Flash notifications let your iPhone's camera flash blink when you get calls, texts, or alerts — useful if you're deaf or hard of hearing, or if you need a silent alert in a noisy place. You can turn this feature off in Settings in about 30 seconds.

Flash notifications are on by default on newer iPhones, but many people turn them off because they find the blinking distracting or don't need them. The setting lives in Accessibility, which is where Apple groups features for different needs — not because you have to need it, but because that's where it's organized.

Key Takeaways

  • Flash notifications are controlled through Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual, not through notification settings.
  • The toggle is called "LED Flash for Alerts" on most iPhones, though the exact name varies slightly by iOS version.
  • Turning off flash notifications does not affect any other alerts — your phone will still ring, vibrate, and show notifications on screen.
  • If you turn it back on later, the setting is in the same place and works immediately with no restart needed.

The quickest way: Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap Accessibility — it's usually near the bottom of the list, below Display & Brightness and before Privacy.

Once you're in Accessibility, look for Audio/Visual or Hearing depending on your iOS version. Tap it. You'll see a toggle labeled LED Flash for Alerts or sometimes just Flash Alerts. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, which means it's now off.

That's it. Close Settings and you're done. Your camera flash will no longer blink when you get a call, text, or other alert.

What happens when you turn it off

Turning off flash notifications changes only the flash. Everything else stays the same: your phone will still ring at full volume (if that's what you set), vibrate if vibration is on, and show notifications on your lock screen and in your notification center. The flash was just an additional alert on top of those.

If you have Do Not Disturb or Silent mode on, the flash wouldn't blink anyway — it only works when your phone is set to ring or vibrate. So if you're wondering why you never see it, check whether Silent mode is already on.

How to turn it back on if you change your mind

Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and tap the LED Flash for Alerts toggle again. It will turn blue or green (depending on your iOS version), which means it's on. The flash will start blinking on your next alert.

There's no delay or restart needed. The change happens immediately.

Why the flash might not be working even when it's on

If you have the toggle on but you're not seeing the flash, check whether your phone is in Silent mode. Look at the left side of your phone near the volume buttons — if you see a switch pushed toward the back of the phone, that's Silent mode, and it turns off all alerts including the flash. Push the switch forward to turn Silent mode off.

Also check that you actually have an alert coming in. The flash only blinks when you receive a call, text, email, or other notification — it doesn't blink constantly. If you want to test it, have someone text you or call you while the toggle is on and Silent mode is off.

On some older iPhones (iPhone 6s and earlier), the flash feature may not be available at all, even in Accessibility. If you don't see the toggle, your phone model doesn't support it.

Other notification settings that work alongside flash alerts

Flash notifications are separate from your regular notification settings. You can have the flash on but turn off sound, or have sound on but the flash off — they don't depend on each other.

If you want to control which apps send you alerts, go to Settings > Notifications and tap each app to turn its notifications on or off. If you want to silence everything except calls from certain people, use Focus modes (Settings > Focus). The flash toggle in Accessibility controls only whether the flash blinks, not which apps can send alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off flash notifications affect my camera?

No. The flash toggle in Accessibility controls only the alert flash — the blinking when you get a notification. Your camera's flash for taking photos is separate and works normally whether this toggle is on or off.

Will my phone still vibrate if I turn off flash notifications?

Yes. Flash notifications are just one type of alert. Vibration, sound, and on-screen notifications all work independently. Turning off the flash doesn't change any of those.

Can I make the flash blink for only certain apps?

No. The LED Flash for Alerts toggle is all-or-nothing — it either blinks for all alerts or none. If you want to silence specific apps, use the Notifications settings for each app instead, or set up a Focus mode.

What if I don't see the Audio/Visual option in Accessibility?

On very old iPhones or older iOS versions, the option might be labeled differently or might not exist. Check whether you're running the latest iOS version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If you're fully updated and still don't see it, your phone model may not support flash alerts.

Does the flash work when my phone is locked?

Yes. The flash blinks whether your phone is locked or unlocked, as long as the toggle is on and Silent mode is off. This is why it's useful as a silent alert — you can see it from across the room even if you're not looking at your screen.