How to Fix Flashlight Not Working on iPhone 13? [15+ Fixes!]

Smartphone flashlights are so essential nowadays. Not just for finding things in the dark, but for a variety of day-to-day uses too.

And that’s why it’s so frustrating when this essential feature stops working on something as precious and reliable as an iPhone.

Unfortunately, the flashlight not working on iPhone 13 is a common complaint among users.

However, don’t fret just yet if you’re facing the same issue. Most often, recharging the battery, restarting the phone, hard resetting it, or updating the iOS can solve it without a hitch.

In this article, I’ll talk about 15 ways to get your flashlight back in working condition in no time. Let’s dig deep.

15+ Ways to Fix Flashlight Not Working on iPhone 13

Flashlight issues on iPhones can happen due to either physical damage, software-related bugs, or sensor troubles. And unless your iPhone 13’s flashlight has suffered physical damage, any of the below troubleshooting methods could help you get it back in action.

1. Remove Obstructions

This one is the most obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning.

If the flashlight isn’t responding, then take a quick look at the phone’s flash to make sure there’s nothing blocking it. Dust, dirt, and lint can sometimes get stuck in there and prevent it from working.

2. Recharge Your iPhone 13

Although your iPhone’s flashlight should work even on a low battery, you can not rule out a low battery leading to this issue.

So, connect your phone to a power source and charge it for at least 30 minutes.

3. Disable Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode is a feature that helps retain battery life but disables some system functionalities like the flashlight at the same time.

When your iPhone is in low power mode, it’ll show a small yellow battery icon in the upper-right corner of the display as a reminder.

If you have enabled Low Power Mode and the flashlight isn’t responding, disabling it should do the trick.

To turn it off, go to Settings > Battery and switch off the toggle next to Low Power Mode.

4. Close Camera and Other Apps

If your flashlight is still not working after trying the above tricks, then it’s time to take a closer look at what’s running in the background.

Often, the interference of other apps can prevent the flashlight from working properly due to multiple apps running in the background. 

To fix this, start by closing the camera and camera-related apps like QR Scanner and Instagram. You may also have to close each and every application running in the background.

To do this, double-click the Home button. You’ll then see a list of apps currently running on the device. Swipe up on each one of them until you’ve closed them all.

5. Turn off the Flash from the Camera

Your iPhone 13’s camera can also disable the flashlight, especially if the flash is activated inside the camera app itself.

To check this, open the camera app, access its settings, and make sure the flash is turned off before trying to use the flashlight.

6. Disable Flashlight from Back Tap Command

Have you recently activated the new Back Tap feature? It’s a shortcut that allows you to issue different commands with a double or triple tap on the back of your iPhone.

Maybe you’ve accidentally activated the flashlight command but now can’t turn it off.

If that’s the case, then disabling the Back Tap feature should help you fix the issue.

To do that, enter the Accessibility Settings, then Tap and select Back Tap. Now, select double or triple tap and uncheck the toggle next to Flashlight/Torch to turn it off.

7. Remove Flashlight from Control Center Menu

The Control Center is often the fastest and easiest way to turn on the flashlight. However, a few iPhone 13 users have reported that their flashlight isn’t working when accessed from the Control Center.

If that’s the case with you as well, then your best bet would be to remove the flashlight from the Control Center Menu and reinstall it back in.

To do that, go to Settings and then Control Center. From the Included Controls menu, tap the minus icon next to Flashlight to remove it. Finally, restart your device, and you’re done.

Also, it’s best to keep your software up-to-date to prevent such issues in the future.

8. Restart Your iPhone 13

Sometimes, rebooting your iPhone is all it takes to resolve minor glitches on your iPhone. Restarting can help clear out cached data and any background tasks interfering with the flashlight.

To do this, just shut down your iPhone by pressing and holding the lock/power button till the “slide to power off” prompt appears. Now, simply slide the on-screen switch to the right to shut it down.

Once it’s shut off, press and hold the lock/power button until it boots up. This procedure will likely take about 30 seconds. Try using the flashlight now and see if it’s back to normal.

9. Force Restart or Hard Reset

If the normal restart procedure doesn’t seem to be helping, then you’ll probably have to perform a force restart or hard reset (not a factory reset).

To hard reset your iPhone 13, locate the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power buttons, press Volume Up and Down quickly, and keep the Power switch pressed until you see the Apple icon on the screen. Then let go of the Power button, allowing your iPhone to restart.

10. Ensure Your iPhone Isn’t Overheating

The iPhone flashlight not working could also be the result of an overheating phone.

If the phone is too hot, there’s a chance that its internal components, including the flashlight, might just shut down in order to prevent any further damage.

