Though you might not employ the flashlight on your phone every day, it's indispensable when you need it. But how do you turn on the flashlight on your smartphone?

Nosotros're here to aid. We'll prove you how to turn on and off your flashlight using several methods. Android users accept more means to do this, but we'll cover iPhone flashlight instructions as well.

1. Turn on Flashlight Using Quick Settings on Android

Android didn't have a universal flashlight toggle until Android 5.0 Lollipop launched in 2014. Before then, some phone manufacturers included a congenital-in way to open the flashlight, while others didn't. Thankfully, all modernistic Android phones include flashlight functionality out of the box.

To plow on the flashlight, just pull down from the top of the screen twice (or pull in one case using two fingers) to open up the Quick Settings card. You should see a Flashlight entry. Tap that to instantly turn on the LED wink.

Depending on what icons appear commencement, you lot may likewise exist able to access the Flashlight icon from your notification shade (later on pulling downwards once).

When you're done, simply tap it again to turn the flashlight off. You can lock your screen or open other apps, and the flashlight will stay on.

If you lot don't run into the Flashlight button, y'all may demand to swipe left or right to access more icons. This carte du jour will differ based on your hardware manufacturer. The above shots show stock Android, but if y'all take a Samsung, LG, or other device, yours volition be different.

2. "OK Google, Plow On the Flashlight"

The Quick Settings toggle is convenient, just what if y'all tin't always use it? You lot might have other shortcuts in Quick Settings that brand it tough to admission. Or you might need to turn on the flashlight while your hands are occupied or muddy.

For those times, you lot can rely on Google Assistant. One of the almost useful Google Assistant commands is "OK Google, turn on my flashlight."

As expected, the Banana volition toggle your flashlight on every bit soon as you say this. To turn it off, you lot can tap the toggle that appears in the chat window or say "OK Google, turn off the flashlight."

What makes this shortcut handy is how many ways you have to access Google Assistant, depending on your telephone. The Google widget has a Google Assistant button for easy access. If your device still uses a Home button, y'all can printing and hold it to open the Assistant. With Android ten'due south new gestures, swipe towards the middle from either of the bottom corners instead.

Those with a Pixel ii or newer can squeeze the sides of the phone to summon Google Assistant. For a totally hands-gratis approach, you can also prepare Google Assistant to respond someday you lot say "OK Google," fifty-fifty when the screen is off.

For more on this, check out our introduction to using Google Banana.

iii. Utilise a Flashlight App, If Yous Must

If you don't like either of the above methods for some reason, or have an old Android phone where neither i is an pick, yous can resort to using a flashlight app. There are hundreds of them on the Google Play Store, but you must take care when selecting i.

Turning on the flashlight is a unproblematic task. However, the majority of flashlight apps require a ton of unnecessary permissions, such as your location, contacts, and similar. There's no skilful reason to grant these potentially dangerous permissions to apps that volition likely abuse them.

One of the most popular Android flashlight apps, Brightest Flashlight Costless, is infamous for harvesting its users' contacts and location information. Many of these apps likewise brandish obnoxious total-screen video ads.

Flashlight App Permissions

Some offer additional features similar turning the screen brightness all the mode up and displaying colors, but these are largely unnecessary and not worth the privacy chance.

All of this considered, we recommend avoiding flashlight apps unless yous admittedly demand ane. If yous do, try Icon Torch. This app lets you open up the flashlight with a simple toggle, and has no ads or in-app purchases. It requires but the absolute minimum permissions, and then information technology's a prophylactic bet.

4. Try Gestures to Enable the Flashlight

Sure Android phones, including some Motorola devices, accept congenital-in gestures that let you turn on the flashlight at any time. These include shaking and doing a "double chop" move. On a Pixel device, you can double-tap the Power button to open the camera at any time.

Experience free to give these a endeavor and see if they piece of work with your device. Many apps on Google Play offer to add this shortcut functionality to other phones. Yet, a lot of these apps are total of ads, are unreliable, or haven't seen updates in years.

We recommend you avert them and stick to the congenital-in flashlight toggles.

five. How to Turn On Your iPhone's Flashlight

As you'd expect, iOS offers easy admission to the iPhone's flashlight.

The quickest mode is to use the Control Center shortcut. On an iPhone X or later, swipe downwardly from the upper-right corner of the screen to open it. Those on an iPhone 8 or earlier should swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.

Once you open Control Center (you tin even do this when your telephone is locked), just tap the Flashlight icon to enable it. Tap the same icon again to turn off the flashlight.

On iOS xi or after, you lot can fifty-fifty arrange the flashlight's brightness. To do so, Haptic Touch (press deeply) on the Flashlight icon. You'll encounter a slider you tin arrange to several levels.

If you don't run into the icon, y'all may have hidden information technology when customizing Control Center. Head to Settings > Control Heart > Customize Controls to add it back.

If you prefer, you can also ask Siri to open the flashlight. But summon Siri by saying "Hey Siri," or hold the Home button (iPhone eight and earlier) or Side button (iPhone X and after) to call her up. Then say "Turn on the flashlight."

Don't bother with flashlight apps for your iPhone. The built-in options are sufficient.

All Your Telephone Flashlight Options, Covered

At present you know how to turn the flashlight on your Android phone or iPhone on and off. It's a simple job, only knowing where these shortcuts are ways you won't get stuck in the dark for long.

While yous likely won't impairment your phone past using the flashlight for long periods of time, nosotros recommend not leaving it on any longer than needed. The bright light volition drain your bombardment, and leaving information technology on continuously may heat your phone up and crusade further battery drain.

By the way, a flashlight isn't the only tool your phone can replace. Check out the all-time digital toolbox apps for Android and tool apps for iPhone to discover many more.