Apple has added a small but useful change in iOS 26.2 beta 1. The Flash for Alerts setting, found under Accessibility, now lets the iPhone screen flash when a notification arrives. Earlier, this feature only triggered the rear LED light, which was often missed if the phone was face-up.
Now you can choose between three options: use only the screen flash, only the camera LED, or both. The flash can also be set to work only when the phone is unlocked or even while it’s in silent mode. It’s a simple improvement, but one that makes alerts easier to notice in bright environments or for users with hearing challenges.
Screen Flash Works Visibly on All Notifications
When an alert comes in, the screen quickly brightens to full white for a brief moment. It’s not overly intrusive and doesn’t stay on long enough to drain the battery. In testing, it worked for most app notifications, including messages and calls.
Apple seems to be catching up to Android here. Devices running Android 15 already have a similar feature, where the display flashes to signal incoming alerts. iOS users finally get that same flexibility with version 26.2.
