Why Won't My Flashlight Work On My IPhone? 4 Ways To Fix It

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iphone camera
There are several ways to troubleshoot your iPhone if its flashlight isn't working. Shutterstock
2019-11-19T21:11:00.000Z Share Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads Save Saved Read in app Add us on This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.
  • If the flashlight won't work on your iPhone, you can usually troubleshoot the issue in a matter of minutes and get your trusty light shining again.
  • A nearly exhausted battery can prevent an iPhone's flashlight from working, especially if the phone is very warm or cold.
  • If you cannot find your flashlight in your iPhone Control Center, you may have accidentally removed it, but you can quickly add it back in the Settings app.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Even the most prepared people rarely walk around with a flashlight in their pockets, but these days, there's really no reason to when our smartphones have a decent flashlight built right in.

While not bright enough to fill a large room with light or to cast a beam dozens of feet ahead down a hiking trail, an iPhone's flashlight creates more than enough light to help you find your dropped keys, read in a tent, light up the sidewalk ahead of you, or rock out at a concert.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to troubleshoot your iPhone's flashlight

iphone
There are luckily a few ways to troubleshoot the issue. Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

If your iPhone flashlight isn't working, however, you don't necessarily have to be left in the dark.

Here are four ways to fix an iPhone flashlight that won't turn on.

Charge your iPhone

iPhone wireless charger
Sometimes, simply charging your iPhone will fix any issues with the flashlight. Mark Lennihan/AP

If your iPhone's battery is almost empty, the flashlight may not work. This is all the more true if the phone is very warm or very cold, conditions that already reduce its proper function. Charge your iPhone, get it down to a moderate temperature, and try again.

Close the Camera app

iphone camera
Having the Camera app open will prevent the flashlight from working on your iPhone. Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider

If your phone's camera app is open, the flashlight won't be able to take control of the LED.

  • On an iPhone X or later, swipe up and hold on the center of the screen, then swipe up to close the Camera app.
  • On an iPhone 8 or earlier, tap the home button twice then swipe up to close the Camera app.

Restart your iPhone

Why won't my flashlight work on my iPhone
If you can't find the flashlight app in your Control Center, launch the Settings app, then go to Control Center, then Customize Controls, and add Flashlight in from the "More Controls" menu. Steven John/Business Insider

Turning your iPhone off and on again may refresh the software and restore the flashlight.

Hold the Sleep/Wake button on your iPhone until the "Slide to power off" option appears and shut the phone down, or perform a force restart.

Reset your iPhone settings

Why won't my flashlight work on my iPhone
As a last resort you can try resetting your iPhone settings to get your flashlight to work. Denys Prykhodov/Shutterstock

If a basic restart doesn't do it, reset your phone's settings. You won't lose any data, images, or other stuff, but you may need to reset your wallpaper and alarms and other basics.

1. Launch the "Settings" app, then tap "General."

2. Then tap "Reset," and finally "Reset All Settings."

3. Tap "Confirm."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

  • How to sync Notes from an iPhone to a Mac through iCloud, so your notes are always up-to-date

  • How to share reminders on an iPhone with iOS 13, and collaborate on lists with others in the Reminders app

  • How to change the Notes settings on your iPhone to customize how notes are started, saved, and displayed

  • How to use private browsing on your iPhone, and turn it off when you're done browsing

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