As mentioned several times in this thread, the absence of notification LED is only a definitive problem when the screen isn’t viable for AOD.
But we’re talking about a Fairphone so the screen is replaceable, just like the FP3’s camera. So simple question, is a screen upgrade envisioned for the people who want persistent notifications (along with a FP4+ for people who want it directly without buying a phone with screen plus a screen)?
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
Hopefully you are aware that this is only a user forum and you will get no ‘definitive’ answer. However I imagine it is unlikely.
A new screen, new software, would it need . . . more than that.
You can contact Fairphone and ask but . . . . . .
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I also miss a notification LED, especially when you need to call back to important people but you have to set it to “Do Not Disturb” while working.
@Mikiballster
There is a setting so that the display is switched on briefly when there is a message.
Couldn’t you provide more options here (in an update)?
Repeated switching on of the message display with setting options for frequency, interval, period (and possibly apps).
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I’ve requested a similar feature, but then a longer wake time. But indeed, a recurring notification would be welcome as well. Persistent notifications allow you to interact with the smart features of your phone. Without them a disconnect is formed. These feature requests can glue things somewhat together again.
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This is the first Android I’ve ever had that doesn’t have a persistent LED notification of some kind. I cannot understand why this decision was made, when all my previous phones of many brands always included ways to disable it if desired. I quite like my new FP4 but this makes me a bit crazy, constantly waking up my phone to check for notifications instead of just glancing at it while the screen is asleep.
Anybody who has any suggestions for tweaks that might help make this less annoying? I see there has been a request to wake the screen for a longer initial notification, but that too would then disappear, so if you don’t see it, and the phone goes back to sleep, you don’t know if you got any.
The flashlight workaround also sounds like a battery drain, since as far as I know, we can’t adjust the brightness of the flashlight (?).
Any other ideas? I’m debating returning my phone because of this–it’s such a basic issue that comes up dozens of times daily…
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Hello and welcome to the forum. There are many workarounds, some of them were already mentioned, but I guess it’s somewhat difficult to navigate in this long thread.
- As you have already mentioned, one of the options is to use the flashlight. There are lots of apps on Google Play, or you can use a custom Automate script, for example this one. If the battery drain is too large, you can adjust the duration of the flash and also the delay between individual flashes.
- If you don’t want to press the power button to wake up the screen, you can use WaveUp. But be aware that there are currently some problems with the proximity sensor, especially on direct sunlight.
- If you spend most of your time on a PC, you can sync the notifications using KDE Connect or any similar app.
- The last option I can think of is using a smartwatch. I personally use Amazfit Neo with a custom Automate script that periodically notifies the watch when there is an unread notification.
If none of this suits you, then FP4 is probably not the right phone for you. (And that’s absolutely okay.)
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There is also Missed Notifications Reminder on F-Droid. My phone is setup to vibrate every one minute when there is a notification.
(Of course, that’s still a workaround and it goes without saying that I’d rather have a notification LED or an AOD.)
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Literally shocked to learn that my new FP4 has no LED.
Why not add a supercheap device which weighs near to nothing, and gives precise and clear information … that avoids having to switch on the screen, i.e. wasting my time, attention, energy - and (unnecessary, and even several because I have to switch OFF afterwards) … button switches?
Right now, I am mostly missing the LED telling me that the charger magnet plug is properly connected.
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Workaround:
I want a script, that:
- as soon as the charger gets connected
- switches on the screen for 3 seconds,
- then shows the current battery level,
- and then switches off the screen again by itself.
[Or a replacement module for any of the existing replacement spare parts that however then includes an LED.]
Help please.
My FP3 on Android 11 ~ as soon as a powered cable is attached
If powered on the screen lights up and shows the percentage
If powered off a battery shows with the percentage
When you connect a charger, it should wake up the screen. I think it’s on for 10 seconds, not 3, but still. This doesn’t happen to you? It also shows the battery percentage at the bottom of the screen (above the Emergency call button) along with the information about charging speed (whether it’s slow or fast). You can also show the exact battery percentage in the status bar if you want (Settings → Battery → Battery percentage).
If you want to modify this behavior, you can use, e.g., Automate. (After plugging the charger, set delay to 3 seconds and lock the screen.)
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i have found a thread about this but it’s quite old.
being disabled i relied on my FP3 notification led’s a lot. can imagine it’s necessary for hard of hearing.
seems this function isn’t on FP4.
is there any update about this.
You would have to contact support to get an official answer, however no I dont think the FP4 will ever have a LED
Have you checked this reply?
I don’t think it will be possible to add it post production. It may be solved in software though, by extending the screen wake time when a notification is received. It’s only a few seconds now. If we do the iPhone method of waking the screen and that’s it, then we should extend that wake time like on an iPhone IMHO 
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What a shame. It’s a huge help to accessibility.
Imagine being deaf, it’s the only way to know if messages have come in unless you are wearing the phone with vibrate turned on.
For me i only handle my phone when i know theres a message as my coordination is very poor and i have a lot of pain in my hands so the lights meant i could see at a glance if i needed to respond.
I love everything else but this is definitely a backward step in this age of disability awareness.
Please feed this back if the longer turn on time is a possibility
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond
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Best you can do is #contactsupport and specify this need and purpose. Hopefully they will use an OLED screen for the FP5, which will allow an energy efficient always-on-display. Or at least add that LED notification light. You still have the FP3, right?
My new FP 4 arrived yesterday. Have been setting it up which is when i couldn’t work out how to turn led on. Disappointed. I asked if the FP 5 was imminent but FP woukdnt say so i went for the 4. I still have my 3 but its getting slow
Once you have the FP4 set up you could try a factory reset on the FP3
If it is slow it is likely down to RAM and memory use. My FP3+ is 2.5 years old, updated to a Beta A13 and there’s no apparent change to usability.
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