Flash Notification lets your iPhone's camera flash blink when you get alerts

Flash Notification is a built-in iPhone feature that makes your phone's camera flash blink when you receive calls, messages, or other alerts. It's useful if you're in a loud environment, have your sound off, or simply want a visual signal that something needs your attention. The feature works on most recent iPhone models and takes about 30 seconds to turn on.

The setting lives in the Accessibility menu, not in the main Notifications settings. This is because Apple groups it with other features designed to help people perceive alerts in different ways. Once you turn it on, the flash blinks automatically whenever an alert arrives — you don't need to adjust it per app or notification type.

Key Takeaways

  • Flash Notification uses your iPhone's rear camera flash to blink when you get calls, texts, reminders, or other alerts.
  • The setting is found in Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual, not in the Notifications menu.
  • You can turn it on or off with a single toggle, and it works across all alert types by default.
  • Flash Notification works on iPhone 11 and newer models, and on some older models depending on their hardware.
  • The flash will only blink for alerts that would normally produce a sound or vibration on your phone.

Where to find Flash Notification in Settings

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Accessibility — it's usually near the bottom of the list, below Privacy and before Developer.

Inside Accessibility, look for Audio/Visual near the top of the menu. Tap it. You'll see several options related to how your phone handles sound and visual alerts. Flash Notification is the first toggle in this section, and it appears with a small camera icon next to it.

Turning Flash Notification on

Once you're in Audio/Visual, you'll see a toggle switch next to "Flash Notification." The switch is gray (off) by default. Tap it once to turn it green (on).

That's all you need to do. Your camera flash will now blink when you receive calls, text messages, reminders, and other system alerts. You don't need to restart your phone or change any other settings — it takes effect immediately. The next time you get a notification, you should see the flash blink.

What alerts trigger the flash

When Flash Notification is on, your phone's rear camera flash will blink for incoming calls, incoming text messages, calendar reminders, and other notifications that normally produce a sound or vibration. The flash blinks in a pattern that matches the alert type, so you can sometimes tell what kind of notification it is by how it flashes.

The flash will not blink for every single notification your phone receives — only for alerts that are set to make a sound or vibrate. If you've silenced notifications from a specific app in Settings > Notifications, the flash won't blink for those either. This means you have control over which alerts trigger the flash by managing your notification settings per app.

Turning Flash Notification off

If you want to turn off Flash Notification later, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and tap the toggle next to Flash Notification again. It will turn gray, and the flashing will stop immediately.

You might want to turn it off if the flashing drains your battery faster than you'd like, or if you find it distracting in certain situations like meetings or movies. You can turn it back on anytime using the same steps, so there's no penalty for experimenting with it.

Which iPhones support Flash Notification

Flash Notification works on iPhone 11 and newer models. If you have an iPhone XS, iPhone XR, or an older model, the feature may not be available because those phones don't have the necessary camera hardware.

To check if your phone supports it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual. If you don't see Flash Notification listed, your iPhone model doesn't support the feature. In that case, you can rely on vibration patterns or sound alerts instead, or check your phone's model number to confirm its age.

Troubleshooting Flash Notification

If you've turned on Flash Notification but the flash isn't blinking, check that your phone's ringer is not set to silent. Press the mute switch on the left side of your phone — if it shows orange, your phone is in silent mode and alerts won't trigger the flash. Flip the switch so it shows no orange, and test with an incoming call or message.

Also check that the notifications you're testing are actually turned on for the app you're using. Go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and make sure "Allow Notifications" is toggled on. If notifications are turned off for an app, the flash won't blink for alerts from that app either. You can also test by setting a calendar reminder a few minutes in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Flash Notification work when my phone is locked?

Yes. The flash will blink whether your phone is locked or unlocked, in your pocket, or on a table. As long as Flash Notification is turned on and the alert would normally produce a sound or vibration, the flash will blink.

Will Flash Notification drain my battery?

It uses some battery power, but the impact is small because the flash only blinks for a few seconds when an alert arrives. If you're concerned about battery life, you can turn it off and rely on vibration or sound instead.

Can I make the flash blink only for certain apps?

No. Flash Notification is an all-or-nothing setting — when it's on, it blinks for all alerts. However, you can control which apps send notifications at all by going to Settings > Notifications and turning off notifications for specific apps.

What if my camera flash is broken?

If your phone's rear camera flash is damaged or not working, Flash Notification won't work even if the setting is turned on. You'll need to have the flash repaired or use vibration and sound alerts instead.

Can I adjust how bright or fast the flash blinks?

No. iPhone doesn't offer controls to change the brightness or speed of the flash. The blink pattern is fixed and the same for all users. Your only options are to turn the feature on or off.