Hidden features of the iPhone and Samsung flashlight that most people do not know about
But with the latest software updates, for both iPhone and… Samsung phones She quietly turned the lamp into something more useful. You can control how bright it is. On some devices, you can also change how far the beam spreads.
Once you know where to look, you’ll feel like you just upgraded your phone without spending a single dollar.
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Both the iPhone and Samsung have quietly transformed the flashlight into something more useful. (Silas Stein/Image Alliance)
iPhone Flashlight Features You’re Probably Missing
Your iPhone flashlight does more than just turn on and off, and a few hidden controls can completely change the way you use it.
How to adjust iPhone flashlight brightness
On almost all iPhones:
- Swipe down From the top right to open the Control Center
- Press and hold Flashlight icon
- Drag the vertical scroll bar Up to increase the brightness or down to decrease it
This has been around for years, but many people still click instead of holding down. This is where real control lives.
How to Change iPhone Flashlight Beam Width (Pro Models)
This is a feature that most people have never seen before. on The latest iPhone Pro devices Run the latest software:
- Swipe down To open the Control Center
- Press and hold Flashlight icon
- When the flashlight control appears at the top of the screen, Swipe left or right To adjust the beam width
You can go from a narrow, focused beam to a wide flood of light.
This means:
- Narrow beam = Better to see further ahead
- Wide beam = Best for illuminating an entire area
This feature was introduced in iOS 18 and is still available in iOS 26.4, but it only works on iPhone 14 Pro and later Pro models, including iPhone 15 Pro and later. You won’t see it on standard models.
How to turn on iPhone flashlight from the lock screen
You don’t even need to unlock your phone:
- Press and hold Flashlight icon On the lock screen
It launches instantly, which is faster than searching through menus.
How to use Siri to control your iPhone’s flashlight
You can say:
- ““Hey Siri, turn on the light.”
- “Set the lamp to 50 percent.”
- ““Hey Siri, turn off the light.”
It’s one of the quickest hands-free options when your hands are full.
The flashlight is one of the most used features on your phone, yet most people never go beyond the basics. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)
Bonus: Use your iPhone flashlight for alerts and notifications
Your iPhone can use the flashlight as a visual alert:
- Go to Settings
- handle accessibility
- handle Audio/Visual
- Scroll down and turn it on Flash alerts
Your flashlight will flash for calls and notifications, which helps if your phone is on silent or in a noisy place.
Samsung lamp features you should know
Samsung takes a different approach and, in some ways, gives you more flexibility right out of the box.
Note: Settings may vary depending on your Samsung device model and One UI version.
How to adjust Samsung lamp brightness
On most Samsung Galaxy phones:
- Swipe down To open Quick settings
- Press and hold the Flashlight icon
- use Brightness slider (labeled “Brightness”) to adjust the light level
Many people miss this because a quick tap just turns the flashlight on or off. Brightness controls appear after you press and hold, giving you more control depending on your situation.
How to turn on Samsung flashlight with your voice
If you use Google Assistant:
- “Hey Google, turn on the flashlight.”
- “Hey Google, turn off the flashlight.”
It works well when your hands are full or when you need quick access.
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How to customize access to Samsung Flashlight
Samsung gives you several ways to keep the flashlight handy. To keep it in the main Quick Settings panel:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen To open Quick settings
- If you don’t see the light bulb icon on the main panel, click Pencil icon Editable
- handle Edit
- finds flashlight In the available buttons
- Press, hold and drag the flashlight icon In the main quick settings area
- handle finished or Save If you are asked to do so
Bonus: Use Samsung’s flashlight for alerts and notifications
Samsung phones can also use the flashlight for visual alerts:
- Go to Settings
- handle accessibility
- handle Advanced settings
- handle Flash notifications
- employment Camera flash notification
You can also play it Screen flash notification If you want to light up your screen instead.
When iPhone and Samsung flashlight features really matter
This is where it gets practical:
- Night walk: The narrow beam helps you see farther ahead
- power failure: Wide beam illuminates a larger area of the room
- Find something nearby: Lower brightness avoids harsh glare
- Emergencies: Faster access can save time
Once you start adjusting the light instead of just turning it on, it becomes much more useful.
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Apple improved control using hardware and software, while Samsung focused on flexibility and customization. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
Key takeaways for Kurt
The flashlight is one of the most used features on your phone, yet most people never go beyond the basics. Apple improved control using hardware and software, while Samsung focused on flexibility and customization. Both approaches make the simple tool much more capable.
Have you ever discovered a hidden feature on your phone that made you wonder what else you missed? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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