Huawei P9 Notification LED Settings: Full Guide

Yes, the Huawei P9 has a notification LED, and you can control its behavior through the Settings app. You can turn it on or off, and in some versions of the phone’s EMUI software, you can also choose which apps trigger the light and even pick a custom color for specific contacts. This guide walks you through the exact steps, explains how the LED behaves in different situations, and covers common questions and troubleshooting.

Where to Find the Notification LED Settings

The notification LED on the Huawei P9 is managed through the Settings app, but the exact path depends on the EMUI version your phone is running. On most P9 devices (EMUI 4.x and 5.x), follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon).
2. Scroll down and tap Battery (on some versions it’s called Power saving).
3. Tap Notification indicator light.
4. Toggle the switch to On or Off.

On newer EMUI versions (EMUI 8 and later, if you’ve updated the phone), the path may be slightly different:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Tap Notification indicator light.

If you don’t see the option under either of these paths, try using the search bar at the top of the Settings screen and type “indicator light” or “notification light”.

How the Notification LED Works on the P9

The P9’s LED is a small light located near the earpiece (above the screen). It lights up in different colors to indicate different events:

• Green – Typically indicates a new message, missed call, or a notification from an app that uses the default color.
• Red – Usually means the battery is low (below 20%) or charging.
• Orange/Yellow – Often used for charging when the battery is between 20% and 90%.
• Blue – Some apps (like certain messaging apps) can be set to use blue.

The LED only blinks when the screen is off. If the screen is on, you’ll see the notification in the status bar instead. Also, the LED stops blinking once you check the notification (by unlocking the phone or pulling down the notification shade).

How to Choose Which Apps Use the LED

On the Huawei P9, you can’t individually assign colors to every app directly from the settings menu (unlike some other phones). However, you can control which apps are allowed to send notifications that trigger the LED. Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings > Apps (or App notifications).
2. Tap on the app you want to configure (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook).
3. Look for Notifications and tap it.
4. Make sure Allow notifications is toggled on. Some versions also have a specific toggle for Notification light – enable it if present.

If your EMUI version doesn’t have a per-app LED toggle, the LED will light up for any notification that appears in the status bar, except for those you’ve blocked entirely. So to stop the LED from blinking for a particular app, you can block its notifications altogether.

Customizing LED Colors for Contacts (EMUI 5+ Only)

On EMUI 5.0 and later, the P9 allows you to assign a custom LED color to specific contacts. This is a handy feature if you want to know who’s calling or texting without looking at the phone. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Select the contact you want to customize.
3. Tap Edit (the pencil icon).
4. Scroll down and tap Ringtone (or Default under Ringtone).
5. Look for an option called Notification light color (or just Light color).
6. Choose from the available colors (e.g., blue, green, red, orange, purple).
7. Tap Save.

Now when that contact calls or texts, the LED will blink in the color you chose. Note that this feature may not be available if you’re running an older EMUI version or a custom ROM.

Common Problems and Fixes

Many P9 users report that the notification LED doesn’t blink even though they’ve enabled it. Here are the most common causes and solutions:

• Battery saver mode is on. Some power-saving modes disable the LED to save battery. Go to Settings > Battery and turn off any aggressive power-saving mode (like Ultra power saving).
• Do Not Disturb (DND) is active. DND mode can suppress the LED. Check Settings > Do Not Disturb and make sure it’s off or that notifications are allowed.
• The notification is from a blocked app. If you’ve blocked notifications for an app, the LED won’t light up for it. Review your app notification settings.
• The screen is not completely off. The LED only blinks when the screen is off. If your screen is on (even on the lock screen), the LED may not blink.
• Software glitch. A simple restart often fixes temporary glitches. If not, try clearing the cache partition (turn off the phone, press and hold Volume Up + Power, then use the menu to wipe cache).

If none of these work, the LED hardware itself might be faulty. In that case, contact Huawei support or a repair shop.

Comparison with Other Huawei Phones

The P9’s notification LED settings are similar to other Huawei devices of the same era (like the P10, Mate 9, and Honor 8). However, newer Huawei phones (like the P30, P40, and Mate 30) have largely removed the notification LED in favor of an always-on display or other notification methods. So if you’re upgrading from a P9, you may lose the LED feature entirely. The P9 is actually one of the last Huawei flagships to have a fully functional, customizable notification LED.

Does the LED Affect Battery Life?

The notification LED uses very little power – typically less than 1% of battery per day. The main battery drain comes from the screen, processor, and network radios. So you can safely leave the LED on without worrying about significant battery loss. If you’re extremely concerned about battery life, you can turn it off, but the impact is minimal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t my P9 notification LED blink for WhatsApp messages?

First, make sure WhatsApp notifications are enabled in the app itself (WhatsApp > Settings > Notifications). Then check the phone’s notification settings for WhatsApp and ensure the LED is allowed. Also, if you’re using a third-party battery saver app, it might be blocking WhatsApp notifications. Finally, some EMUI versions have a bug where the LED doesn’t work for certain apps – updating the phone’s software often fixes this.

Can I change the LED color for all notifications at once?

No, the P9 doesn’t have a global color setting. The LED color is determined by the app (default is green) or by the contact-specific color you set. You can’t change the default color for all apps at once without root access or a third-party app.

Does the LED blink while charging?

Yes, the LED lights up (usually red or orange) while charging, and turns green when the battery is above 90%. This is a separate function from notifications, and you can’t turn it off through the notification LED settings – it’s controlled by the battery charging indicator.

Will the LED work in silent mode?

Yes, the LED works independently of sound/vibration settings. Even if your phone is on silent, the LED will still blink for notifications, as long as the notification itself is allowed.

How do I turn off the LED completely?

Go to Settings > Battery (or Apps & notifications) > Notification indicator light and toggle it off. This disables the LED for all notifications, but it will still light up while charging.

Can I use third-party apps to control the LED?

Yes, apps like Light Flow or LED Blinker can give you more control over the LED, including custom colors per app and scheduling. However, these apps may require accessibility permissions and can be unreliable on EMUI due to aggressive battery optimization. You may need to whitelist the app in the battery settings to make it work properly.

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