Learn how to set your iPhone or iPad to flash its LED light for calls, messages, and app notifications, which is ideal for receiving visual alerts in addition to or instead of sound and vibrations.
Your iPhone usually lets you know when there is an incoming call, text, or app notification using sound, vibration, or both. However, in certain situations, audible alerts and vibrations may not be enough to capture your attention, such as when in a loud environment like a nightclub. Or perhaps you simply don’t want to be disturbed by sound or vibration at all.
Thankfully, iPhone and iPad can use the LED flash next to the rear camera to alert you of incoming calls, messages, and other app notifications. Here’s how to turn it on.
Enable LED flash alerts for calls and notifications
1) Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap Accessibility.
2) Tap Audio & Visual.
3) Scroll to the bottom and tap LED Flash for Alerts.
4) Enable the switch next to LED Flash for Alerts, and do the following:
- Flash While Unlocked: If you turn it on, the LED will flash for calls, texts, and notifications, even when your iPhone or iPad is unlocked and you’re using it. Keep this switch off if you want the LED to flash only when the device is not in use.
- Flash in Silent Mode: Keeping this on ensures your iPhone or iPad flashes when in silent mode.
- If you want the LED to flash under all conditions, turn on all three switches you see here.
From now on, your iPhone or iPad’s LED will blink three times when notifications for incoming calls, texts, and other alerts hit your handset. To disable the notification light, excuse me, LED flash for alerts, toggle the above setting to the off position.
The reason why this feature is nested under the Accessibility section of the Settings app is that Apple designed it for people with hearing impairments. However, anyone who prefers visual alerts over audio can also use it.