Disable Galaxy S9 & S9+ LED Notification Light

This guide shows you how to turn off the LED notification light on a Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+. The LED blinks for missed calls, messages, and app alerts. You can disable it entirely or customize which apps trigger it. You only need your phone—no extra tools or apps required.

What You’ll Need

• Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
• A few minutes of time

Step-by-Step

1. Unlock your phone and go to the home screen.
2. Open the Settings app. It looks like a gear icon. You can find it in the app drawer or by swiping down from the top and tapping the gear icon in the notification shade.
3. Scroll down and tap “Display”. This menu controls screen and notification-related features.
4. Look for “LED indicator”. It’s usually near the bottom of the Display settings, under “Other settings” or “Notification” sections. Tap it.
5. Toggle off the switch at the top of the LED indicator screen. When it’s gray, the LED is disabled for all notifications.
6. Optional: Customize per-app settings. If you want the LED on for some apps but not others, leave the master switch on. Then scroll through the list of apps and toggle each one off individually. The list includes calls, messages, email, calendar, and third-party apps like WhatsApp or Facebook.
7. Exit Settings. Your changes save automatically. The LED will no longer light up for the apps you turned off.

Common Mistakes

• Turning off the wrong switch: Some users toggle “Edge lighting” instead of “LED indicator.” Edge lighting is a screen glow on curved displays—it’s separate from the hardware LED. Make sure you’re in the LED indicator menu.
• Expecting the LED to stop for calls when you only disabled messages: The per-app list is granular. If you only toggle off “Messages,” the LED will still blink for missed calls. Check each app you want to silence.
• Not restarting after changes: Rarely, the LED might continue blinking for a notification that arrived before you changed settings. A quick restart clears that stale notification.
• Confusing “Do Not Disturb” with LED control: Do Not Disturb silences sounds and vibrations but does not automatically turn off the LED. You still need to adjust the LED indicator setting.

Tips

• Use Do Not Disturb for scheduled silence: If you only want the LED off at night, set a Do Not Disturb schedule. But remember, it won’t affect the LED unless you also turn off the LED indicator or use the per-app settings.
• Test after changing: After toggling an app off, lock your phone and ask someone to send you a message or call. This confirms the LED is off for that specific app.
• Check for system updates: Samsung occasionally changes menu names. If you can’t find “LED indicator,” search for it in Settings using the magnifying glass icon at the top.
• Use third-party apps (if needed): Some apps like Light Manager can give more control, but they require the LED indicator to be on in system settings. The built-in options are usually enough.

Troubleshooting

LED still blinks after turning it off

• Restart your phone. This clears any pending notifications that might still trigger the LED.
• Check if you accidentally turned off the master switch but left per-app toggles on. The master switch overrides everything—make sure it’s gray.
• Verify you’re looking at the correct setting. Some carriers or custom ROMs may have moved the LED option. Use the search bar in Settings and type “LED.”

LED indicator option is missing

• On some S9 models (especially carrier variants), the LED indicator might be under “Accessibility” instead of “Display.” Go to Settings > Accessibility > Notification and see if it’s there.
• If you still can’t find it, your device may have a software version that hides it. Check for system updates in Settings > Software Update.

LED turns on for notifications from apps not in the list

• Some system notifications (like low battery) are not in the per-app list. The LED for low battery (red) cannot be disabled separately—it’s a hardware warning. You can only turn off the master switch, which disables all LED colors including battery warnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does turning off the LED affect battery life?
A: Yes, slightly. The LED uses a tiny amount of power. Turning it off can improve battery life by a negligible amount—usually less than 1% per day.

Q: Can I set the LED to only blink for calls but not messages?
A: Yes. In the LED indicator settings, leave the master switch on, then turn off “Messages” and keep “Calls” on. You can customize each app individually.

Q: Will the LED still blink when the screen is on?
A: No. The LED only activates when the screen is off or locked. When you’re using the phone, notifications appear on the status bar instead.

Q: Does the S9+ have the same LED settings as the S9?
A: Yes. Both models run the same One UI software and have identical LED indicator settings.

Q: Can I change the LED color for different apps?
A: No. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ do not have a built-in option to change LED colors per app. The LED color is fixed by the system (usually white for notifications, red for low battery). Third-party apps may offer color control, but they require the LED indicator to be enabled.

Q: Why doesn’t the LED blink for WhatsApp but it does for calls?
A: WhatsApp notifications might be set to “Silent” or “No pop-up” in the app’s own notification settings. Check WhatsApp’s notification settings and ensure “LED light” is enabled there (if available). Also, make sure WhatsApp is toggled on in the LED indicator list.

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