The front facing flash or flashlight on your phone can be a useful tool during WhatsApp video calls when you need extra lighting. Here are the steps to turn on the flash for video calls depending on your phone type.
For iPhones
Enabling the flash on iPhone for WhatsApp video calls is easy to do through the Control Center:
- Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of your iPhone screen (with Face ID iPhones) or swiping up from the bottom (with Touch ID iPhones).
- Press and hold on the flashlight icon in the Control Center to turn it on.
- The flashlight will stay on even when you enter a WhatsApp video call.
- To turn off the flash, simply open Control Center again and tap the flashlight icon.
This will turn on the LED flash next to your front facing camera that will illuminate you during any WhatsApp video calls. The light spreads sufficiently to brighten your face without being overly harsh.
For Android Phones
The process is similar for Android phones to activate the flashlight for WhatsApp video calls:
- Open your Notifications panel by swiping down from the top of the screen.
- Look for the flashlight icon in your Quick Settings toggles and tap it to turn on.
- The flashlight will remain on even after starting a WhatsApp video call.
- To turn off, simply open the Notifications panel again and tap the flashlight toggle.
This flashlight comes from the LED next to the front camera and shines whenever you need extra illumination on Android. The flashlight does not turn off automatically when you open WhatsApp so it works seamlessly during video calls.
Adjusting Flashlight Brightness
Most Android phones will allow you to adjust the brightness of the flashlight if the default setting is too bright or too dim for your liking:
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access.
- Tap Flashlight and toggle on Allow adjusting flashlight brightness.
- Now when you turn on the flashlight, you can slide to adjust its brightness as needed.
Unfortunately, this setting is not available on iPhones so you cannot change the brightness level of the LED flash.
Third Party Flashlight Apps
If your phone does not have a front camera flash, you can download third party flashlight apps that use your screen as a flash during WhatsApp video calls. Some options to check out include:
- Superbeam Flashlight
- Brightest Flashlight Free
- Flashlight+
- Brightlight Flashlight
Look for flashlight apps with high ratings and the ability to customize brightness. Test them out first before relying on them for WhatsApp video calls.
Extra Tips for Better Lighting
Here are some additional tips for lighting up your face properly during WhatsApp video calls besides just using the front phone flash:
- Take calls during the daytime or in well-lit rooms – no need for flash.
- Position your back to the window to get natural light on your face.
- Add a clip-on selfie ring light for consistent lighting from all angles.
- Use desk lamps, overhead lights or reflectors to bounce light on you.
- Avoid having bright backlight from the sun or lamps behind you.
With the right positioning and lighting adjustments, your video call image can look great without needing the front facing flash.
Troubleshooting Flashlight Issues
In some cases, you may run into issues when trying to activate the front facing flashlight for WhatsApp video calls. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
Flashlight not turning on
- Check if you have flashlight access allowed in Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access.
- Update your WhatsApp app, phone software, and camera app if out of date.
- Restart your phone and check if the flashlight works in the camera app.
- Reset all app preferences in phone settings if WhatsApp is denied access.
Flashlight turns off during calls
- Battery saver settings may disable flashlight after timeout.
- Resource intensive apps like WhatsApp may override flashlight.
- Restart your phone before the call and charge battery if low.
- Update WhatsApp to latest version if bugs exist.
Flash is flickering or strobing
- Clean the LED lens which may be dirty and obstructed.
- Adjust brightness lower if default is too bright and flickering.
- Check for WhatsApp or phone software bugs causing conflicts.
- Use a third party flashlight app as alternative lighting solution.
If problems persist, contact WhatsApp support or your phone manufacturer for help diagnosing any device specific issues.
Conclusion
Having good lighting during WhatsApp video calls is important for your face to be seen clearly. The front camera flash comes in handy when you need that extra fill light. Just turn it on through the Control Center or Notification panel before a call. Position yourself optimally so the light hits your face uniformly. Adjust brightness as needed, or troubleshoot any glitches that happen. With the right settings, the flashlight can make you look great on WhatsApp video calls.