Samsung Galaxy S3: How to Fix Camera Flashes When Alarm Goes Off After Update to the Android 4.3

An insider named Heather has sent me an email to ask why her phone give her a camera flashes when the alarm on her phone goes off. She said that the flash light is so bright and disturbs her. This issue begin occurs once she update the phone to the Android 4.3.

See also: How to Fix Recurring Old Download Notifications in Android 4.3 in Samsung Galaxy S3

Apparently, some of users who already updated their phone to the Android 4.3 also encounter the same problem where their phone does the camera flash when the alarm goes off or when receiving an incoming email or calls. Well, it's actually not the "real" problem because it's triggered by the new option under accessibility option called flash notification, so you don't need to worry.


How to get rid camera flashes when the alarm goes off or when receiving new email or calls on Android 4.3?
If you feel bothered with this issue, then below are the steps to fix it:
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap My device.
  3. Tap Accessibility.
  4. Scroll down to find Flash notification option. Check the checkbox next to this option to turn it on and then uncheck the checkbox again to turn it off.
  5. Restart the phone.

As confirmed by Heather, she said that once she done the step above, now her phone's camera no longer flashes whenever the alarm on her phone goes off. So, hope this helps :)
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44 comments:

  1. Amie9 January 2014 at 06:37

    I go into settings and i cant find anything that says my device can you help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan9 January 2014 at 12:27

      Hi Ami,
      Thanks for coming.
      Hi Amie,
      Thanks for coming.
      In the Settings menu of the Android 4.3, there are 4 tabs available which is located in the top of the screen, they are: My connection, My device, Account and More. You can tap the required tab to access the menus, for example tap My connections tab to access Wi-Fi or tap My device tab to access the Lock screen menu, etc.
      Hope this helps :)

      Delete
    2. Penel15 January 2014 at 06:34

      This didn't help as my flash notification was no selected. I even selected then unselected and then restarted my phone. Still get annoying BRIGHT flashes. So I now cover the camera "hole" on cover with black duct tape.

      Delete
    3. Rehan16 January 2014 at 14:43

      Hi Penel,
      Thanks for coming.
      Try to restart the phone followed by pulling the battery and then see whether it helps :)

      Delete
    4. It's Just Me19 January 2014 at 07:16

      Thanks for the fix. Worked perfectly. That flashing was driving me crazy!

      Delete
    5. Rehan19 January 2014 at 12:01

      Hi It's Just Me,
      Thanks for coming.
      Glad to know that it works on you :)

      Delete
  2. Unknown10 January 2014 at 10:15

    Thank you! This fix worked for me. But my menu under settings is tabular, with accessibility option under a heading "system" .
    I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 (Verizon) justr upgraded to 4.3

    thanks again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan10 January 2014 at 13:08

      Hi Mike Kennedy,
      Thanks for coming.
      I'm more than happy to know that this post works on you. Yep, you're right. In the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the Android 4.3, the Settings menu is now tabular which give it the similar appearance with the Settings menu in the Samsung Galaxy S4.

      Delete
  3. Rene10 January 2014 at 12:33

    Thanks for posting these instructions. I followed your steps, and it did fix the problem. I'm glad I found you via Yahoo search on the upgrade file name. However...as a developer, I have to say, this is a bug in the upgrade. It not only enabled a "feature" that was actually DESELECTED even in the upgrade, it also blew away previous settings for alarm sounds. I rely heavily on distinctive alarm sounds to cue me for certain activities, without having to stop what I'm doing to look at the phone. I've had to go through and re-identify each sound for each alarm. Granted it's just an "annoyance" level bug, but folks Samsung could do better than that...be real. It is a BUG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan10 January 2014 at 12:59

      Hi Rene,
      Thanks for coming and share your thought here.
      As you have said, I also noticed that in the Android 4.3 certain option is still enabled though it was actually disabled. I don't know why but I hope this is a bug and will get the fix in the next update.

