Where did the built-in flashlight disappear?

[Tarototh]

go to your home screen and hold your finger on the screen till three options appear. Select widgets. Select the torçh widget and drag it onto your home screen. Done xx

For all those well meaning individuals who offered solutions involving widgets or home screen short cuts to the flashlight, thank you but please stop!! This thread is not about how to turn on the flashlight, we know there are apps and short cuts to do so!!!

This thread is SPECIFICALLY about the lollipop notification tray icon going missing

 

[WolfStock]

I'm trying to do this as well - however I have have a perhaps more basic problem. The flashlight icon has never appeared in my status bar. I've done searches and see how to bring up the flashlight icon in Lollipop - by "double-swiping" down the status bar. However my phone (S5) doesn't have this double-swipe version, even though it does have Lollipop (5.0)! Are there two different versions of Lollipop out there? My status bar is the greenish-blue color (default) as opposed to the gray color I see on various "how-to's" for Lollipop.

I currently have Tiny Flashlight, but want to get rid of it - mainly because it can't be removed from my status bar without the app being force closed. However I want to still have some mechanism to do a flashlight. It's nice to see that it's finally an Android feature, but I can't seem to get to it.

 

[sethyboy]

I'm trying to do this as well - however I have have a perhaps more basic problem. The flashlight icon has never appeared in my status bar. I've done searches and see how to bring up the flashlight icon in Lollipop - by "double-swiping" down the status bar. However my phone (S5) doesn't have this double-swipe version, even though it does have Lollipop (5.0)! Are there two different versions of Lollipop out there? My status bar is the greenish-blue color (default) as opposed to the gray color I see on various "how-to's" for Lollipop.

I currently have Tiny Flashlight, but want to get rid of it - mainly because it can't be removed from my status bar without the app being force closed. However I want to still have some mechanism to do a flashlight. It's nice to see that it's finally an Android feature, but I can't seem to get to it.

Samsung phones are different, because although the software is Lollipop, Samsung layers their own skin over it, which means it might be different from some tutorials you'll see. The version you're seeing here is the stock version of Lollipop, which can be found on Nexus phones and most Motorola phones.

That being said, try looking in your widgets (hold on the home screen and tap Widgets) for "Torch" or "Assistive light". There is a flashlight widget that you can place on your home screen and turn on when you want. It's not exactly the same, but it should do the job.

 

[Oscaran]

I never had it show up (note 4). I went to widgets, search widget for flashlight and it allowed me to add a flashlight widget. Not sure if this helps anyone.

Posted via the Android Central App

Thanks Maggie - you helped me - the simple solutions are often the best!

 

[MNZ]

Change the flash setting in your camera to auto.

Ten days ago, my Nexus 4 was updated to the new Android Lollipop. Initially, I enjoyed the new built-in flashlight feature so much, I got rid of my flashlight app. Alas, after I started using Chromecast and the Hotspot toggle feature, the flashlight feature's icon simply disappeared from my quick-access tray.
Does anyone have any idea as to how I retrieve this option manually, so that I will not need to re-install the flashlight app?
That's how my tray looks at the moment:
View attachment 152853
Thanks in advance!

 

[Jamie Beckner]

This fixed the problem for me. Thank you so much!

 

[ThomoJames97]

I had the same issue today on my Nexus 4 after updating to 5.1 today. I fixed it by "FORCE STOP" the Camera app, and then clearing the app data (not the app cache). After turning off my phone, the Flashlight shortcut is back in my Quick Settings drop-down. Give it a try. You can't hurt your camera by clearing its data.

This is the ACTUAL fix, everybody else doesn't know what they're talking about - it has nothing to do with widgets...

Thanks a lot for solving this issue I've had for weeks.

 

[jimhuntphoto]

I had the same issue today on my Nexus 4 after updating to 5.1 today. I fixed it by "FORCE STOP" the Camera app, and then clearing the app data (not the app cache). After turning off my phone, the Flashlight shortcut is back in my Quick Settings drop-down. Give it a try. You can't hurt your camera by clearing its data.

This happened on my Nexus 6p and this solution fixed it. Thanks.

 

[Varpa]

I had the same issue today on my Nexus 4 after updating to 5.1 today. I fixed it by "FORCE STOP" the Camera app, and then clearing the app data (not the app cache). After turning off my phone, the Flashlight shortcut is back in my Quick Settings drop-down. Give it a try. You can't hurt your camera by clearing its data.

You are awesome! This is the fix indeed. Now my Xperia Z3+ can access the torch quickly again. Thank you!

 

[Lilycharmer]

I was having this same issue, and it came back after I used the camera app too!

 

[akaradi]

Ten days ago, my Nexus 4 was updated to the new Android Lollipop. Initially, I enjoyed the new built-in flashlight feature so much, I got rid of my flashlight app. Alas, after I started using Chromecast and the Hotspot toggle feature, the flashlight feature's icon simply disappeared from my quick-access tray.
Does anyone have any idea as to how I retrieve this option manually, so that I will not need to re-install the flashlight app?
That's how my tray looks at the moment:
View attachment 152853
Thanks in advance!

Usually when this happens, your camera app won't work too. You need to restart your phone, if camera is working fine then flashlight icon will be in that tray.

 

[Ryan Ganim]

I know this may not readly be the answer you all are expecting, but...
Solution; when on your home screen search bar, use the Google microphone
& ask your PHONE "OPEN FLASHLIGHT"
now that it is on; use the Google searchbar &ask your PHONE "CLOSE FLASHLIGHT"
This can also be done with Bluetooth!
Good Days to ya MATES!! Capt.Ryan

 

[M KL]

Ten days ago, my Nexus 4 was updated to the new Android Lollipop. Initially, I enjoyed the new built-in flashlight feature so much, I got rid of my flashlight app. Alas, after I started using Chromecast and the Hotspot toggle feature, the flashlight feature's icon simply disappeared from my quick-access tray.
Does anyone have any idea as to how I retrieve this option manually, so that I will not need to re-install the flashlight app?
That's how my tray looks at the moment:
View attachment 152853
Thanks in advance!

This very easy to solve, in Nexus 5.
Try to open the camera app. From settings of camera choose flash on and take any picture.
Then, close the camera app.
View your quick settings, you will see the flashlight icon to turn it on or off.

Enjoy!

 

[detoalff]

The solution is simple. Go to Google app and do a voice command to disable flashlight. Be sure that the Google app give you the message that the flashlight is off. Restart the system and look for the flashlight tile. It should be back.

 

[Anuja Modi]

I had the same problem. I just switched off my phone, switched it on again, and issue resolved.

 

[MauiBoy72]

I have a Moto 3 (3rd gen) running Android 6
Did your suggestion (force stop the camera app & restarted phone)...Problem Solved!
Thanks & Aloha

 

[StkAdKnT]

Same issue with my Droid Turbo 2, which by the way is breaking down - random shutdowns - not happy.
Camera failed to open as well.
Power Down, Restart and both the flashlight is back and the camera is back working.

 

[Mheldz]

I also did what he (vadimladon) did and then I finally had my built in flashlight back..thanks men

 

[kevin jared]

it worked for me too; restarting your devices restore s the icons