What flash notifications are and why you might want to turn them off

Flash notifications are the bright light pulses your phone's camera or flashlight produces when you get a call, text, or app alert. On iPhones, this feature is called LED Flash for Alerts. On Android phones, it's usually called Flash Notification or Camera Flash Alert, depending on the manufacturer.

The feature was originally designed to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who work in loud environments where sound alerts don't work. But if you find the flashing distracting, disruptive, or just unnecessary for how you use your phone, you can turn it off in your accessibility settings. The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, and some Android phones don't have this feature at all.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhones, flash notifications live in Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual, and you toggle off LED Flash for Alerts.
  • On Android, the setting is usually in Settings > Accessibility > Hearing, but the exact path varies by manufacturer and Android version.
  • Some Android phones, particularly older models or budget phones, may not have a built-in flash notification feature at all.
  • Turning off flash notifications does not affect your other alerts — your phone will still ring, vibrate, and show on-screen notifications normally.

How to turn off flash notifications on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap Accessibility. Scroll down and tap Audio/Visual. You'll see a toggle for LED Flash for Alerts — tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, meaning the feature is now disabled.

If you want the flash to work only for certain types of alerts, some older iPhone models let you toggle it on and off per notification type. Check whether your version of iOS offers that option by looking at the same Audio/Visual menu — if you see separate toggles for calls, messages, or other alerts, you can control each one independently.

How to turn off flash notifications on Android

The path to this setting varies depending on your phone's manufacturer and which version of Android you're running. Start by opening Settings and looking for Accessibility. On most phones, you'll find Hearing or Hearing Enhancements as a submenu. Tap that, then look for Flash Notification, Camera Flash Alert, or LED Flash Alert.

If you can't find it in Accessibility, try Settings > Display or Settings > Sound and Vibration — some manufacturers put it there instead. Once you find the toggle, tap it to turn it off. If you've searched through these menus and can't find the setting, your phone may not have a built-in flash notification feature.

Samsung phones specifically use Settings > Accessibility > Hearing > Flash Notification. Google Pixel phones use Settings > Accessibility > Hearing > Flash Notification. OnePlus, Motorola, and other brands may use slightly different menu names, so if the exact wording doesn't match, look for anything with "flash" or "LED" in the name.

What happens after you turn off flash notifications

Once you disable flash notifications, your phone's camera light will no longer pulse when you receive alerts. Your phone will still ring, vibrate, and show notifications on your screen — only the light flashing stops. If you use Do Not Disturb or Focus modes, those settings continue to work as they did before.

If you change your mind later, you can turn the feature back on by following the same steps and toggling it back on. There's no penalty for turning it off and on repeatedly, so you can experiment to see what works best for your situation.

Why the setting is buried in Accessibility

Flash notifications live in Accessibility settings because they were designed as an accommodation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Apple and Android both treat it as an accessibility feature rather than a general notification option, which is why it's not in the main Sound and Vibration menu alongside ringtone and volume controls.

This design choice means the feature is less visible to people who don't need it, but it also means it's grouped with other tools that help people customize how their phone communicates with them. If you're looking for other ways to control notifications — like silencing specific apps or adjusting vibration patterns — those settings are usually in Sound and Vibration rather than Accessibility.

If your phone doesn't have a flash notification setting

Not all Android phones include a built-in flash notification feature. Older models, budget phones, and some manufacturer versions of Android straightforward don't have this option in their settings. If you've checked both Accessibility and Sound and Vibration and can't find it, your phone likely doesn't support it.

If you want flash notifications but your phone doesn't have them, some third-party apps can replicate the feature by using your camera light for alerts. Search your phone's app store for "flash notification" or "LED notification" to see what's available. Keep in mind that third-party apps require permission to access your camera and notifications, so review what each app asks for before installing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off flash notifications affect my ringtone or vibration?

No. Flash notifications are a separate alert type. Your phone will still ring at full volume, vibrate, and show notifications on your screen. Turning off the light flash only removes that one type of alert.

Can I turn off flash notifications for some apps but not others?

Most phones don't offer per-app control for flash notifications — it's an all-or-nothing setting. If you want to silence alerts from specific apps, use your phone's notification settings for that app instead, where you can turn off sound, vibration, or on-screen notifications individually.

Will my phone still light up when I get a call if I turn this off?

Your screen will still turn on and show the incoming call or notification. The flash notification setting only controls the camera light pulse — it doesn't affect your screen's behavior.

What if I only want flash notifications for calls, not texts?

Most phones don't let you split the setting that finely. You'll need to turn flash notifications off entirely, then use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus modes to silence text notifications while keeping calls audible if that's what you prefer.