      Delete
  4. Les16 January 2014 at 13:54

    I followed the instructions and it worked for me. I believe the flash norification was what drastically shortened my battery life after the update to 4.3..... Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan16 January 2014 at 14:30

      Hi Les,
      Thanks for coming.
      I'm so happy to know that this post works on you :)

      Delete
  5. Unknown19 January 2014 at 11:29

    Thanks so much, I was having so much trouble with the flashlight going off during school and other places. I have been having a lot of trouble with this new update. Its slowed my phone down a lot and freezes up multiple times during the day. I hate it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan19 January 2014 at 12:07

      Hi Ashley Houston,
      Thanks for coming.
      I'm happy to know that this post was help you to solve the problem. However, you can also visiting our post under the "Fix" or "Android 4.3" categories which might be able to help you to solve your another problems. If not, feel free to reach me through the Contact us page, and I'll be happy to answer the question :)

      Delete
  6. Unknown19 January 2014 at 23:26

    i have problem i don't see flash notification option..in m s3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan20 January 2014 at 13:47

      Hi Shahrukh Qureshi,
      Thanks for coming.
      Can you please tell me what's your model number and the Android version you use on your phone?
      The "Flash Notification" option should be available in the Android 4.3 under Accessibility menu. Usually this option is resided in the bottom, so while you're in the Accessibility menu try to scroll down to the bottom to find this option.

      Delete
  7. MACLAINE23 January 2014 at 06:31

    I have a galaxy s3 with Verizon. Flash is under System (scroll all the way down)/accessibility. However it was not turned on. When I turned it on there was a notification about motion. So, I turned motion off (also under system). This turned off the flash. WTF? Nice job Samsung.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan24 January 2014 at 12:33

      Hi MACLAINE,
      Thanks for coming and share your experience here.
      Hope this will be able to help another S3 verizon users who also has the same problem :)

      Delete
  8. Gma J11 February 2014 at 15:05

    Anyone having trouble with S3 crashing after taking photos? I happens every time I take two pictures in a row.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan12 February 2014 at 11:39

      Hi Gma J,
      Thanks for coming.
      I have some questions for you to make it clearer:
      - Did you install any app before this problem occurred?
      - Have you tried to clear cache and data of the Camera app?
      - Have you tried to reboot with or without pull the battery for a while and then try again?
      - Did this problem also occur when you took a picture while the charger is plugged in?

      Delete
  9. Unknown12 March 2014 at 04:31

    does the alarm clock on the Galaxy 3 work while the phone is charging?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan12 March 2014 at 15:14

      Hi D Beeks,
      Thanks for coming.
      Yes, it does. It works while the phone is charging as long as the phone is not turned off.

      Delete
  10. Unknown12 March 2014 at 06:43

    hi i have 4.3 android but i dont have flash notification setting on my settings. do i need to update again?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan12 March 2014 at 15:06

      Hi Dimitris Sfirlidas,
      Thanks for coming.
      What's the model number of your phone? If it's a Verizon phone, try to take a look at MACLAINE's comment. He has managed to find flash notification in his Verizon phone.

      Delete
  11. Unknown13 March 2014 at 14:02

    Hi I have a Samsung s3 and can not see flash noticefication in the settings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan19 March 2014 at 19:37

      Hi Melanie Coles,
      Thanks for coming.
      This option is available in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or above. So, try to check your Android version first by going to Settings> tap More tab> tap About device and then see the value of Android version. If it's Android 4.3, you should be able to find Flash notification option by going to Settings> tap My device tab> scroll down to find Accessibility, then tap it> scroll down to find Flash notification.

      Delete
  12. Unknown16 March 2014 at 05:53

    Hi, im having s3 n last night updated to 4.3,,its international version GTI9300,,,can't find option of flash notification in setting of accessibility

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan19 March 2014 at 19:28

      Hi Qasim Rizvi,
      Thanks for coming.
      It's weird, did you update your phone via OTA or not? in GT-I9300 with Android 4.3 you should be able to find Flash notification option under Accessibility settings. This option is located at the very bottom, so make sure you've scrolled down the screen to find this option.

