Turning on your iPhone's flash can refer to two distinct functions: using the flash for your camera when taking photos or videos, or activating your iPhone's LED light as a general-purpose flashlight. Below are the steps for both scenarios.
Activating Your iPhone's Camera Flash
To use the flash when capturing photos or videos with your iPhone's camera, you'll need to adjust the settings directly within the Camera app. This ensures your subject is well-lit in low-light conditions or provides a fill light for shadows.
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- To access camera controls, swipe up on the screen from the bottom edge, or tap the arrow icon usually located at the top center of your screen.
- A row of camera settings icons will appear. Tap the flash icon, which typically looks like a lightning bolt.
- From the options that appear (Auto, On, Off), tap On to set your iPhone's camera flash to always fire when you take a picture.
Understanding Camera Flash Modes
Beyond simply turning it "On," your iPhone camera offers different flash modes that cater to various lighting situations:
| Mode | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| On | The flash will fire every time you take a photo. | For consistently dark environments or to act as a fill light for shadows in bright light. |
| Off | The flash will never fire. | When flash is not needed, such as in well-lit conditions or to maintain natural lighting. |
| Auto | Your iPhone intelligently decides whether the flash is needed based on ambient light. | For general use, allowing the iPhone to optimize lighting for you. |
Using Your iPhone as a Flashlight
If you need to illuminate your surroundings for general purposes, your iPhone's LED flash can function as a powerful flashlight (often referred to as a torch). This feature is quickly accessible from your iPhone's Control Center.
- Open Control Center:
- For iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later): Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen.
- For iPhones with a Home button (iPhone 8 and earlier): Swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen.
- Tap the Flashlight icon. This icon typically looks like a torch or a light bulb.
- Your iPhone's LED flash will turn on, functioning as a flashlight. To turn it off, simply tap the Flashlight icon again in Control Center. You can also adjust the flashlight's brightness by long-pressing (or haptic touching) the Flashlight icon and then sliding the brightness control up or down.
