Accessibility - hearing and speech
LED Flash for Alerts
Most people call this the camera flash blinking for notifications.
The camera flash blinks when a call or notification arrives, which gives a visible alert when sound and vibration are not enough.
Available
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 13 and later
- Settings
- Accessibility
- Audio & Visual
- LED Flash for Alerts
What it does
A separate switch decides whether it also flashes while the phone is silenced, which is where most of the value is.
What changes
When it is on
The flash blinks for incoming alerts.
When it is off
No visible flash.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- A visible alert for anyone who cannot hear one.
- Noticeable when the phone is face down on a desk.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Very conspicuous in a cinema or a meeting.
- Repeated flashing uses battery.
Battery
Costs you something
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off.
Questions people actually ask
- How do I make my iPhone flash for notifications?
- Settings, then Accessibility, then Audio and Visual, then LED Flash for Alerts.
If it is not working
- Flash on Silent is a separate switch and is the one most people actually want.
- The phone must be face up or the flash must be visible for it to help.