Quick Answer
The easiest way to turn on your flashlight during a video call is to use the flashlight button in your video calling app. Most apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Skype have a flashlight icon you can tap to turn on your phone’s flashlight. This will illuminate you without you having to exit the call. If your app doesn’t have the flashlight button, you can ask Siri or Google Assistant to turn on the flashlight for you. Or, quickly swipe down from the top of the screen to open Control Center on iPhone or pull down the notification shade on Android, then tap the flashlight icon. Just remember to turn it off when you’re done!
Enabling Flashlight in Video Calling Apps
Video calling has become an essential way for people to stay connected during the pandemic. But sometimes poor lighting can make it hard for others to see you clearly on a call. That’s where your phone’s flashlight comes in handy! Most popular video calling apps have a flashlight button built right into the call interface so you can easily illuminate yourself on video chats.
Here’s how to turn on the flashlight in some top video calling apps:
FaceTime
If you’re on an iPhone, FaceTime has a flashlight icon in the bottom toolbar that appears during video calls. To turn the flashlight on, just tap the icon and your rear camera flash will light up. Tap it again to turn it off. The flashlight button may be on the bottom or either side of the screen depending on how you’re holding your phone during the call.
On WhatsApp video calls, look for the flashlight icon in the bottom menu bar and tap it to activate your phone’s LED flash to brighten your surroundings. The flashlight will remain on until you tap the icon again to disable it after you’re done using it.
Zoom
When on a Zoom video call in the mobile app, tap the “More” icon in the toolbar running along the bottom of the screen. This will open a menu – tap the “Flashlight” option and your phone’s flash will turn on to illuminate you during the call. Exit the menu or tap the flashlight icon again to turn it back off.
Skype
Skype has a flashlight button visible during video calls and chats. You’ll find it along the bottom menu bar – tap the flashlight icon to turn on the LED flash on your phone’s camera and tap again to turn it off when finished. The extra light can make a big difference in video quality!
Google Duo
Google’s video calling app Duo doesn’t have a native flashlight feature built into the call interface. To turn on your phone’s flash, you’ll need to temporarily exit the app and activate your flashlight through another method.
Using Voice Commands
If your video chat app doesn’t have a flashlight button, don’t worry – you can still turn on the light using just your voice! Smart assistants like Siri on iPhone or Google Assistant on Android devices can activate the flashlight for you with just a quick voice command.
Here are some phrases you can say to enable the flashlight during a call:
- “Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight”
- “OK Google, turn on flashlight”
- “Hey Siri, enable flashlight”
- “OK Google, activate flashlight”
Once you’re finished with the extra lighting, you can turn off the flashlight by saying:
- “Hey Siri, turn off the flashlight”
- “OK Google, turn off flashlight”
Voice commands provide a convenient hands-free way to control your phone’s flashlight while on a video chat without fumbling through menus.
Using Quick Settings
On both iPhone and Android devices, you can quickly access the flashlight through the quick settings menus, without leaving your video call app.
On an iPhone, swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open Control Center while on your video call. Tap the flashlight icon to turn it on, then tap again later to disable it.
On Android, pull down the notification shade from the top of the screen. Here you’ll find a flashlight icon – tap it to activate the flashlight during your call. Pull down the shade again and tap the icon once more to turn it off.
This method provides the fastest way to toggle the flashlight that’s built right into your phone’s operating system.
Find the Best Lighting
Using your phone’s flash can help in dim conditions, but video quality will be best with natural lighting. Here are some tips:
- Sit facing a window for diffuse natural light on your face.
- Avoid having a bright light source behind you.
- Don’t sit directly under overhead lights which can cause shadows.
- angle your phone so light hits your face, not just the top of your head.
Positioning yourself near window light will be the most flattering. But when you need a quick light boost, remember the flashlight is there at your fingertips!
Other Creative Lighting Solutions
If it’s nighttime or you don’t have good indoor lighting, try these creative solutions to light up your face for video calls:
- Use a selfie ring light that attaches to your phone.
- Turn on lamps or overhead lights nearby.
- Sit facing a bright TV or computer monitor screen.
- Use an LED lamp or flashlight and bounce the beam off walls or ceilings to diffuse the light.
- Buy clip-on smartphone lights or small portable LED panels.
- Face east in the morning or west in the evening to use natural sunlight.
With a little creativity, you can find handy ways to properly light yourself without resorting to turning overhead room lights on. Play around with different angles, bounce lighting off surfaces, or use phone accessories to put your best face forward on video calls!
Troubleshooting Dark Video Calls
If your video still appears dark even after using the flashlight, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Clean your front and rear phone cameras, as dirt and smudges can affect lighting.
- Check that no fingers or cases are blocking the cameras.
- Wipe off any water droplets or condensation on the lenses.
- Turn off “beauty mode” in your video app settings which can smooth skin and dim image.
- Increase brightness setting on your phone under Settings > Display.
- Restart your phone and video app to refresh image processing.
- Ensure your phone operating system and video apps are updated.
- Switch locations to find better indoor lighting in your environment.
With consistently dark video quality, it could also be a hardware issue requiring professional repair. But try the above steps first before taking your phone in – improving the lighting is often an easy fix!
Conclusion
Activating your phone’s flashlight is a handy trick to brighten up video calls when you’re stuck in poor lighting situations. With most video chat apps supporting built-in flashlight buttons, voice assistant commands, and quick settings toggles, it’s easy to flood yourself with light on demand. Combine flattering natural lighting when possible and get creative with makeshift reflectors or accessories. With a few simple adjustments, you can look your best on video conferences even in dim environments. So don’t shy away from virtual face time with friends and family – just turn on that flashlight first!