How to turn on the flashlight on your Android phone without unlocking it

Quickly access your flashlight on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.

By Mariella Moon Nov. 1, 2026 2:30 pm EST Herman Vlad/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

You don't have to unlock your Android phone to switch your flashlight on. There are shortcuts so you can easily and quickly access it in case of emergency. In this post, we'll focus on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones, both of which have a customizable pulldown menu from the lock screen where you'll find a slew of useful tools.