Are you missing important calls because the phone is down screen or in a noisy room? A flash of light on an incoming call on Xiaomi solves this problem - bright flashes of the camera or screen will attract attention even in the most uncomfortable situation. But not all users know that this feature is hidden in the depths of MIUI settings and requires the right activation.
In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to set up a flash on a call, from standard system tools to hidden features for advanced users. We will analyze the features of the function on different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.), explain why sometimes a flash does not work, and give tips on how to optimize battery consumption, and at the end we will answer frequent questions and life hacks that are not in the official documentation.
1. Standard settings through “Special Opportunities”
The most reliable way to activate a flash is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which work on all Xiaomi smartphones, starting with the MIUI 10 firmware version and later, including the latest HyperOS updates.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
- Select the Hearing section (on some models – Sound and vibration).
- Activate the Flash switch at notifications.
- In additional settings (cog next to the switch) specify: 🔦 Flash type: "Camera" (the brightest option) or "Screen" (soft blinking). 🔔 Events: Mark “Calls”, “Messages” or “All Notifications». ⚡ Frequency: Select the blinking interval (recommended "Mediocre" to save battery life).
Important: on models with AMOLED-With screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) flashing the screen consumes significantly less power than a camera flash. If the battery goes down too quickly, switch to Screen mode».
Step 1: Reboot your phone after activating the function
Step 2: Call your phone from another device
Step 3: Make sure the flash is not covered with a finger or cover
Step 4: Check the permissions for the Phone application in the settings-->
2. Set up via "Notifications and Status Line"
If there is no option in the Special Options section (relevant to older versions of MIUI), try an alternative way:
- Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Application Notifications.
- Select the Phone app (or Contacts on some firmware).
- Activate the Flash option when notified (could be called Light Indicator).
- Click Additional and set up: 📱 Flash Color: White, Blue or Red (not available on all models). 🔄 Repeat: number of blinks (optimum — 3-5 once).
This method often works on POCO-devices where the interface MIUI If you don't have an option, upgrade your firmware or use a method. №3.
Yeah, it works out of the box.|Yeah, but I had to manually turn it on.|No, I didn't find that function.|I don't know. I haven't.-->
3. Hidden settings via Engineering Mode (for advanced)
On some models (Redmi 9, Mi A3), the standard methods do not work due to manufacturer limitations, in which case the Engineering Mode, an engineering menu, will help.
Attention: improper actions on this menu may disrupt your phone. Follow the instructions exactly!
- Open the Phone app and type in the combination: ##36446337## (some models run ##4636##).
- Go to the Hardware Testing → Lights section.
- Select Flashlight Test and activate flash test.
- Go back to the main menu and look for Notification LED Settings (also known as Indicator Light).
- Set the parameters: 🔧 LED Mode: Always On (always on) or Blinking (blinking). 🎨 Color: Choose a color for calls (e.g. green).
⚠️ Warning: After changes to Engineering Mode, restart your phone. If the flash is not working properly (e.g., flashing constantly), reset this section to the factory.
What to do if the Engineering Mode doesn't open? on some Xiaomi models (e.g., on some Xiaomi models, POCO X3 Pro) the engineering menu is blocked. Alternative is to use the application MTK Engineering Mode from Google Play (root rights required).--> 4. Google Play apps for advanced settings If the built-in tools are not satisfied (for example, you want to configure different colors for different contacts), install one of these applications
Features Compatibility of Flash Alerts 2 Color and Flash Frequency Adjustment Works with Camera and Screen Support for Individual Contact Settings All Xiaomi models on Android 8+ Advertising in the free version of Flash Notification Minimalist interface Low battery consumption Operates in the background of Android 7–13 No Russian language LED Blinker Notifications Support and Flash Settings for each application separately Do not disturb Mode Requires Android 9+ Difficult interface for beginners Before installing, check the application permissions: it must have access to the phone, select the frequency and installs. Add the app to autoboot (in phone settings: Battery) → Auto-start). ⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Flash Alerts 2) may conflict with the built-in flash feature MIUI. Before using, disable the standard setting in Special Opportunities. 