How to turn on flash notifications on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Notifications › Flash notifications: Camera flash › Screen flash (colour)

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

What we did

Looked at each screen; changed nothing

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Notifications

   Open Settings and tap Notifications: Notification history, conversations.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Flash notifications

   Scroll down to General. Ours said Off/Get alerted with a camera or screen flash for notifications and alarms. Tap it.

   Done

3. 

   Camera flash or Screen flash

   There are two switches, Camera flash and Screen flash, both off on ours. Turn on one or both. Screen flash showed the colour Yellow; Google says to tap Screen flash to pick another. The note below says to use flash notifications with caution if you're light sensitive.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Preview button? Google says to tap Preview to test the flash, and that Preview is at the bottom when camera flash or screen flash is on. Ours had both off and no Preview button. Source: Learn about Android Flash notifications
• No Camera flash switch? Google says camera flash isn't available on all devices. Our Pixel 10a had both switches. Source: Learn about Android Flash notifications
• Looking in Accessibility? Google says the same settings are also under Settings, Accessibility, Flash notifications. Pixel help gives the Notifications route we used. Source: Learn about Android Flash notifications · Source: Use advanced notification features

If this does not work

• No flash in Do Not Disturb? Google says flash notifications follow your Do Not Disturb settings, but alarms still flash if they are allowed. See how to use Do Not Disturb and modes. Source: Learn about Android Flash notifications
• Phone on silent and you miss alerts? Google says flash notifications still work in silent mode. If notifications don't arrive at all, see Pixel not getting notifications. Source: Learn about Android Flash notifications
• Flashing bothers you? The page warns to use flash notifications with caution if you're light sensitive. Turn both switches off on the Flash notifications page.

About this guide

The page says it all: Flash the camera light or the screen when you receive notifications or when alarms sound.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. Both switches were off. We only looked and changed nothing.

Good to know

Google says a call keeps flashing until you answer, and an alarm until you dismiss or snooze it.

To use the camera light as a torch, see how to change the flashlight brightness.

In short: Settings, Notifications, Flash notifications: Camera flash, Screen flash (colour).