Does an iPad Have a Flashlight? Only These Models Do
Most iPads do not have a flashlight because there is no LED flash on the back of the device.
Only two iPad mini models and most iPad Pro models carry a True Tone flash, and only models with that flash get a Flashlight button in Control Center.
No iPad Air and no standard iPad has one. That model list comes from Apple’s iPad User Guide for iPadOS 26, checked in July 2026.
Below is the full model list, the exact steps to turn the flashlight on, and a screen trick that gets real light out of any iPad.
Which iPads have a flashlight?
Apple’s iPadOS 26 user guide lists these models as having a True Tone flash, and older iPad Pros from 2016 and 2017 had one too:
| iPad model | Flashlight? |
|---|---|
| iPad mini (6th generation) and iPad mini (A17 Pro) | Yes |
| iPad Pro 11 inch (every generation, including M4 and M5) | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd generation and later) | Yes |
| iPad Pro 13 inch (M4 and M5) | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2nd generation) | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9 inch (1st generation) | No |
| iPad mini (5th generation and earlier) | No |
| All iPad Air models | No |
| All standard iPad models | No |
A few retired models Apple no longer updates, the iPad Pro 9.7 inch and 10.5 inch, also carry a True Tone flash, so those still light up too.
Not sure which iPad you own? Our complete list of iPad generations shows how to identify yours in about a minute.
How do you turn on the iPad flashlight?
On a supported model, the flashlight lives in Control Center.
- Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. Control Center opens as a panel of buttons.
- Tap the Flashlight button. It looks like a small torch. The flash beside the rear camera lights up right away.
- Tap the button again to turn it off.
You can skip your hands entirely. Say “Siri, turn on the flashlight,” and it switches on.
Need it brighter or dimmer? Touch and hold the Flashlight button, then slide your finger up or down on the slider that appears.
No Flashlight button in Control Center?
- Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
- Tap Control Center.
- Tap Flashlight in the list of available controls. The button now appears every time you open Control Center.
These steps match Apple’s flashlight support page, updated for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
How do you get light from an iPad without a flash?
The screen itself is your backup flashlight. It will not match an LED, but it lights up a nightstand, a keyhole, or a dark hallway a few feet ahead.
- Open the Notes app (the white icon with the yellow top) and start a new note. The blank page gives you a bright white screen.
- Swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center.
- Drag the brightness slider, the tall one with the sun icon, all the way up.
- Point the screen at whatever you need to see.
A 13 inch screen at full brightness puts out a surprising amount of light in a dark room. Just expect the battery to drain faster while you use it.
Should you download a flashlight app?
No. An app cannot add an LED that the hardware does not have.
On an iPad without a flash, every flashlight app does the same thing as the free Notes trick above: it turns the screen white.
Many of these apps also push constant ads or ask for permissions a light has no business needing, like your location. Skip the download.
While you are here, two other common iPad annoyances have quick fixes too: websites that will not load on an iPad and closing a pile of open windows on an iPad.
Frequently asked questions
Does the iPad Air have a flashlight?
No. No iPad Air model has an LED flash, so there is no Flashlight button in Control Center.
Use the bright screen method instead.
Does the iPad flash work for photos too?
Yes. On models that have it, the True Tone flash fires in the Camera app and helps with document scans.
My iPad has a flash but the flashlight will not turn on. Now what?
Restart the iPad and remove any case or accessory that covers the flash. Those are the first steps on Apple’s camera and flash troubleshooting page.
If it still fails, the flash may need service. Our comparison of Best Buy and Apple Store repairs can help you pick where to take it.
Can Siri turn the iPad flashlight on and off?
Yes, on models that have the flash. Say “Siri, turn on the flashlight” or “Siri, turn off the flashlight.”