Where to find flash notification settings
Flash notifications — the bright light pulses your phone or computer sends when you get a message or alert — can be turned off in your device's accessibility or notification settings. The exact location depends on whether you use Android, iPhone, Windows, or Mac, and which apps are sending the flashes.
On most devices, you do not turn off flash notifications globally. Instead, you control them per app or per notification type. This means you might keep flashes on for calls but turn them off for social media alerts, or disable them entirely if the brightness bothers you.
The fastest way to find the setting is to open your device's main Settings app, search for "flash" or "accessibility", and look for an option labeled "LED flash" or "Flash alerts". If that search does not work, the steps below walk through each platform.
Key Takeaways
- Android devices have a flash notification toggle in Settings under Accessibility or Display, usually labeled "LED flash" or "Flash alerts".
- iPhone users can turn off flash alerts in Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual, and the setting applies to calls and alerts system-wide.
- Windows computers do not send flash notifications by default, but individual apps like Slack or Teams may have their own flash settings in app preferences.
- Mac computers also do not flash by default; check individual app notification settings if a specific program is flashing.
- Some phones let you turn flashes off only for certain apps while keeping them on for others, giving you fine-grained control.
How to turn off flash notifications on Android
On Android phones, the flash notification setting is usually in the Accessibility menu. Open Settings, then tap Accessibility (or Accessibility Settings on some phones). Scroll down and look for an option called "LED flash" or "Flash alerts" — the exact name varies by manufacturer.
If you see the option, tap it and toggle it off. Some Android phones also let you control flashes per app: in Settings, go to Apps or Applications, select an individual app, tap Notifications, and look for a "Flash" or "LED" toggle within that app's notification settings. This approach lets you keep flashes on for calls but turn them off for messages, for example.
If you cannot find the setting after checking Accessibility, try searching Settings directly. Type "flash" into the Settings search bar at the top of the screen, and Android will show you any matching options on your device.
How to turn off flash notifications on iPhone
iPhones have a unified flash alert setting that applies to all notifications and calls. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then tap Audio/Visual. Look for the toggle labeled "LED Flash for Alerts" or simply "Flash" and turn it off.
This setting controls the camera flash on the back of your phone, which pulses when you receive calls, texts, or other notifications. Unlike Android, you cannot turn flashes off for some apps while keeping them on for others — the setting is all or nothing across your entire device.
If you want notifications without the flash but still want to know when something arrives, you can keep sounds or vibrations on while disabling the flash. Check Settings > Notifications to control which apps send sounds or vibrations separately.
How to turn off flash notifications on Windows
Windows computers do not send flash notifications as a built-in feature. However, individual apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Discord may have their own flash or visual alert settings. If a specific app is flashing, open that app's settings or preferences and look for a Notifications section.
In most Windows apps, you can find notification settings by clicking the menu (three horizontal lines or dots) in the top corner, then selecting Settings or Preferences. From there, look for Notifications, Alerts, or Visual Notifications, and disable any flash or LED options you find.
If you want to control notifications at the Windows level, open Settings > System > Notifications & Actions. This menu lets you turn off notifications from specific apps entirely, though it does not specifically control flashing lights.
How to turn off flash notifications on Mac
Macs do not have a built-in flash notification feature. If an app on your Mac is flashing or pulsing, the flash is coming from that app itself, not from macOS. Open the app, then look for its settings or preferences — usually found in the app menu at the top of the screen or by pressing Command + Comma.
Search the app's preferences for Notifications, Alerts, or Visual Notifications. Disable any flash, LED, or visual alert options you find there. If the app does not have a preferences menu, check the app's documentation or support page for instructions on turning off visual alerts.
You can also control which apps send notifications at the macOS level by opening System Preferences > Notifications & Focus. Select the app from the list on the left and uncheck "Allow notifications" to stop it from alerting you entirely, though this removes all notifications from that app, not just flashes.
Controlling flash notifications per app
Many Android phones let you manage flash settings on a per-app basis, which is useful if you want flashes for important calls but not for every social media notification. To do this, open Settings > Apps, select the app you want to control, tap Notifications, and look for a Flash or LED toggle.
Not all apps expose this setting, and the option may not appear if the app does not send notifications. If you do not see a flash toggle for a specific app, the app either does not support flashing or your phone does not allow per-app control of this feature.
On iPhone, you cannot control flashes per app — the setting is device-wide. If you want some apps to alert you without flashing, your only option is to turn off the flash entirely and rely on sounds or vibrations instead.
What to do if you cannot find the flash notification setting
If you have searched your device settings and cannot find a flash notification option, your device may not support this feature, or the setting may be named differently on your model. Try these steps: first, search your Settings app directly for the word "flash" or "LED". Second, check your device manufacturer's support page — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands sometimes use different menu names.
If a specific app is flashing and you cannot find a way to turn it off, check that app's settings first before looking at device-level settings. Some apps override device settings and manage their own flashes. If the app does not have a flash option in its preferences, contact the app's support team to ask whether the feature can be disabled.
On older phones or computers, flash notification features may not exist at all. In that case, your device simply does not support this type of alert, and there is no setting to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off flash notifications stop other alerts like sounds or vibrations?
No. Flash notifications are separate from sounds and vibrations. You can turn off flashes while keeping sounds and vibrations on, or vice versa. Each type of alert is controlled independently in your notification settings.
Can I turn off flashes for texts but keep them on for calls?
On Android, yes — if your phone supports per-app flash control, you can manage flashes for individual apps or notification types. On iPhone, no — the flash setting applies to all notifications and calls together, so you cannot split them.
Why is my phone flashing even though I turned off flash notifications?
A specific app may have its own flash setting that overrides your device setting. Open that app's preferences and look for a Notifications or Alerts section. You may also need to check whether you turned off the right setting — some phones have multiple places where flash controls live.
Does turning off flash notifications save battery?
Slightly, but not significantly. The camera flash uses a small amount of power, but notifications are not frequent enough on most devices for this to make a noticeable difference in battery life. Turn off flashes if they bother you, not for battery reasons.
Can I schedule flash notifications to turn off at certain times?
Most phones do not have a built-in scheduler for flash notifications specifically. However, if your device has a Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, you can set it to turn off all notifications (including flashes) during certain hours. Check your device's Focus or Do Not Disturb settings to set up a schedule.