With all the advanced technology available on modern smartphones, one of the simplest yet most practical tools remains the flashlight. If you own a Google Pixel model, it’s now easier than ever to activate and deactivate the flashlight from anywhere.

On Android 12, you can swipe downward from the top of the Lock Screen to access Quick Settings and toggle the flashlight switch. This can also be done from your Home Screen or while using any app, though it might require two swipes or a two-finger swipe if the flashlight isn’t immediately visible. Alternatively, if you’re comfortable speaking to Google Assistant, this could be a convenient way to control your flashlight.

However, neither of these options is as straightforward as a flashlight should be, as they typically feature simple on/off switches. Third-party apps such as Shake Torch offer additional shortcuts to toggle your phone’s rear LED, but Google has introduced a more suitable solution with the Android 13 update.

Similar to Back Tap for iOS, Quick Tap allows you to trigger shortcuts for apps and actions by swiftly tapping the back of your Android device twice — but this feature is only available on Pixel 4a (5G) and newer models. If you have one of these devices, setting it up is quite simple.

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Opening Quick Tap Settings

Start by opening your Settings app, navigating to the "System" section, selecting the "Gestures" menu, and then clicking on the "Quick Tap to start actions" option.

Configuring Quick Tap to Toggle the Flashlight

Enable the "Use Quick Tap" switch at the top if it isn’t already activated, then scroll down and select the "Toggle flashlight" option. That’s all there is to it.

Tip: If you find the double-tap gesture overly sensitive later on, enable "Require stronger taps" to avoid accidental flashlight activation.

Activating/Deactivating Your Flashlight

Now, simply tap the back of your phone twice to turn on your flashlight, even if the screen is locked. Tapping again will turn it off.

Occasionally, people forget their flashlight is still on, especially outdoors in bright sunlight or after accidentally turning it on. To address this, Google introduced the At a Glance feature for Pixels, adding a flashlight notification starting in June 2022.

With this feature enabled, you’ll see a "Flashlight on" alert on your Home or Lock Screen, and tapping the widget will deactivate the flashlight.

If you don’t see the notification, open Settings and search for "glance." Select "At a Glance" from the results for the Pixel Launcher. Ensure it’s enabled under Home settings, tap the cog next to it, and turn on the "Flashlight" option if it’s off.

Alternative Methods to Toggle Your Flashlight

If you prefer using Quick Tap for other functions, such as launching a specific app or accessing features within an app, there are several other methods that are equally convenient. These options are ideal if you own a Google Pixel 4a or an older model.

• Quick Settings tile: Swipe down from the top of the Lock Screen (it must be active) to open Quick Settings and toggle the flashlight switch. The same process applies from your Home Screen or within any app, though it might involve two swipes or a two-finger swipe if the flashlight tile isn’t immediately visible. You can rearrange your tiles to place the flashlight in the first row for quicker access.

• Google Assistant: This is straightforward, provided you’ve enabled Google Assistant. Simply say, “OK Google, turn on flashlight.” An on-screen toggle will appear to deactivate it. This method works even when your screen is locked if Google Assistant is configured to function with a locked screen.

• Magic spells: For Harry Potter fans, saying “OK Google, lumos” will activate Google Assistant to turn on the flashlight. The rest of the process is identical to the Google Assistant method, except you can use the “nox” command to turn it off.

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