Light indicator on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: how to turn on, configure and fix problems

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but many users are faced with the problem: where is the light indicator notifications, which is so familiar in other models? In fact, in the Redmi 9A it is, but does not work as clearly as in flagships. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to activate it, adjust colors and solve typical problems — from the lack of response to notifications to reset MIUI settings.

It is important to understand that Redmi 9A no-one RGB-The LED under the screen, which is backlit ("Ambient Display") and flashing the screen when notified. This is Xiaomi's budget solution, but it can be customized to suit your needs. We'll look at the standard methods through Settings. MIUI, and hidden chips with the use of ADB for advanced users.

Where is the light indicator on the Redmi 9A?

Unlike the Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO X3, where the LED is located next to the front camera, the Redmi 9A does not have a physical indicator.

• 🔦 Screen backlighting – short-term display with display of notification icon (function Ambient Display).
• 📱 Screen blinking – the screen flashes white or colored light for a split second when new notifications are introduced.
• 🔋 Charging indicator - LED next to the connector USB-C, which burns red/green when connected to the network.

If you expect to see a classic flashing LED like the Samsung Galaxy, the Redmi 9A is replaced by a software emulation. This is not a drawback, but a feature of the Redmi A-series budget lineup. However, even this backlight can be customized — more on that.

How to turn on notification light indicator through MIUI settings

The standard way to activate notification highlighting is through the Settings menu.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Notifications and Status bar section.
3. Select Notifications Illumination (or Ambient Display in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Activate the Switch to Show notifications on the locked screen.
5. Turn on the Wake Up option to let the screen light up when the phone moves.

Thereafter, with further notices (SMS, Calls, messengers, the screen will be briefly turned on, showing the icon of the application. MIUI:

• 🌙 Dark theme – the backlight will be dull white or blue.
• ☀️ Light theme – backlight yellow or orange.

If the option to highlight notifications is not in the menu, then your version MIUI It doesn't support it. In this case, an alternative method using the ADB (See below) or third-party apps like Always On AMOLED (Although they are not optimized for LCD-redmi screen 9A).

Customize color and frequency of flashing through hidden features

By default, Redmi 9A doesn't allow you to change the color of the notification backlight, it's tied to the system theme. However, with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can unlock additional options, which is suitable for advanced users.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Next, run commands in the terminal (Windows or Terminal command line on macOS/Linux):

adb shell settings put global notification_light_pulse 1


adb shell settings put global notification_light_color 0xFFFF0000 # Red




adb shell settings put global notification_light_color 0xFF00FF00 #Green




adb shell settings put global notification_light_color 0xFF0000FF #Blue

After you type each command, restart your phone. The backlight color will change, but keep in mind:

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A s LCD-The screen color range is limited - shades may look paler than on the screen AMOLED. Also some versions MIUI If the backlight hasn't changed, go back to the standard settings.

To reverse the changes, use:

adb shell settings delete global notification_light_color

Why the light indicator does not work: typical problems and solutions

If you have enabled all settings, but the notification highlighting does not work, check the following points:

Pay particular attention to permissions for applications, for example, Telegram needs to:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Telegram → Notifications.
2. Turn on Display notifications and sound.
3. In the Notification Categories section, activate Messages and Groups.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 12.5 and later, some notification settings may be hidden behind the option Special permissions. Check it in the app menu.

Alternative methods: third-party applications and widgets

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party solutions. 9A:

• 📱 Always On AMOLED — It is always an active screen (partially suitable, as Redmi has a screen). 9A LCD-matrix).
• 🔔 Light Manager – allows you to configure the flashing screen for different applications.
• 🎨 Edge Lighting – Adds colored lights to the edges of the screen (requires root rights).

Please note that most of these applications:

• Consume an additional battery (up to 5-10% per day).
• It can interfere with MIUI (for example, Ambient Display stops working).
• Notification Access (Notification Access) is required.

For installation:

1. Download APK from the official website (for example, APKMirror).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Permissions → Install Unknown Applications).
3. Launch the application and provide all the permissions requested.

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Before installing third-party notification apps, create a restore point in MIUI (Settings → Additional → Backup) to help roll back changes if the phone starts to slow down.

Resetting settings and restoring the default indicator

If after experiments with the light indicator it stopped working at all, return the settings to the factory:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (does not delete files, only system settings).
3. After the reboot, re-configure Ambient Display and permissions for applications.

If the reset didn't help, the problem could be the firmware.Update MIUI:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version.
3. After the update, reset the settings again.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A firmware MIUI 12 may not support Ambient Display, in which case only the flashing through Fastboot (risky for beginners) will help!).

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Resetting is the last way to get the indicator back up and running, and 90% of the time, the problem is solved by setting up notifications or updating MIUI.

Comparison with other Xiaomi models: which is better?

If you want a full light display, compare the Redmi 9A with other Xiaomi smartphones:

As you can see, Redmi. 9A It's not as functional as it is, but it's justified by its budget price. If the light indicator is critical to you, consider the models with the lights. AMOLED-screens (e.g. Redmi Note 11) or separate RGB-light-emitting.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi light indicator 9A