your android smartphone camera flash is also useful as a flashlight that you almost always have with you. however, to turn it on continuously, you need to use a flashlight app that tells the flash to stay on.
While almost all android phones now have a built-in software switch to do this, some third-party flashlight apps still exist. We’ve rounded up some of the best flashlight apps that don’t ask for more permissions than they should.
why would anyone want a flashlight app today?
As mentioned, your phone probably already has a software flashlight switch. phone makers quickly realized this was a useful feature to include, so they put it there right away. so why would anyone want to download another app to achieve the same goal?
It’s true that most people probably won’t find a dedicated app useful, but some flashlight apps offer additional features. for example, some may offer strobe flashing modes or allow you to adjust the brightness of the light. so in some cases there are legitimate reasons to want one!
why are app permissions important?
The big problem is that numerous small apps like flashlight apps can often just be a front for what is essentially spyware or malware. For example, you may download a flashlight app that works fine, but then asks for permission to manage your calls or check your contacts. Clearly, there’s no real reason for a flashlight app to want those powers, so it’s best to avoid them.
For the apps we’ve chosen here, there are generally two types of permissions that are acceptable. First of all, the app needs permission to access the camera. second, ad-supported applications can request internet access.
In both cases, we recommend that you choose the allow only while in use option offered by recent versions of android. this way you will know that the app is not using your camera permissions to record you in the background!
Other permissions are also accepted if they are needed for special functions of a given application.
shake flashlight by androidrock (free with ads)
The concept behind this application is very simple. all you have to do to turn on the flashlight is shake your phone. This may not seem like a big deal, but even with quick menu access from a locked phone, it can take a while to find the software switch.
With this app, all you have to do is shake your phone once or twice and the light will turn on. very useful if the lights go out and you just want to have a flashlight quickly.
We had to turn up the shake sensitivity a bit because it took too many shakes to kick in, but once it was dialed in for our phone, it worked great. just be careful not to turn the volume up too high, or your poor flashlight will keep a rave in your pocket as you walk down the street!
the only permission we were asked for was access to the camera and the advertising is discreet. so this is an easy app to recommend.
color flashlight (free with ads)
This is a flashlight app that’s been around for a long time and has almost half a million downloads, so you know they must be doing something right.
its main trick is that it’s not just about using your camera’s led flash to make light. You can also take control of your phone screen and force it to full brightness with the app.
You also have fine-grained control over the color and intensity of the display. The color flashlight also offers some fun features, like a flashing strobe display or a video clip of a burning candle.
You only need camera and internet permissions and can be quite versatile when you need specific lighting conditions. for example, you can set it to a warm color with low intensity for reading.
icon torch (free with optional donation)
icon torch is as its name describes. when you tap the flashlight app icon, nothing opens. only one thing happens: the led flash lights up. that’s all.
This is simple but brilliant, as it means you can place the app icon where it’s easiest to reach, like on the bottom of your phone. this is usually much faster than swiping down the quick access screen and looking for the flashlight button.
This app asks for no permissions, has no ads (or interface), and is completely free. There is a paid version of the app for $1.49 which is the same but gives developer Aleksandr Balaev a tip. at the time of writing this article, only a few people had done it, including us. so if you like this clever and unobtrusive app, why not show some appreciation?
little flashlight (free with ads)
the main value proposition of nikolay ananiev’s popular tiny flashlight used to be its small installation size. however, these days phones have so much built-in storage that no one cares. however, more than four million people have downloaded this application. why? there are two interesting aspects in this flashlight app.
First of all, it’s modular. you can download plugins that add the features you want without cluttering the app with the ones you don’t want. Second, it addresses one of the biggest problems with flashlight apps. that is, the fact that they are addicted to the battery.
although we have to take nikolay’s word for it, a small flashlight has been designed to reduce overall power consumption a bit. which could be a literal lifesaver in emergency situations.
free flashlight (free without ads)
The last app on this list is perhaps the most perfect embodiment of a flashlight app that doesn’t ask for more permissions than it should. flashlight free is a basic, transparent and easy to use application. The developers wanted to address the privacy issues flashlight apps have caused in the past.
they take care of explaining exactly what each feature does, what exactly has changed in each update, and anything else users need to know. there is nothing more to say, it’s great.
now we see the light!
These excellent flashlight apps make it clear that there is still a lot of room for innovation when it comes to this genre of software. phone manufacturers can still make it faster and more convenient for us to activate the built-in flashlight feature. however, these are mostly just a great set of flashlight apps to brighten up your life a bit.