The fastest way: swipe up from the bottom
Open your iPhone's Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your screen. On newer iPhones (iPhone X and later), swipe down from the top-right corner instead. You will see a grid of icons. The flashlight icon looks like a small torch or lamp. Tap it once to turn the light on, tap it again to turn it off.
This works whether your phone is locked or unlocked, and whether you are in an app or on the home screen. The flashlight stays on until you tap the icon again or your battery dies. You do not need to unlock your phone or open any app first — Control Center is always one swipe away.
The entire process takes about three seconds from the moment you start swiping. This is why Control Center is the fastest method for turning on your flashlight in an emergency or when you need light quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom (or down from the top-right on newer models) to open Control Center, then tap the flashlight icon.
- The flashlight uses your phone's rear camera light, which is brighter than the screen and drains battery faster.
- You can adjust brightness by pressing and holding the flashlight icon, then sliding the brightness control up or down.
- If you cannot find the flashlight icon, you may need to add it to Control Center through Settings.
- You can also say "Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight" to set up it without touching your screen.
What the flashlight icon looks like
The flashlight icon is a small white torch or lamp shape on a dark background. On most iPhones it appears in the bottom-left area of Control Center, though its position can vary depending on which icons you have added. If you see a torch-shaped icon, that is the one.
Do not confuse it with the screen brightness slider, which looks like a sun and controls how bright your display is. The flashlight icon controls the actual light on the back of your phone. The brightness slider is usually above or below the flashlight icon in Control Center.
Making the flashlight brighter or dimmer
Once the flashlight is on, press and hold the flashlight icon in Control Center. A brightness slider will appear below it. Drag the slider up to make the light brighter, or down to make it dimmer. Release your finger when you reach the brightness you want.
Not all iPhone models support brightness adjustment — older iPhones (iPhone 6s and earlier) turn the flashlight on at full brightness only. If you do not see a slider when you hold the icon, your phone does not have this feature. Newer models from iPhone 7 onward all include brightness control.
Adding the flashlight to Control Center if it is missing
If you open Control Center and do not see the flashlight icon, you need to add it. Open the Settings app, scroll down and tap Control Center, then tap the green plus sign next to Flashlight. The icon will now appear in Control Center the next time you open it.
You can rearrange the order of icons in Control Center the same way — tap and hold the three horizontal lines next to any icon, then drag it up or down to move it. This lets you put the flashlight near the top so it is easier to find in the dark.
Why your flashlight might not work
If you tap the flashlight icon and nothing happens, your battery may be too low. iPhones disable the flashlight when battery is below 10 percent to preserve power for emergency calls. Charge your phone and try again.
If the light still does not turn on, restart your iPhone by holding the power button until you see the power-off slider, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo. This fixes most software glitches that block the flashlight.
If your phone has been in direct sunlight or a hot environment, it may also disable the flashlight temporarily to cool down. Move your phone to a cooler location and wait a few minutes before trying again.
Using Siri to turn on the flashlight
You can also say "Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight" or "Hey Siri, turn off the flashlight." This works even if your phone is locked. Siri will turn the light on or off without you having to open Control Center.
This is useful if your hands are full or you are in the dark and cannot see the screen clearly enough to swipe and tap. You can also use this method while wearing gloves or if your screen is wet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using the flashlight drain my battery faster?
Yes. The flashlight uses the LED light on the back of your phone, which draws more power than the screen. If you leave it on for hours, you will notice your battery percentage drop noticeably. Turn it off when you do not need it.
Can I use the flashlight while taking a photo?
No. The flashlight and the camera flash cannot both be on at the same time because they use the same light. When you open the Camera app, the flashlight turns off automatically.
Why does my flashlight turn off by itself?
Your iPhone turns off the flashlight if the battery drops below 10 percent, or if the phone gets too hot. It may also turn off if you accidentally tap the icon again while swiping through Control Center. Check that the icon is not highlighted, which means it is off.
Is the flashlight the same as the screen brightness?
No. The flashlight is a separate LED light on the back of your phone. Screen brightness controls only how bright your display is. You can have the flashlight on and the screen brightness low, or vice versa.
What if I have an older iPhone and cannot find Control Center?
On iPhone 8 and earlier, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen to open Control Center. On iPhone X and newer, swipe down from the top-right corner. If you still cannot find the flashlight icon, go to Settings, tap Control Center, and add Flashlight using the green plus sign.