The iPhone flashlight isn’t just on or off: you can choose from several brightness levels to get a gentle glow for reading a menu or the full beam for finding something in the dark. The control is hidden behind a long press (or a firm press on the iPhone 7’s 3D Touch screen) in Control Center. This guide shows how to change flashlight brightness on an iPhone 7 and every newer model, plus a few flashlight shortcuts.
Quick Answer
Open Control Center, then press firmly (iPhone 7 with 3D Touch) or touch and hold (newer iPhones) the flashlight button. Drag the slider up or down to choose a brightness level, then tap outside the slider to close it.
Change Flashlight Brightness on an iPhone 7
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center.
- Press firmly on the flashlight button until the brightness slider appears (3D Touch).
- Swipe up or down to pick one of four levels. The flashlight turns on at that brightness.
- Tap outside the slider to return to Control Center. The flashlight stays on.
If a firm press doesn’t work, check Settings > General > Accessibility > 3D Touch and make sure it’s on; you can also adjust the sensitivity there.
Change Flashlight Brightness on Newer iPhones
- On iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center. On iPhone SE and iPhone 8, swipe up from the bottom.
- Touch and hold the flashlight button.
- Drag the slider to the brightness you want.
On recent iOS versions with iPhone 14 Pro and later models, turning on the flashlight also shows a control in the Dynamic Island; swipe up or down to change brightness and left or right to widen or narrow the beam (on supported models).
Other Ways to Turn On the Flashlight
- Lock screen: on iPhone X and later, press and hold the flashlight icon at the bottom left of the Lock Screen.
- Siri: say “Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight” or “set the flashlight to 50 percent.” Siri can also turn it off.
- Back Tap: on iPhone 8 and later with iOS 14 or newer, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and set Double Tap or Triple Tap to Flashlight.
- Action button: on iPhone 15 Pro and later, set the Action button to Flashlight in Settings > Action Button.
Flashlight Missing From Control Center?
On iOS 11 through 17, go to Settings > Control Center and tap the green + next to Flashlight. On iOS 18 and later, open Control Center, tap + in the top-left, tap Add a Control, and choose Flashlight.
Flashlight Won’t Turn On?
- Close the Camera app; the flashlight is unavailable while the camera is using the flash.
- If your iPhone is very hot or the battery is very low, the flashlight may be disabled temporarily.
- Restart the iPhone, and update iOS if the problem continues.
New to the feature? See where the iPhone flashlight is and how to turn it on.
Related: IPhone 13 brightness shortcuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the brightness level save for next time?
Yes. The flashlight uses the last brightness you chose the next time you turn it on.
Does a brighter flashlight use more battery?
Yes, but the flashlight uses relatively little power. Lower levels last longer if you need light for a long time.
How many brightness levels are there?
Control Center offers four levels on most iPhones, while Siri lets you set a percentage.
Summary
- Open Control Center.
- Firmly press (iPhone 7) or touch and hold the flashlight.
- Drag the slider to a brightness level.
- Tap outside to close the slider.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.