ADB-commands, but it requires a connection to a computer. ADB It looks complicated and depends on the specific version of Android, so we recommend using it only for advanced users.
⚠️ Warning: Don't change the values in the engineering menu unless you're sure they're there. Resetting to factory settings may not return the original calibration parameters of the sensors.
Problems after MIUI update and HyperOS update
Often users notice that the flash flash starts flashing on its own after a system update.This is a known bug of some versions of MIUI 13, 14 and early versions of HyperOS. Developers can reset user availability profiles in a major update, returning factory settings where the blinking function is enabled by default.
In addition, the update can bring new conflicts between system applications, for example, a Security app or battery optimizer may force the flash to be included as part of the Missed Notice function if it was activated in older versions of the shell and simply moved to a new one.
What to do if the settings are reset?
The solution is to recheck all the items described at the beginning of this article, and it is also recommended to clear the cache of the Settings and Phone applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find what you want, click Clear and select Clear Cache. This will not delete your data, but it can eliminate software glitch.
Alternative means of notification
If you’ve turned off the flash because it annoys you but are afraid to miss an important call, consider alternative ways to notify. Xiaomi’s modern smartphones offer a variety of vibration and beep options that are less intrusive but effective.
You can set up a smart vibration that varies depending on the type of caller. For contacts on the Favorites list, you can set a unique but low-loud sound or a specific vibration pattern, which allows you to understand who is calling without even taking the phone out of your pocket or bag.
- 🔔 Use the Advanced Notifications feature for important contacts.
- 🌙 Set up a "Do Not Disturb" mode with exceptions for select select people.
- ⌚ Connect a smartwatch or bracelet for tactile notification.
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Disabling the flash does not deprive you of communication, but makes interaction with the smartphone more comfortable and less energy-consuming.