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How to Use the Nexus 6 as a Flashlight

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The new Google Nexus 6 has tons of impressive features with a huge display and the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop, but one worth talking about is the camera, its flash, and using it for a dedicated flashlight in times of need.

Motorola’s new Nexus 6 smartphone has an impressive 13 megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, and a new dual LED ring flash for great low-light photos. That dual LED flash also doubles as a pretty bright flashlight. Many smartphone owners use this feature, it’s extremely simple to setup on most, but with the Nexus 6 it is easier than ever.

Read: Nexus 6 Review

Most smartphones released over the past few years have had this feature one way or another. However, most owners aside from Samsung buyers have been resorting to third party apps in the Google Play Store, many of which have received a poor reputation for being shady apps collecting user data. While that’s all a bit extreme, Google’s added a way to use the flash as a dedicated camera right in Android 5.0 Lollipop.

N6-light

After all the rumors that our flashlight apps were collecting user data we saw a big drop off of those kind of apps, and users actually downloading and enjoying them. That all said, camera flashlight apps are nothing new in the Google Play Store, and many are quality apps with tons of advanced features worth checking out.

However, this is about the Nexus 6, and thankfully Google’s went around all those problems mentioned above by making a stock “Flashlight” toggle right in the notification pulldown bar in stock Android 5.0 Lollipop. This means all Android 5.0 and above devices won’t need to worry about this, and owners won’t have to download any apps from the Play Store.

Your new Nexus 6 (or any Android 5.0 phone) will have a built-in flashlight from here on out, and it’s extremely easy to find. Rather than cranking up screen brightness to see your keys while unlocking a door, or whatever else, just use this toggle and the built-in camera flash.

Instructions

There really isn’t much to say here. Simply pull down the notification bar from the top with two swipes (or once with two fingers) to quickly access the expanded notification bar. These are called “quick settings” or quick toggles. There’s easy one tap on/off switches for WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, and brand new to stock Android is the Flashlight.

N6-light2

Simply tap the flashlight toggle shown in the image above and you’ll instantly have an extremely bright flashlight using both of the LED flashes on the back of your Nexus 6. I’ve used this over the past few week and it’s extremely bright. Actually more useful than my own flashlight I used to keep in my truck at all times for emergencies.

Read: How to Take a Screenshot on the Nexus 6

One tap instantly turns on the LED flash for a flashlight, and one more tap will turn it off. That’s it. It is that easy. Users can turn off the screen while using the flashlight too, and it will stay on until disabled.

It’s a small and silly feature, when you think about it, but also one that’s extremely useful for a wide arrangement of uses. Many probably already noticed it, but for those who haven’t, now you know. Stay tuned for more Nexus 6 how-tos in the future, and check out our 16 Nexus 6 Tips, Tricks & Hidden Features now you’re enjoying Google’s latest smartphone.

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