(Pocket-lint) - If you need to quickly be able to turn your phone into a portable flashlight then there are a few different options.
Your phone's built-in flash is not just for taking photos and can easily be used to light up a room or illuminate your path.
With modern Android smartphones, there's no need to download a flashlight app anymore as the torch is built directly into the operating system. Follow our guide to discover various ways to turn it on whenever you need to.
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- Open up Google Assistant by saying "Hey Google" or "Ok Google"
- Then follow up with the command "Turn on flashlight" or "Turn on torch"
- The light will then turn on
Repeat the process to turn it off again (saying "Ok Google, turn off flashlight"). You can alternatively use say "Ok Google, flashlight" and you'll achieve the same result.
If you're a bit of a Harry Potter geek you can also turn on your flashlight using wizard commands. Do this by saying “OK Google” followed by “Lumos” or “Nox” to turn your flashlight on or off, respectively.
How to turn on the flashlight with gestures
On some Android phones, it's possible to turn on your torch using just a gesture. This is a movement or action that allows you to activate quick actions like turning on your torch.
- Open the settings of your phone
- Search for gestures
- Check to see if there's an option for the flashlight in there
On Android 13 there's the option to use "Quick Tap" gestures which can be found within the gestures settings. You can set it up so a quick tap on the back of your phone will turn on the torch.
On some Motorola phones, you can turn on the torch by shaking your phone in a certain motion.
On OnePlus phones there's an option to turn on the flashlight with "Screen off Gestures" these involve writing a letting on the screen when the phone is turned off. So you can just draw a letter like O, V, S, M or W and turn on the torch. Look for "Screen off Gestures" in the settings to turn this on.
Writing by Adrian Willings.