Unlike some Android phones, Apple's iPhones don't have a dedicated notification LED that lights up when you get a call, text, or other alert. What iPhones do include is an optional Accessibility feature for the deaf and hard of hearing that blinks the rear camera flash and provides a visual cue for incoming notifications.
Even if your hearing is fine, having a visual cue for incoming alerts can be handy to have if, say, you're in a quiet environment and don't want to disturb the peace. An LED flash notification can be useful when your iPhone or iPad is lying on a table with vibration alerts off, for instance.
Follow the steps below to turn on LED flash alerts on your iPhone or iPad Pro. Just remember to leave your iOS device locked with the screen down and the rear camera system in your line of sight.
- Launch the Settings app on your device.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Turn on LED Flash for Alerts using the toggle switch.
- Turn on Flash on Silent if you only want LED flash alerts when your iPhone or iPad Pro is silenced.
Note that the LED Flash for Alerts option only works on iPad Pro 2016 or later models, but is compatible with all iPhones that have a rear flash feature.
Top Rated Comments
This has been a feature since iPhone 5 at least.
My pre-iPhone devices had little LEDs in the cases that would be green to show they were on, and orange to show there was a notification, for example. The room would have to basically be dark for anyone to be annoyed by this. I get that orange and green LEDs are just too garish and un-color-coordinated for Apple, but how about a cute little white LED that doesn't even glow unless there's a notification, similar to the power/sleep indicator on the old MBPs?