Where to find the flashing notification setting

Flashing notifications — the blinking light or screen flash that accompanies alerts — live in your device's accessibility or notification settings, not in individual apps. The exact location depends on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac.

On most devices, the setting is grouped with other visual alerts because it was originally designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. That means it often sits under "Accessibility" rather than "Notifications," which is why many people never find it. Once you know where to look, turning it off takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Flashing notifications are a visual alert feature, usually found in Accessibility settings rather than Notification settings.
  • On iPhone, turn off "LED Flash for Alerts" in Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual.
  • On Android, disable "Flash notification" in Settings > Accessibility > Hearing or Notifications.
  • On Windows, the setting is "Visual notifications" in Settings > Ease of Access > Display.
  • On Mac, look for "Flash the screen" in System Settings > Accessibility > Display.

How to turn off flashing on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Accessibility. Scroll down and tap Audio/Visual (or Hearing on older iOS versions). You will see a toggle for LED Flash for Alerts — tap it to turn it off. That's the camera flash that blinks when you get a notification.

If you also see a Flash on Silent option, that controls whether the flash activates only when your phone is muted. Turning off the main toggle disables both.

How to turn off flashing on Android

Open Settings and go to Accessibility. The next step depends on your phone's manufacturer. On most phones, look for Hearing or Notifications. Tap it and look for Flash notification or LED flash. Toggle it off.

If you cannot find it under Accessibility, try Settings > Apps > Notifications and look for a flash or light option there. Samsung phones sometimes put it under Settings > Advanced features > Accessibility. If your phone has a physical notification LED (a small light on the front or back), this setting controls that light as well as any screen flash.

How to turn off flashing on Windows

Open Settings and go to Ease of Access (or Accessibility on Windows 11). Click Display in the left menu. Look for Show visual notifications for sounds or Visual notifications and toggle it off.

This setting makes your screen flash or brighten when your computer makes a sound — for example, when a message arrives or an error occurs. Turning it off stops that flash. If you do not see this option, your version of Windows may not have this feature enabled by default.

How to turn off flashing on Mac

Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS). Click Accessibility in the sidebar. Click Display. Look for Flash the screen when an alert sounds and uncheck it.

On some older Macs, this option appears under Accessibility > Hearing instead. If you cannot find it, your Mac may not have this feature, or it may already be off.

Why flashing notifications exist and when you might want them on

Flashing notifications were created so people who cannot hear audio alerts would still know when something important happens. The feature is useful if you work in a loud environment, keep your phone on silent during meetings, or have hearing loss. Many people turn it on deliberately for that reason.

If you turned it off and later want it back on, follow the same steps and toggle the setting back on. There is no penalty for switching it on and off — it is purely a personal preference.

What to do if you still see flashing after turning off the setting

If your screen or light still flashes after you disable the setting, the flashing may be coming from an individual app rather than your device's system. Some apps — particularly messaging and social media apps — have their own flash or light notification that works independently of the system setting.

Open the app that is flashing, go to its notification settings (usually found in the app itself, not in your device settings), and look for options like "Flash," "Light," "LED," or "Visual notification." Turn those off. If the app does not have its own notification settings, check whether the flashing is actually a screen brightness change or animation rather than a true flash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off flashing notifications affect my other alerts?

No. Turning off flashing only stops the visual flash. You will still get sound alerts, vibration, and banner notifications on your screen. If you want to control those separately, go back to your main Notification settings.

Can I turn off flashing for some apps but not others?

The system-level setting turns off flashing for all apps at once. If you want flashing for one app and not another, check whether that specific app has its own notification settings where you can control the flash independently.

Why is the flashing setting in Accessibility instead of Notifications?

Because it was designed as an accessibility feature for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Even though anyone can use it, the setting lives in Accessibility on most devices. This is why many people do not find it on their first search.

Does turning off flashing save battery?

Slightly. The camera flash or screen flash uses a small amount of power, so disabling it will extend your battery life by a tiny margin — usually not enough to notice unless you get hundreds of notifications per day.