How to Turn Off Flashing Light for iPhone Notifications
Learn how to disable the LED flash for alerts on iPhone. This step-by-step guide explains where to find the setting, what happens when you turn it off, and practical tips to maintain clear notification cues without blinking lights.
By turning off LED Flash for Alerts in iPhone accessibility settings, you can stop the camera flash from blinking when notifications arrive. This guide shows where to find the setting and how to apply it without affecting other alert methods. You’ll still get sound and banner alerts, just without the flashing light.
What LED Flash for Alerts does on iPhone
On iPhone, the LED flash for alerts uses the device's camera flash to blink when you receive a notification. This feature is part of Accessibility settings and is designed to help users who have difficulty hearing alerts. When enabled, every incoming notification can trigger a brief flash, even if the device is silent. While helpful for some, it can be distracting in quiet rooms or while filming. This section explains how the feature works, what users should expect, and how turning it off affects alerts. It's important to remember that turning off the LED flash does not disable the notification sound or banner; you can still rely on auditory and on-screen cues.
According to Blinking Light, understanding and customizing indicator lights can significantly improve daily device use and reduce visual clutter in shared spaces.
Tools & Materials
- iPhone with recent iOS version(iOS 13+ recommended for consistent UI)
- Settings app access(No external tools required)
- Optional: In-app notification settings access(Useful for app-specific alerts)
- Optional: Verification test (test notification)(To confirm changes)
Steps
Estimated time: 5-10 minutes
- 1
Open Settings
Tap the Settings app on your Home screen to begin. This is the central hub for all iPhone configurations.
Tip: If you don’t see Settings, try swiping down and using the search bar to locate it. - 2
Access Accessibility
Scroll and select Accessibility to access visual and audio options that affect alerts.
Tip: Use the page search in Settings if Accessibility isn’t immediately visible. - 3
Open Audio/Visual
Within Accessibility, tap Audio/Visual to reach alert-related settings including LED flash options.
Tip: Certain iOS versions label this as Audio/Visual under different submenus. - 4
Turn off LED Flash for Alerts
Toggle LED Flash for Alerts off to stop the camera flash from blinking on notifications.
Tip: If the option is already off, proceed to test notifications. - 5
Confirm and exit
Exit Settings and confirm the change is active by sending a test notification.
Tip: Restarting the app or device can help apply the change if it doesn’t take immediately. - 6
Test the setup
Trigger a test notification to verify that sound and on-screen cues appear, but the LED flash remains off.
Tip: If you still see a flash, re-check the toggles or consider app-specific settings.
Quick Answers
How do I turn off LED flash for alerts on iPhone?
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and toggle LED Flash for Alerts off. This stops the camera flash from blinking while preserving sound and banners.
Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Audio/Visual, and switch off LED Flash for Alerts.
Will turning off LED flash affect notification sound?
No. Turning off the LED flash only disables the blinking light. You will still hear sounds and see banners for notifications.
No, you’ll still get sound and on-screen banners.
Can I use a screen flash instead of the camera flash?
Some devices offer Screen Flash or similar visual cues. Check Screen Flash settings within Accessibility if available, but note it’s not a universal substitute for all apps.
You may have screen-based alerts as an alternative if available.
Does this setting work the same across iOS versions?
The path is similar, but wording and menus can change slightly between iOS releases. If you don’t see LED Flash for Alerts, use the search bar to locate related options.
Paths vary slightly with iOS versions, so search can help.
What if LED flash keeps blinking after changes?
Verify both LED Flash for Alerts and any related options are off, restart the iPhone if needed, and check for app-specific settings.
If the flash continues, re-check settings and restart your device.
Is LED flash placement different on iPhone models?
LED placement is typically around the camera on most iPhones, but behavior is defined by iOS settings, not hardware placement. Follow the same steps.
The steps are consistent across models despite minor UI changes.
Watch Video
Main Points
- Turn off LED Flash for Alerts in Accessibility to stop blinking
- Sound and on-screen cues stay enabled for notifications
- Test notifications to verify changes
- Use Focus/Do Not Disturb to tailor alerts when needed
