How to Use the Flashlight on iPhone (and iPad)

The quickest ways to turn it on

Control Center is the method that works on nearly every iPhone. On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner. On an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge. Then tap the flashlight icon. Tap it again to turn the light off.

The Lock Screen is faster when your phone is locked. Press and hold the flashlight button at the bottom left of the screen for about a second. You will feel a small buzz, and the light on the back of the phone comes on. Press and hold it again to turn it off.

Siri also works hands-free. Say "Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight" or "Hey Siri, turn off the flashlight." This is handy when your hands are full or the room is dark.

• Control Center: swipe down from the top-right corner (Face ID) or up from the bottom (Home button), then tap the flashlight icon.
• Lock Screen: press and hold the flashlight button for about a second.
• Siri: ask it to turn the flashlight on or off.
• Action button: on models that have one, press and hold it once it is set up (see below).

Use the Action button or Back Tap

Some newer iPhones have an Action button, such as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If yours has one, you can press and hold it to switch the flashlight on or off. If nothing happens, open Settings, tap Action Button, and choose Flashlight.

Back Tap lets you tap the back of the phone instead. Open Settings, go to Accessibility, then Touch, then Back Tap. Pick Double Tap or Triple Tap, and choose Flashlight from the list. After that, a quick tap on the back of the phone toggles the light, even without looking at the screen.

Back Tap can be set off by accident, for example when the phone is in a pocket. If that happens, switch to Triple Tap, which is harder to trigger by mistake.

Change the brightness and beam width

The iPhone flashlight is more than an on and off switch. In Control Center, press and hold the flashlight icon. A slider appears that lets you set the brightness across several levels. You can also adjust the beam width on supported models, from a wide spread to a narrow spot.

Lower levels are easier on your eyes and use less battery. Use the brightest setting only when you need to see something far away or find a small item in a dark space.

Using the flashlight on iPad

Most iPads do not have a rear flashlight, so there is no flashlight button in Control Center on those models. If your iPad does not show the icon, it likely has no light built in. Check the Control Center settings to confirm: open Settings, tap Control Center, and look for Flashlight in the list of controls.

If you need light and have only an iPad, a few options help. You can borrow an iPhone, use a small lamp, or keep a separate light nearby. A dedicated light also lasts longer than a phone battery and does not drain a device you may need for calls.

If the flashlight will not turn on

Start with the simple checks. The light may refuse to turn on if the phone is very hot or very low on battery. Let it cool down or plug it in, then try again. Make sure the camera app is not open, since the camera can take control of the light.

Next, restart the phone. A quick restart clears many small software glitches. If the icon is missing from Control Center, go to Settings, tap Control Center, and add Flashlight to your controls. Updating to the latest version of iOS can also help.

If the light still does not work after all of this, the problem may be the hardware. In that case, contact Apple Support or visit a service provider.

When a phone light is not enough

A phone flashlight is fine for finding keys or reading a label. It is less suited to the backyard, a power outage or a walk after dark. Using it for a long time drains the battery that you may need for calls, and the phone itself is not built for rain or drops.

A dedicated flashlight fills that gap. Our best flashlight page compares several models on lumens, beam distance, runtime and water rating. For example, the CHILDBOT Y1915C lists 100000 lm, a 1109.5 m beam and an IPX7 or higher water rating, and it has a USB output that works as a power bank.

If your main worry is runtime, check the listed hours on high. The PHIXTON PH2403 lists 15 hr on high. If you are unsure which to pick, the best flashlight page shows where each maker leaves numbers blank, so you can compare like with like.

Safety note: never shine a bright light, whether a phone or a flashlight, directly into someone's eyes. If you use a strobe or SOS mode, warn others nearby, since flashing light can bother some people.

Frequently asked questions

Does using the flashlight drain my iPhone battery quickly?

It uses power, but less than many other tasks like video. Lower the brightness and turn it off when you are done to save battery.

Can I leave the flashlight on while the screen is locked?

Yes. Once the light is on, it stays on after the screen locks until you turn it off or it times out for heat reasons.

Why is my flashlight icon grayed out?

This usually happens when the camera is in use or the phone is too hot. Close the Camera app, let the phone cool, and try again.

Can I use the flashlight while taking a photo?

Not as a steady light. The camera takes over the light for its own flash, so use the flash setting in the Camera app instead.