5. Problem Solving: Why the Flash is Not Working If you have turned on all settings but the flash on the call still doesn't work, check these points: 🔋 Battery savings: In the Battery settings → Power saving mode disable restrictions for the applications "Phone" and "Camera». 📵 Do Not Disturb: Flash does not work if Do Not Disturb mode is activated with blocking notifications. 🔄 Application Conflict: Uninstall other flash management software (e.g. Flashlight Widget). 📱 Hardware limitations: On some models (Redmi) 8A, Mi A2 Lite) flash does not physically support frequent blinking. 🔄 Resetting: If nothing helps, reset the Special Opportunities settings to factory settings (Settings) → All settings → Resetting settings → Special case: Xiaomi with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 10C) Sometimes it helps to flash the camera module through TWRP. But this method requires root rights and is only suitable for experienced users. 💡If the flash is manual (when the flashlight is turned on), but does not flash on calls, the problem is in the software settings, not in the hardware. 6. Optimizing battery consumption when using the flash Constant flashing flash or screen can reduce battery life by 10-15%. To minimize your expenses, follow these tips: ⚡ Use the screen instead of the camera: AMOLED-displays (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO F4) Blinking the screen consumes 3 times less energy. ⏱️ Limit duration: Set no more than 5 blinks per call. 🌙 Turn off at night: Set up a schedule in apps like Flash Alerts 2 (for example, 23:00 to 7:00). 🔄 Update the firmware: B MIUI 14+ Optimize the power consumption of the flash. To check the actual battery impact: Charge the phone to 100%. Activate the flash on the call and call yourself 10 times for 30 seconds. Check the battery consumption in Settings → Battery → Battery use. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ s AMOLED-10 screen blinks per call spend ~0.3% charge, and 10 flash flashes — ~1.2%.7. Flash alternatives: Other ways to keep a call from being missed If a flash for some reason doesn't fit, consider these options: 🔔 Vibration with Unique Patterns: Set up customized vibrational calls for important contacts in Settings → Sound and vibration → Vibration on the bell. 📢 Volume Speaker: Turn on Volume Amplification in Call Settings (available on POCO and Redmi with stereo speakers). 🌐 Smart devices: Connect your phone to a Yeelight smart bulb or Xiaomi Smart Speaker speaker – they will flash or make a sound when you call. 📱 Always-on Display: On models with AMOLED (Xiaomi 13, POCO F5) Activate the constant screen lighting mode in Settings → Screen. → For owners of Xiaomi Watch or Mi Band there is an additional bonus: smart watch vibrates and shows a call notification, even if the phone is silent mode. 💡Vibration combination + flashing + A smart lamp gives you a 100% guarantee that you will not miss an important call, wherever you are. FAQ: Frequent flash questions on call: Can you customize different flash colors for different contacts? Yes, but only through third-party apps like Flash Alerts 2 or LED Blinker. In standard settings MIUI Instructions: Install Flash Alerts 2 from Google Play. Open the contact you want to set up a unique flash for» → «Additionally» → «Flash color. Choose color and save the changes. Why does the flash go on with a delay (2-3 seconds after the bell)? MIUI: The system first processes the call notification and then activates the flash. To reduce the delay: Turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → Windows animation and transition animation set to Disabled. Use alternative applications (e.g. Flash Notification) that fire faster. Flash works but is very dim. How do you increase brightness? Flash brightness depends on the phone model and firmware. Try it: Update MIUI Up to the latest version (new firmware often improves camera drivers). №3) find the Flashlight Settings section and increase the Brightness Level option (if available). LED-The flash brightness cannot be changed by the Redmi Note 8 Pro software, it's a hardware constraint. Can you make the flash work only for certain contacts? Yes, but not through the standard settings. Options: Flash Alerts Application 2: Open Contact → «Edit» → «Notifications. Select Flash and set the settings. Contact groups in MIUI: Create a group (e.g., “Important”) in the Contacts app. In the group notification settings, activate the flash. MIUI You can not assign different types of flash (color, frequency) to groups - only turn on / turn off. Will the flash work if the phone is down? Depends on the mode you choose: Camera flash: visible if the phone is on a hard surface (light passes through the gap between the case and the desk). Screen blink: not visible if the screen is closed. The solution is to use a case with a transparent back panel or put the phone with the screen up. LED-indicator: on models with an indicator (Redmi Note 10), the light will be visible even from the screen down. Lifehack: if you often put the phone down, stick a small piece of reflective film (for example, from bicycle catafos) on the back cover next to the flash.