Even though you may not use your flashlight every day, it is essential when you do. How do you turn the flashlight on your smartphone on?
We are here to help. We will show you how to switch on or off your flashlight using multiple methods. Android users can use more methods, but we will also cover instructions for iPhone flashlights.
1. Use Quick Settings to Turn On Flashlight on Android
Android didn’t include a universal flashlight toggle until Android 5.0 Lollipop was released in 2014. Before the Android 5.0 Lollipop was released in 2014, some phones had a way to open the flashlight. Others didn’t. Thankfully, all current Android phones come with flashlight functionality right out of the box.
To turn on the flashlight, pull down twice from the top screen (or use two fingers to pull once) to open Quick Settings. The Flashlight entry should appear. To instantly activate the LED flash, tap that.
Depending on which icons are first, you might also be able to access the Flashlight icon via your notification shade (after pulling up once).
To turn off the flashlight, simply tap it once more. The flashlight will remain on even if you close other apps or lock your screen.
You may have to swipe left or right if you don’t see Flashlight. This menu may differ depending on the manufacturer of your device. These images show stock Android. However, if you own a Samsung, LG, or another device, it will look different.
2. “OK Google, Turn on the Flashlight!”
Although the Quick Settings toggle is useful, what if it’s not always available? There might be other shortcuts within Quick Settings that are difficult to find. You might also need to switch on the flashlight when your hands are busy or dirty.
You can trust Google Assistant for those situations. One of the most useful Google Assistant commands is “OK Google. Turn on my flashlight.”
The Assistant will turn on your flashlight as soon as you say these words. You can toggle it off by tapping the toggle in the chat window, or saying “OK Google, turn the flashlight off.”
This shortcut is useful because you can access Google Assistant in multiple ways depending on the phone. For easy access, the Google widget includes a Google Assistant button. To open the Assistant, press and hold the Home button on your device. Android 10 has new gestures that allow you to swipe towards the middle of either the top or bottom corners.
For those with a Pixel 2 and newer, you can use the sides of your phone to summon Google Assistant. You can set Google Assistant to respond whenever you say “OK Google,” even if the screen is not turned on.
3. If you must, use a flashlight app
You can use a flashlight app if you don’t like any of the above options or you have an older Android phone that doesn’t allow you to use them. You can find hundreds of them in the Google Play Store. However, you need to be careful when choosing one.
It is easy to turn on your flashlight. The majority of flashlight apps, however, require unnecessary permissions such as your location and contacts. These potentially hazardous permissions should not be granted to apps that are likely to abuse them.
Brightest Flashlight Free is one of the most well-known Android flashlight apps. It harvests location and contact information from its users. These apps often display annoying full-screen video advertisements.
Some have additional features, such as turning up the brightness or displaying colors. However, these are not necessary and do not pose a privacy risk.
We recommend that you avoid flashlight apps unless absolutely necessary. If you do, try Icon Torch. This app allows you to open the flashlight using a simple toggle. It also doesn’t have ads or in-app purchases. This app requires very little permission so it is safe.
4. Use Gestures to Turn on the Flashlight
Some Android phones, such as some Motorola ones, include gestures that allow you to turn on the flashlight from any place. You can also shake or do a “double chop”, which allows you to turn on the flashlight at any time. To open the camera on a Pixel device you can double-tap Power to any time.
These apps can be tried on your phone to see if it works. This shortcut functionality can be added to many apps on Google Play. Many of these apps have ads and aren’t reliable or updated in years.
We advise you to avoid them and use the built-in flashlight toggles instead.
5. How to turn on your iPhone’s flashlight
iOS makes it easy to access the flashlight on your iPhone, as you would expect.
You can use the Control Center shortcut to get there quickly. To open the Control Center shortcut on an iPhone X and later, swipe down from in the upper-right corner. For iPhone 8 and earlier, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open it.
To enable the Flashlight, simply tap the icon once you have opened Control Center. To turn the flashlight off, tap the same icon.
You can adjust the brightness of your flashlight on iOS 11 and later. Haptic Touch (press down) the Flashlight symbol to do this. The slider can be adjusted to multiple levels.
You may have hidden the icon when customizing Control Center. To add the icon back, go to Settings >Control Center > Customize controls.
You can ask Siri to open your flashlight if you like. To summon Siri, simply say “Hey Siri” or hold down the Side button (iPhone X or earlier) to call her. Next, say “Turn the flashlight on.”
You don’t need flashlight apps on your iPhone. You can use the built-in options.
All your Phone Flashlight Options are Covered
You now know how to turn on or off the flashlight on an iPhone or Android smartphone. Although it’s simple, knowing the shortcuts will ensure that you don’t get lost.
Although you won’t likely cause damage to your phone if the flashlight is left on for too long, it’s best not to leave it on longer than necessary. It will drain your battery and heat up your phone, which can lead to further battery drain.
