How to Make the LED Flash When an iPhone Is Ringing
By Jennifer Hale
In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, phone calls need to be answered as quickly as possible. In some situations, you cannot hear your phone ring and may miss a call. By setting your iPhone's LED to flash when you have an incoming call, you will be able to answer your phone quickly and avoid missing vital communication with friends and co-workers.
Getting Started
Hidden in the accessibility settings is a helpful feature that uses the LED flash next to the rear-facing camera on the iPhone. This flashing notifies you of incoming calls and alerts. This feature also helps those who are hearing impaired, as volume settings don't suffice for some. This setting is also practical if you prefer to receive visual alerts over audio alerts, such as when you are in a noisy area and won't hear your phone ring.
Setting Your iPhone to Flash
To set your phone to flash, go to Settings menu and select "General," then "Accessibility." Scroll down until you see LED Flash for Alerts. Push the slider to "on." For the LED flash feature to work, you also need to put your phone in silent mode by turning off vibration in Sound options in Settings and flip the switch on the side of your phone to turn off the ringer. The phone must also be resting screen down, so you can easily see the flashing alerts. If you forget, the screen turns on when it is face up as well. With these settings, each time you receive a call or a new notification, the LED on the back of your phone blinks three times.
Compatible iPhone models
LED flashing alerts are available on iPhone 4, 4S and 5. Accessing the slider button for this feature is the same on all iPhones. If you decide you no longer want your iPhone's LED to flash, slide the button to "off" and re-enable vibration for silent mode. These changes take effect immediately; you will no longer get visual alerts for notifications and calls.
Additional Benefits
If you enjoy listening to music with headphone through your iPhone, using the flashing LED setting means you won't hear a regular alert, but you will be able to see the LED flash. Using this setting may also help you find your phone. For instance, if you set your phone down, sometimes you can hear it, but still not find it. Being able to call it and see the LED flash helps you locate it quickly, especially if it's tucked into your closet.
References
Writer Bio
Based in Oklahoma, Jennifer Hale has been writing technology-related articles since 2005. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, both print and online. She holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Oklahoma, where she graduated with honors. Hale is also working on her own science fiction screenplay and novel.