Flash notifications let your iPhone's camera flash blink when you get a call or message
A flash notification is a visual alert: your iPhone's rear camera light blinks when someone calls or texts you. It works even when your phone is face-down, locked, or in another room. You turn it on in Settings under Accessibility, in a section called Audio/Visual.
This feature is most useful if you are deaf or hard of hearing, work in loud environments, or need to notice alerts without sound. The flash is bright enough to catch your eye across a room, and it works independently of your ringtone and vibration settings — you can have all three on, or just the flash alone.
Key Takeaways
- Flash notifications are found in Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual, not in the main Notifications settings.
- You can turn on flash alerts for calls, text messages, and other notifications without changing your ringtone or vibration.
- The flash works when your phone is locked, face-down, or in silent mode, making it visible in situations where sound won't reach you.
- Once enabled, the flash will set up for any notification type that has an alert sound assigned to it.
Where to find the flash notification setting
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Accessibility — it is usually near the bottom of the list, below Privacy and before Developer.
Inside Accessibility, look for Audio/Visual near the top. Tap it. You will see a toggle switch labeled LED Flash for Alerts. Tap the toggle to turn it on. The switch will turn green when it is active.
That is the entire setup. Your iPhone will now flash its rear camera light whenever you receive a notification that would normally make a sound.
What notifications trigger the flash
The flash activates for any notification that has a sound assigned to it. This includes incoming calls, text messages, FaceTime calls, email, reminders, calendar alerts, and third-party app notifications like social media or messaging apps.
If you have turned off the sound for a specific contact or app, the flash will not set up for that contact or app either. The flash respects the same notification rules as your sound and vibration settings.
How to control which apps send flash alerts
You manage flash notifications the same way you manage sound and vibration: through the Notifications settings for each app. Go to Settings > Notifications, then tap the app you want to adjust.
Inside each app's notification settings, you can turn notifications on or off entirely, choose which alert sound it uses, and toggle vibration. If you turn off Allow Notifications for an app, the flash will not set up for it. If you keep notifications on but choose None as the sound, the flash will not set up either — only vibration will work.
For contacts, you can customize their alerts separately. Open the Contacts app, tap a contact, tap Edit, scroll down to Ringtone or Text Tone, and choose a sound. If you set the tone to None, that contact will not trigger the flash.
Using flash notifications alongside sound and vibration
You do not have to choose between flash, sound, and vibration. All three can be on at the same time. Many people use the flash as a backup alert — they keep their ringtone and vibration on, and the flash provides an extra visual cue they might notice if they are not looking at their phone.
If you want only the flash and no sound, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and set the alert sound to None. Keep vibration on or off depending on your preference. The flash will still set up because you have the LED Flash for Alerts toggle turned on in Accessibility.
Troubleshooting flash notifications that do not work
If you have turned on LED Flash for Alerts but the flash is not blinking, check that the app or contact actually has a sound assigned. Open Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and look at the Sound setting. If it says None, change it to any sound other than None. The flash will not set up for silent notifications.
Also check that you have not turned off notifications for that app entirely. If Allow Notifications is off, nothing — not sound, vibration, or flash — will set up. Turn it back on.
On older iPhone models (iPhone 7 and earlier), the LED Flash for Alerts setting may be in a slightly different location within Accessibility, but the name and function are the same. If you cannot find it, search for "LED Flash" in Settings using the search bar at the top.
When flash notifications are most helpful
Flash notifications work best in situations where you cannot hear your phone or do not want to disturb others. They are useful in meetings, libraries, loud workplaces, or when your phone is in another room. Because the flash is bright and sudden, it catches your attention even if you are not looking directly at your phone.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, the flash can be your primary alert method. You can turn off sound entirely and rely on flash and vibration instead. This gives you control over how you are notified without missing important calls or messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the flash work when my phone is in silent mode?
Yes. The flash is a visual alert, not a sound alert, so it works regardless of whether your phone is in silent mode or Do Not Disturb. The LED Flash for Alerts toggle in Accessibility controls the flash independently of your ringer switch.
Can I turn on flash for some apps but not others?
Not directly. The LED Flash for Alerts toggle turns the flash on for all notifications that have a sound assigned. To prevent the flash for a specific app, go to Settings > Notifications, tap that app, and set the sound to None. The flash will not set up for that app, but vibration will still work if you have it enabled.
Will the flash drain my battery?
No. The camera flash uses very little power, and it only activates for a few blinks when a notification arrives. The battery impact is negligible compared to your screen, cellular radio, or other features.
What if I want the flash but no vibration or sound?
Go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app, set the sound to anything other than None, and turn off the Vibration toggle. The flash will set up because the sound is assigned, but you will not hear or feel the notification — only see the flash.
Does the flash work for all notification types?
The flash works for any notification that has a sound assigned to it. This includes calls, texts, email, reminders, calendar alerts, and app notifications. If a notification type does not have a sound option, it will not trigger the flash.