Flash alerts are a special kind of notification that appears on your screen for just a few seconds. These notifications appear instantly and briefly, meaning you don’t have to take time to check your phone every few minutes just to see if you got any new messages or alerts. If you use apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, or Snapchat, you probably get flash notifications from those apps fairly often. While these kinds of alerts might seem annoying at first (especially if you’re in a meeting or another place where it might be inappropriate to answer), they can also be useful in certain circumstances. They let you know when someone has sent a message or posted something new without needing to constantly check your phone. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips on how to put flash notifications on your iPhone and how to use them more efficiently.
How To Put Flash Notifications On Your iPhone
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Flash Alerts
- Tap the toggle switch next to the app you want to use flash alerts for. For example, if you use Facebook Messenger as your main messaging app, tap Messenger.
- Tap the toggle switch next to each flash alert option that you want to enable. For example, if you don’t want to be prompted when someone sends a message but do want it when they post something new on Instagram, tap Instagram > Posting Notifications. You can also choose how long the alert will appear on your screen and how long it will remain after being dismissed with a swipe up or down on your screen.
How To Use Flash Notifications Effectively
- Check your phone every few minutes while out of the house or in a place where it might be inappropriate to answer your phone or look at notifications (like at work). Even if you don’t actively check for messages, just knowing that there are new messages is enough motivation to get in touch with people who have sent them so that they know that you read their messages and might respond soon. If you get an alert from one of these apps and decide not to respond, make sure not to delete it without reading it first you may miss something important!
- If someone sends you a message using one of these apps and asks for a response right away, tap “Send” without opening WhatsApp/Messenger/Instagram/Snapchat. If you have time, open the app, read the message and respond accordingly. Otherwise, tap “Done” and then go back to your other apps.
- When you’re in a meeting or another place where it might be inappropriate to answer your phone or check for new notifications, you can use this feature to quickly check if anyone has sent you a message without having to look at your phone (especially if it’s on vibrate). By tapping the same toggle switch that is used for flash alerts, you can quickly see all of your notifications without having to look at your phone.
- Use the notification preview screen (where it says “More…”) when there are multiple messages that need to be read or responded to right away. If someone sends you a message or post using one of these apps and asks for a response right away, tap “Read Later” without opening WhatsApp/Messenger/Instagram/Snapchat/etc. If you have time, open the app and read the message or post and respond accordingly—or just delete it without reading it first!
- Use these same settings when using Facebook Messenger as an SMS app (preferably on WiFi) so that flash notifications don’t disrupt your conversations with people who are not using these apps as well. This will allow everyone in your group chat (or group text) to get important messages from each other even if they aren’t using these apps!
How To Get Flash Alerts From Specific Apps
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Flash Alerts
- You can choose which apps have flash alerts by tapping the toggle switch next to each app.
- Use the “Notification Preview” setting (where it says “More…”) when there are multiple messages that need to be read or responded to right away. If someone sends you a message or post using one of these apps and asks for a response right away, tap “Read Later” without opening WhatsApp/Messenger/Instagram/Snapchat/etc. If you have time, open the app and read the message or post and respond accordingly—or just delete it without reading it first!
- Use these same settings when using Facebook Messenger as an SMS app (preferably on WiFi) so that flash notifications don’t disrupt your conversations with people who are not using these apps as well. This will allow everyone in your group chat (or group text) to get important messages from each other even if they aren’t using these apps!
- Tap on the app name at the top of this screen to go directly into that app’s settings page for that specific feature.
- Tap on “Notification Settings” in WhatsApp or Messenger, etc.
Benefits Of Using Flash As A Notification Light?
- Flash notifications are always on, so you can see them even if the app is in the background.
- You don’t have to open your phone or mess with your lock screen to see a flash notification. You can just glance at your phone’s screen and see it immediately!
- They are completely unobtrusive and easy to ignore, so you won’t feel like you have a flashing light on your screen when you are trying to be discreet and not stand out.
- They will never interrupt a conversation with someone who is not using these apps—you can still continue talking while they read the message!
- If you’re on WiFi, they won’t drain your battery as fast as a regular notification (because it doesn’t need to wake up the phone).
- Flash notifications allow us to communicate with each other without disrupting our conversations with others who aren’t using these apps!
Conclusion
Flash alerts can be super helpful in certain situations, but they can also get a bit annoying if you don’t know how to use them properly. To make the most of these flash notifications, try to stay focused on what’s important and keep them in check. Don’t let them distract you from what’s going on in your life. That being said, flash alerts can be a great way to stay on top of important messages without getting too distracted from the things that matter most.
FAQs:
Can I turn off flash notifications?
Yes, you can turn off flash notifications in the app settings, or in the notification settings screen of the corresponding app. If you do this, your phone will not light up when you get a flash message.
Can I turn on/off flash notifications for individual chats?
No, if you want to control flash alerts for individual chats, use a messaging app such as WhatsApp or Messenger that lets you set individual options for each chat (such as “Show Flash Alerts” and “Flash Color”). You can also create your own color codes and send them to your friends via text message!
How can I know how many messages are waiting for me in my inbox so that I don’t miss them?
To know how many messages are waiting for you in your inbox, open WhatsApp or Messenger and tap on the icon at the top of the screen (which looks like three horizontal lines). This will bring up all of your messages from other people (including those who aren’t using these apps) so that you can read them all at once!
How can I know what’s happening in the world?
You can check out your local news and events on Yahoo! News, a trusted source for breaking news and investigative journalism. You can also learn about the latest trends and news on Twitter, or get information about current events from USA Today’s app!
How do I turn off location sharing?
If you want to turn off location sharing in WhatsApp or Messenger, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Turn off Location Sharing. If you want to turn off location sharing in the Instagram app, tap “Location” under “Settings”.
What is a good way to use flash notifications when I’m in public?
Flash alerts are great because they allow you to see important messages without disturbing other people around you! However, if you’re worried about being seen by others with your phone flashing all over the place, then it is best that you take a photo with it instead of using flash notifications (especially when someone is holding it up for a picture). If this does not work for you, then try using Do Not Disturb mode.
