If you find that you have trouble hearing the alert sounds on your iPhone when you receive a new text message, despite the volume being set to its highest level, then you might be looking for another option that can better grab your attention. Maybe you have even seen other people’s iPhone flash when they get a text, and you want to be able to use that option, too.
Fortunately this setting is available on most iPhones, and is a setting called LED Flash for Alerts. Enabling this option will not only make your phone flash when you get a text, it will also flash when you receive other types of alerts, too, such as emails from VIP contacts.
Making the iPhone Flash Go Off When You Receive a New Text Message
The steps in this article are going to adjust a setting on your iPhone so that the flash on the back of the device goes off whenever you receive an alert notification, such as the one that occurs when you receive a new text message. If you follow the steps below and the flash is not going off, then you may not have alerts enabled for the Messages app. You can adjust this setting at Settings > Notifications > Messages then select the Alerts option under Alert Style When Unlocked.
Device used: iPhone 6 Plus
Software version: iOS 9.3.2
Step 1: Tap the Settings icon.
Step 2: Select the General option.
Step 3: Select the Accessibility option.
Step 4: Scroll down to the Hearing section, then tap the button to the right of LED Flash for Alerts.
Now the flash on the back of your device will go off when you receive a new text message.
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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.