How to Make iPhone Flash when Receiving a Text

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 15, 2019 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to make your iPhone's LED light flash when you receive a text message.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:
Enabling Notifications for Messages

1
Open your iPhone's Settings. It's a gray app on the home screen that contains an image of gears (⚙️).
2
Tap Notifications. It's near the top of the menu, next to a red icon containing a white square.
3
Scroll down and tap Messages. The apps are listed in alphabetical order.
4
Slide the button next to "Allow Notifications" to the "On" position. It's at the top of the screen and will turn green. This allows the app to send you notifications.
- Enable Show on Lock Screen to allow notifications on the screen when your device is locked.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:
Enabling LED Flashes for Notifications

1
Open your iPhone's Settings. It's a gray app on the home screen that contains an image of gears (⚙️).
2
Tap General. It's near the top of the screen next to a gray gear (⚙️) icon.
3
Tap Accessibility. It's a standalone section near the center of the menu.
4
Scroll down and tap LED Flash for Alerts. It's near the bottom of the menu in the "Hearing" section.
5
Slide the button next to "LED Flash for Alerts" to the "On" position. It will turn green. Make sure that you have Flash on Silent switched to the "On" position.
- LED Flash for Alerts only works when your iPhone is asleep or in "Locked" mode.

Community Q&A

Question

I have done the steps but it doesn't work when I get a text. What could be the problem?

Community Answer

If you have 'Do not disturb' or 'Airplane mode' on, it won't work. You also need to have regular text notifications enabled, and your phone screen needs to be off at the point when you get the text.
Question

How can I make my phone flash when it rings?

Community Answer

Go to Settings. Then, click on General, then Accessibility. Scroll down until you get to LED Flash for Alerts and turn it on.
Question

What is the name of this app?

Community Answer

It is not an app you download, it is a pre-Apple app you have when you buy the phone. But to do this, you would need to go into the "Settings" app.
Question

What do I do if my new iPhone SE phone doesn't flash when I receive a text, but it works on calls?

Community Answer

You should make sure that you have notifications enabled first, and make sure that the screen is off but make sure that screensaver isn't on. If that still doesn't work, then you don't have the correct iOS or your phone does not support it.
Question

How does the LED light for notifications work?

Community Answer

You have to make sure you have notifications turned on, and then make sure you aren't in screensaver mode, and make sure that your screen is off. If all that doesn't work, then your phone might be too old or it might be broken.
Question

How do I turn the flashlight off on my iPhone 6?

Community Answer

Just turn it off -- slide up, slide to the right and click the flashlight icon.
Question

How can I get my iPhone 7 led light to flash when I have a message?

Community Answer

Go to settings, go down and it will have a led light icon. Turn it on.
Question

How do I enable my iPhone flashlight?

Community Answer

Swipe upwards on your iPhone screen to open a menu of options. On that menu, you'll see an icon that looks like a small flashlight. You can click that to turn your flashlight on and off. If you have a newer version of iOS, you may need to swipe left or right on the menu before seeing the icon.

Warnings

Your phone may not flash if you have Airplane Mode or "Do Not Disturb" Mode turned on. Make sure both of these are off.

Thanks!
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About This Article

Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 965,410 times.

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Co-authors: 16

Updated: December 15, 2019

Views: 965,410

Categories: Featured Articles | IPhone

Article SummaryX

1. Make sure notifications are on.
2. Open Settings.
3. Tap General.
4. Tap Accessibility.
5. Tap LED Flash for Alerts.
6. Toggle the switch to On.

Did this summary help you?