      Delete
  13. Jamie26 March 2014 at 09:23

    Oh my goodness thank you thank you thank you! I am pregnant and cranky anyways bit those stupid flashes really did not help anything. Thank you!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan27 March 2014 at 18:32

      Hi Jamie,
      Thanks for coming and let me know that this post has helped you.
      Anyway, congratulations on your pregnancy, may God bless you with a happy healthy pregnancy :)

      Delete
  14. Anonymous11 April 2014 at 08:39

    thanks for the inforamtion my problem was fixed as soon as checked and unchecked the option with reboot of the cell phone. Did not have to take out the battery

    Regards,
    Asif

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan11 April 2014 at 12:42

      Hi Asif Kidwai,
      Thanks for coming.
      Well, I'm so glad to know that this post can help you to fix your problem :)

      Delete
  15. HDW4 May 2014 at 13:46

    Hi, yes , after update to 4.3, problem with phone switching off when taking a pic with flash on, no flash no problem, it is a s3 I9305, and have to remove battery to start again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan4 May 2014 at 15:42

      Hi Buddy,
      Thanks for coming.
      Try the following steps:
      1. If you had installed any third-party camera-related app before encountered this problem, then try to uninstall them
      2. If you use non-OEM(Original Equipment Manufacturer) battery, remove it and then use the battery that came with the unit.

      Delete
  16. HDW4 May 2014 at 22:53

    Hi Rehan, thanks for reply, nope, non of those apply unfortunately, will try with other applications that use Led, though, - flashlight, and revert

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan5 May 2014 at 18:22

      If you haven't done, try to clear cache, clear data and then force stop the Camera app through the Application manager. Once done, restart the phone. If it didn't help, go to Application manager, under the Downloaded tab, tap the Menu key and then select "Reset app preferences". Anyway, if you don't mind using another third-party app to substitute the flash light function, then feel free to try that app :)

      Delete
  17. Unknown14 June 2014 at 09:11

    On my galaxy s3 I don't have the flash for notifications and I updated to the 4.3. It's not even in my accessibility

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan14 June 2014 at 13:50

      Hi Jahmal Cooper,
      Thanks for coming.
      Can you please tell me what is your model number?

      Delete
  18. Unknown25 June 2014 at 01:49

    Hello mr, my complain is I update my phone to 4.3 buh I can find my flash notification, I enter accessibility but is not there, where can I fine it or do I need to update it again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan25 June 2014 at 21:12

      Hi Khalif Abbas,
      Thanks for coming.
      Can you please tell me what is your model number?
      Flash notifications should be found in the Accessibility menu. While you're in the Accessibility menu, make sure you have scrolled down the screen because this option is located at the bottom.

      Delete
  19. Melisa Walters4 September 2014 at 15:45

    Hi! My S3 shuts off after I take a picture with the flash on and I have to pull the battery to get my phone back on.Without the flash I dont have a problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan4 September 2014 at 18:54

      Hi Melisa Walters,
      Thanks for coming.
      This problem is usually caused by:
      1. Third-party Camera app.
      If you have any installed third-party Camera app in your phone, try uninstalling the app.
      2. Non-OEM battery.
      If you have ever replaced the battery with another one, try replacing the battery with the one that came with the unit. Most of users, who had this problem, could fix the problem with this trick.

      Delete
  20. Unknown21 October 2014 at 02:20

    Hi there
    I have samsung galaxy S3 with android 4.3
    I cant find flashlight option nor does the flash work when i take a picture although flash function is there in camera settings and it is turned on.
    is it a problem of IC being short or it has to do something with the software?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan22 October 2014 at 14:08

      Hi Muzammil Abdul Majeed,
      Thanks for coming.
      1. Can't find flash notification option
      Can you please tell me your model number?
      FYI, in some models, some features may have been disabled/unavailable or placed in another menu.

      2. Camera light doesn't work
      There are some possibilities that can cause your camera light doesn't work. But, you can try the following actions to try fixing your issue:
      - Restart your phone. In some cases, it can fix the problem and make the camera light works.
      - Try installing third-party camera app or other apps that will use camera light to work. Just to make sure whether the camera light has a problem or not.

      Delete

Hi the insiders,
Thanks for coming and I hope you can get something useful here.
Before submitting your comment to ask about an issue, please make sure to provide information as much as possible (at least write your model number and Android version) and describe the problem clearly.
Also, since all comments will be moderated, all comments with irrelevant links(if any) or contain with offensive/harsh word will be deleted.
The last, if you have a question and can't find the relevant article, please feel free to reach me through the Contact us page. I'll be more than happy to reply the email and answer the question :)

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