Light indicator on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: full setup and secrets of use

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, still in use today for its performance and functionality. One useful but often underrated feature of this device is the notification light indicator. It helps you quickly determine the type of incoming message or missed call, even without turning on the screen. However, many users do not know how to set it up correctly or why it sometimes does not work.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the nuances of working with the light indicator on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, from basic color settings to solving typical problems. You’ll learn how to personalize notifications for different applications, why the indicator can flash incorrectly and how to return it to work after resetting. And also, hidden MIUI functions that allow you to expand the capabilities of the indicator through third-party applications.

Where is the light indicator on the Redmi Note 8 Pro and how does it work?

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the light indicator is located at the top of the screen, to the left of the front camera. It is a small LED that can glow in different colors depending on the type of notification. Unlike flagship models, where the indicator is often integrated into the screen (as in the Mi 11 or Redmi K50), it uses a classic external LED.

By default, the indicator is activated at the following events:

• 📞 Missed call - flashes green.
• 💬 Unread. SMS — blue-blinking.
• ⚠️ Low battery charge (less than 15%) – red constant light.
• 🔔 Notifications from system applications (e.g. Calendar or Weather) – white.

It is important to understand that the colors and behavior of the indicator depend on the version of MIUI. For example, in MIUI 12.5 the logic of the operation is different from MIUI 14, where customization support is added through the Themes, and the indicator may not work if the Do Not Disturb mode is enabled or the Battery Saving function is activated.

How to turn on or off the light indicator in the MIUI settings

By default, the notification indicator on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is turned on, but it can be deactivated or configured to suit your needs.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Notifications and Status bar section.
3. Select Light Indicator (in some versions of MIUI, it may be called Notification Indicator).
4. Activate or deactivate the slider Enable the light indicator.

If the item Light indicator is not in the menu, it can mean:

• 🔄 You have custom firmware installed (like LineageOS) where the function is disabled.
• 📱 The smartphone is in charge saving mode (the indicator is turned off automatically).
• 🔧 Settings reset to factory and an update is required MIUI.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for the global version), the path to settings may be different:

Settings → Applications → Notifications Management → Additional → Light indicator

If you don’t find this section, try searching by settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

Setting up indicator colors for different applications

The standard MIUI settings allow you to specify individual colors of the indicator for system notifications (calls, SMS), but not for third-party applications.

Method 1: Through MIUI settings (limited customization)

For system notifications:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Light indicator.
2. Select the notification type (for example, a missed call).
3. Click on the color of the indicator and select from the suggested ones (green, blue, red, white).

Method 2: Using the Light Manager application (complete customization)

For advanced customization (including WhatsApp, Telegram, VK and other apps):

1. Download Light Manager – LED Settings from Google Play.
2. Grant the application rights to Notices and Special Opportunities.
3. In the main menu, select an app (like Instagram) and set up: 🎨 Colour (any of the palettes) RGB). ⏱️ Frequency of blinking (fast/slow/constant). 🔔 Priority (e.g., blink only when missed calls).

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If Light Manager doesn’t see the indicator, try turning on the option to Use the screen backlight (even on devices without a physical LED) in the application settings.

Example of settings for Telegram:

Note that some apps (like Facebook Messenger) block notifications for third-party programs, and you’ll have to be content with standard MIUI colors.

Why the light indicator does not work and how to fix it

If the indicator has stopped blinking or behaves incorrectly, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔋 Saving charge: MIUI automatically turns off the indicator when this mode is activated. → Battery and productivity.
• 📵 Do Not Disturb: Disables all visual notifications. → Sound and vibration.
• 🔄 Failure after update: Sometimes update MIUI It resets the indicator settings. Try rebooting the smartphone.
• 🛠️ Firmware damage: If the indicator doesn’t work even after resetting, you may need to reflash the device.

If the problem persists, perform the diagnosis through the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app and type ##4636##.
2. Go to the Equipment Testing section.
3. Select the Light indicator and check its operation manually.

⚠️ Warning: If the indicator does not respond to commands in the engineering menu, this may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, a dump of LED contacts.

Additional features: flashing when charging and low battery charge

The light indicator on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can signal not only notifications, but also the status of the battery.

• 🔴 Red: Less than 15% charge, requires a network connection.
• 🟢 Green - Charging completed (100%).
• 🔵 Blue color – the charging process is underway (if the screen is turned off).

These settings can be changed:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Charging Indicator.
2. Select the color of the indicator when charging and the color when charging.
3. Activate or deactivate the Blink option when fully charged.

If you are prevented from blinking while charging, you can turn it off completely, but note: this will deprive you of visual control of the process. The alternative is to use a silent charging mode (in some firmware it is called Quiet charging), which turns off all indicators and sounds.

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Setting up the charging indicator does not affect the battery charging speed – it is a purely visual function.

How to calibrate a light indicator if it flashes incorrectly

Sometimes the light flashes too fast, too slow, or too chaotic, and this may be due to incorrect calibration after updating the firmware, to reset the settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Notification management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset notification settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

If this doesn’t work, try manual calibration via ADB (computer required):

adb shell settings put global notification_light_pulse 1


adb shell settings put global notification_light_pulse_custom_values "500,500,500,500"

These commands set the blinking intervals (in milliseconds), the first is the glow time, the second is the pause.

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB If you're not sure what you're doing, just use standard settings. MIUI.

Hidden opportunities: use of the indicator for game mode and alarm clock

Few people know, but the light indicator on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can be used for additional scenarios:

1. Indication of game mode

If you activate Game Mode in Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo Mode, the indicator will flash orange when incoming calls so as not to distract from the game.

• 🎮 Enable the option of highlighting notifications in games.
• 🔕 Add the right games to the list of exceptions.

2.Alarm clock signal

With the MacroDroid application, you can program the indicator to flash 5 minutes before the alarm:

1. Download MacroDroid from Google Play.
2. Create a new macro with an alarm clock in 5 minutes.
3. Add the action Control light indicator (root or ADB is required).
4. Choose the color red and the mode of constant glow.

This will help you wake up in time, even if the alarm clock is off.

Frequently asked questions