You can test this possibility by placing your iPhone in a cold area or wrapping it in a towel to reduce its temperature. It’s best to keep your phone turned off so that it can cool down properly.

11. Remove Third-Party Flashlight Apps

Third-party apps often interfere with your device’s onboard features, and that’s why you should remove whatever flashlight apps you have installed.

This will help make sure that the phone only uses its internal flashlight, instead of the faulty one provided by the third-party app.

12. Remove Third-Party Blue Light Filter Apps

Similar to what we’ve just mentioned, blue light filter apps can also interfere with the flashlight feature on your iPhone 13. Therefore, be sure to uninstall them if you observe any issues with the flashlight.

13. Deactivate Focus Mode

iPhone 13’s Focus mode is designed to help you stay focused on tasks that matter and limit distractions.

Unfortunately, the feature may sometimes prevent your flashlight from working properly by limiting its functionality.

If you suspect that’s your case, disable Focus Mode inside the Settings by tapping Focus. From there, you can either deactivate the feature or customize it to your liking.

14. Reset Location & Privacy

Since the flashlight feature on your iPhone 13 uses your device’s sensors in order to function properly, it could be that a privacy issue might interfere with your flashlight.

For that reason, resetting your location and privacy settings might just be the key to solving the issue.

15. Update Your iOS

As mentioned earlier, software glitches can cause all sorts of issues with your device, including flashlight malfunction.

To make sure that’s not what’s causing the problem, go to Settings and then General and select Software Update.

If there’s an update available, download and install it right away. Doing so should fix pretty much any issue you might have with your device.

16. Restore a Backup

If you’re still stuck with a non-functioning flashlight, it might be time to think about restoring a backup. The backup should contain a version of your iPhone 13 in which the flashlight worked properly.

You can also restore your device to the default factory settings if you want to, but that’s a bit of an extreme measure.

Nevertheless, it might just be necessary if the flashlight feature can’t be fixed otherwise.

17. Reset All Settings

And that’s our last suggestion for fixing the iPhone 13 flashlight. If your flashlight keeps failing after trying all the above, go ahead and reset all of your settings.

To do this, just go to “Settings,” “General,” “Transfer or Reset iPhone,” “Reset,” and “Reset All Settings,” and confirm the reset.

This will wipe out all of your iPhone 13’s settings and restore them to the default values. But rest assured it won’t erase any of your personal or multimedia files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have further queries regarding fixing the flashlight on your iPhone 13? Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers that could help you out.

Why isn’t my iPhone 13 flashlight working?

There could be several reasons why your flashlight isn’t working, just like we mentioned in the article.

It could result from a software glitch, malware, overheating, a settings issue, or a bug.

And there’s the obvious chance that your flashlight has suffered physical damage, exposed to water or heat, and simply needs to be replaced.

Can third-party software help fix iPhone 13’s flashlight?

Yes, you can use third-party software like iMyFone Fixppo or TunesKit iOS Recovery to try and fix the flashlight on your iPhone 13 if it’s a software glitch we’re dealing with.

These programs are extremely easy to use, and they come with plenty of other troubleshooting features as well.

Is the iPhone 13’s flashlight covered under warranty?

Yes, the flashlight feature of the iPhone 13 has a limited warranty from Apple.

This means you should be able to get it repaired or replaced for free if it stops working due to a manufacturing defect within the stipulated time period.

Should I factory reset my iPhone 13 if the flashlight isn’t working?

Factory resetting your iPhone 13 should be your last resort if all else fails. While this may fix your issue, this will erase all of the data and settings on your device, and it may take some time to get it back to the same state it was before the reset.

Can you change the brightness of the flashlight on the iPhone 13?

Yes, it is possible to adjust the brightness of the flashlight on the iPhone 13 easily according to your needs. Just press the flashlight icon in the Control Center and then select one of the three adjustable brightness options to make it brighter or dimmer.

What to do when my iPhone 13’s flashlight has stopped working after upgrading to iOS 16?

A number of reports have been made of iPhone flashlights no longer working after upgrading to iOS 16. And downgrading your iPhone to a previous working version of iOS through iTunes is the best way to fix it. It’s also worthwhile to try a few of the potential solutions listed above.

Conclusion

Having an iPhone 13 is great, but it’s not always a walk in the park. Issues pop-up every once in a while and the flashlight not working just might be one.

But if that ever happens to your device, you can, at least, rest assured to know what to do.

Generally speaking, the common causes are either related to software issues or settings, but it’s always best to double-check if there isn’t a piece of hardware that’s causing the problem.

If the flashlight continues to fail after attempting all the solutions above, then it’s best to contact Apple support and have them take a look at your device. While under warranty, you should be able to get your issue resolved for free.