How to turn on flash when calling Xiaomi Redmi Note: 5 ways + problem solving

You miss important calls because you can't hear them in a noisy room? A camera flash on the Xiaomi Redmi Note can be your savior -- a bright flashing light will catch your attention even in the loudest of environments. But where to look for this setup in the maze of MIUI menus? Spoiler: it's not in the standard call settings.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to activate the flash on incoming calls, from built-in features to third-party applications.We will understand why the option may not work on some Redmi Note 8/9/10/11/12 models, and what to do if the setting disappears after the MIUI 14 update, and you will also learn how to make the flash only work on important contacts without excessive battery discharge.

Why Xiaomi Redmi Note doesn’t have a flash on default calls

Check question: have you ever seen a flash flash flash when calling a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy? Probably not. Smartphone manufacturers rarely turn this feature on out of the box for three reasons:

• 🔋 Battery savings: Turning the LED on every call drains the battery. 2-5% faster (GSMArena test data).
• 🤯 Psychological factor: Vivid flashes in the dark can irritate others or even provoke seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
• 📱 Legal restrictions: In some countries (e.g. Japan), flashing lights on gadgets are regulated by light pollution laws.

But MIUI is one of the few Android shells that can enable it without root rights, and the problem is that the way to set up changed with each new firmware version, for example, in MIUI 12, the option was in the Special Features menu, and in MIUI 14, it was moved to the Sounds and Vibrations section, and then we'll show you the current paths for all versions.

Method 1: Incorporation through "Special Opportunities" (MIUI 12-13)

This is the most reliable method for owners of Redmi Note 8/9/10 with MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 firmware. The instructions work on some custom firmware like Xiaomi.EU:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select Special Opportunities.
3. Tapping on the Hearing section (some models call it Audio/Visual prompts).
4. Find the option Flash at notifications or Blinking Light at calls and activate the slider.
5. Important! The confirmation will be a warning about the battery discharge — press OK.

If you don’t have a “Hearing” menu, try an alternative route:

Settings → Additional → Special. features → Notifications → Flash when calling

Make sure the screen brightness is >50% (affects the sensitivity of the light sensor)

Turn off Do Not Disturb (it blocks all notifications)

Check that the camera is not used by other apps (e.g. TikTok)

- Battery charge >15% (at low charge) MIUI disables "unnecessary" functions)-->

What if the option is gray? It means that the function is blocked by the system.

• 🔄 Restart your phone (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Update your firmware to the latest version (path: Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🛠️ Reset the special features settings: Settings → Special opportunities → Three dots (menu) → Reset the settings.

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If the flash only works on the first 2-3 calls after turning on, and then stops, check the battery optimization settings for the Phone application. Add it to the exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications → Phone → No restrictions

Method 2: Configure with Sound and Vibration (MIUI 14)

In the latest versions of MIUI 14 (Android 13/14), the path to setting up the flash has changed, and now it's hidden in the audio notification section.

1. Go to Settings. → Sounds and vibrations.
2. Select Call Notifications (or Calls and Notifications on some models).
3. Scroll down to the Visual Tips block.
4. Activate the camera flash or flashing light switch.

The Redmi Note 11/12 may require an additional step:

Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Additional → Flash at notifications → Enable for calls

A critical feature for the Redmi Note 12: on this model, flash calls only work if the camera settings enable the Auto-Gestural Launch option (path: Camera → Settings → Gestures → Auto-Gestural Launch).

Method 3: Use Flash Alerts 2 (for all models)

If the built-in settings don’t work or aren’t in your version of MIUI, the third-party Flash Alerts 2 app will come to the rescue.It supports all Redmi Note models, including the newest ones, and offers advanced features:

• 🔦 Setting the flash color (white/red/blue).
• ⏱️ Adjustment of the frequency of blinking (from 1 to 10 times per second).
• 📵 Excluding contacts (flash won’t work on spam calls).
• 🔋 Optimized power consumption (30 percent less than the built-in function).

Instructions for setting:

1. Download Flash Alerts 2 from Google Play.
2. Open the application and provide all the permissions requested (access to notifications, camera, contacts).
3. In the main menu, activate the Flash switch when calling.
4. In the Settings → Notification Types section, select Calls and Messages (optional).
5. Press the test to check the flash.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14 the application may conflict with the built-in flash function. Before installation, disable the system setting according to the instructions from Method 2.

The advantage of Flash Alerts 2 over standard tools:

Method 4: Automation with MacroDroid (for advanced users)

If you want to be flexible in managing your flash, such as turning it on only at night or for certain contacts, use MacroDroid, a powerful automation tool that allows you to create chains of action without root rights.

Algorithm of settings:

1. Install MacroDroid and open it.
2. Click Add macros → Triggers.
3. Select the Call. → Incoming call.
4. In the Actions section, add Camera Control → Flash → Enable.
5. Set the duration of the blinking (recommended 500 ms on / 500 ms off).
6. Save the macro and activate it.

An example of an extended macro for the Redmi Note 10 Pro:

Trigger: Incoming call (contact: "Mom" or "Work")


Condition: Time from 20:00 to 07:00 OR sound level < 30%




Action:




Activate flash (colour: white, frequency: 2 Hz)




2. Increase the volume of the call to 100%




3. Vibration: long-short-long




Restriction: Only if the screen is turned off

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 12 with Android 13 MacroDroid requires additional permission ADB Without it, the macro will not work smoothly. Instructions for issuing permission: adb shell pm grant com.arlosoft.macrodroid android.permission.CAMERA adb shell pm grant com.arlosoft.macrodroid android.permission.FLASHLIGHT

Method 5: Manually enable through the engineering menu (for experienced)

This method is suitable for Redmi Note 8/9 models with custom firmware or if previous methods have not worked.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###.
2. You will be taken to the EngineerMode (engineering menu).
3. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio → Flashlight Test.
4. Enable Flash On Call (or Flashlight Notification)
5. Save the settings and restart the phone.

If the combination doesn’t work, try alternative codes:

• ##4636## → Testing equipment → LED indicator
• ##232338## → Flash test

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 11/12 s MIUI 14 The engineering menu may be blocked, and if you try to enter the code, you will get a message saying, "This function is disabled by the manufacturer." 3 (Flash Alerts app 2).

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The engineering menu is a powerful tool, but it's dangerous. Never change the settings in Radio Information or Band Selection unless you understand what they're about, and it can lead to network loss or a build-up of your phone.

Solving the Problem: Why the Outbreak Doesn't Work

You've turned on the feature, but the flash doesn't flash when you call? Here are 10 reasons and solutions:

If nothing helps, reset settings only for special features:

Settings → Special features → Three points (menu) → Reset settings

For the Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14, there is another trick:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Permissions → Flash → Allow

FAQ: Frequent questions about flash on calls