Skip to main content

Apple Watch: How to turn on and customize the flashlight

While the Apple Watch doesn’t feature a camera, and by extension a flashlight, Apple does offer users a way to get a super bright light through software techniques.

Follow along as we guide you through how to turn on and customize the flashlight on your Apple Watch.

How to turn on and customize the flashlight

  1. On your Watch face, swipe up for Control Center.
  2. Tap on the flashlight icon.
  3. By default, you’ll have the standard bright white light. From here you can choose from the standard white, a flashing white, or a red light. Note that the flashlight will only shine bright when Apple Watch is facing away from you. When it’s facing your person, it will only shine at the default brightness your Apple Watch is set to.

There you have it! Now you can turn on and choose different lighting options depending on your situation. To turn off the flashlight, simply swipe down on the screen.

With Apple Watch Series 2 or later, the light will be noticeably brighter due to its 1,000 nit display, versus the 500 nit display found in older generations of Apple Watch.

For more help getting the most out of your Apple devices, check out our how to guide as well as the following articles:


Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications