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Samsung Edge lighting is a screen effect that illuminates the edge of a Galaxy display when a notification arrives. To enable it, open the relevant Edge lighting or notification pop-up settings; the exact path depends on your phone and software version. It is a software feature, not a physical notification LED, and Samsung says availability and behavior vary by model, carrier, and software.
What Samsung Edge lighting does
Edge lighting uses the display’s edges to draw attention to a notification, so you can notice an alert without opening the phone. It is not a hardware light: Samsung says the Galaxy S10, Note10, and newer do not have a physical notification LED and describes Edge lighting as a software notification-lighting approach. It does not necessarily behave exactly like a dedicated LED. Samsung UK explains the feature, while Samsung US notes model and software variation.
How to turn on Edge lighting
Use the route that matches the labels on your phone. Samsung’s support instructions cover different software generations, so not every Galaxy will show the same menu.
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- Open Settings > Notifications > Notification pop-up style.
- Select Edge lighting style and turn on the effect or choose a style, if those options are available.
- For related controls such as app selection, keyword colors, or screen-off behavior, check the options under Brief notification pop-ups. Samsung US documents these options for supported devices: Samsung’s Edge lighting instructions.
Older Display settings
On supported devices using older software, open Settings > Display > Edge screen > Edge lighting, then switch the feature on. This is the route Samsung UK documents: Samsung UK support.
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Android 11 and version-specific menus
Samsung’s Android 11 notice dated December 11, 2020, describes a move into notification settings: Settings > Notifications > Brief > Brief pop-up settings > Edge lighting style. Samsung’s broader guide gives the older Display path for Android 10, 9, and 8 and the Brief pop-up route for Android 11 and 12. Treat these as version-specific guidance, not universal current labels: Samsung Korea’s Android 11 notice and Samsung Korea’s version guide.
If you cannot find the setting, search Settings for Edge lighting and check your phone’s model and software version. Settings search is a practical way to locate a moved option, but the result depends on whether that device supports the feature.
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How to customize the effect
Available controls depend on the phone and software. On supported devices, Samsung documents options for the lighting effect, color, transparency, width, and duration. You may also be able to apply the effect to all available apps or select individual apps. Samsung US lists effects including Basic, Bubble, and Heart, along with automatic or custom colors and advanced appearance controls: Samsung US support.
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Open the Edge lighting style controls and select an offered effect. If your phone provides a color choice, use automatic color or pick a custom color. Some supported versions also include Color by keyword, which can assign a color when a notification contains a chosen word.
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Choose which apps can trigger it
In the app-selection controls, enable all listed apps or select only the apps whose notifications you want to illuminate the screen. The available app list and whether an app works with the effect can vary.
Adjust the look and duration
Where offered, adjust transparency, width, and duration to change how visible the effect is and how long it remains on screen. These controls are not guaranteed to appear on every model.
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- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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Use Edge lighting while the screen is off
Samsung US documents a Show even while screen is off option within Brief notification settings on supported devices. Look for it in the notification pop-up or Edge lighting controls; its presence and behavior depend on software and model. Samsung US support.
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Interact with an Edge lighting notification
Samsung UK describes tapping a notification to open its app, swiping it down to open a pop-up, or swiping left or right to dismiss it. These gestures may differ by device and software release: Samsung UK support.
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Why Edge lighting may be missing or not working
The setting moved after an update
Samsung documents that Android 11 moved the control from the older Display area into Brief notification pop-up settings. Check the software version, then look under Settings > Notifications or search Settings for Edge lighting. The exact route may differ on later releases.
Your phone may not offer the same controls
Samsung cautions that available screens and settings vary by wireless provider, software version, and phone model. Its documentation does not establish a definitive model-by-model compatibility list, so a menu path that works on one Galaxy is not proof that another supports the same feature.
A particular app may not trigger the effect
Samsung warns that Edge lighting may not work with some third-party apps. Check that the app is selected in Edge lighting’s app controls and that its notifications are enabled, but app selection alone cannot guarantee compatibility.
Do not confuse Edge lighting with Edge panels
Edge lighting is a notification effect; Edge panels are separate screen-edge shortcuts and panels. Samsung’s One UI 7 update note says Edge panels could no longer be downloaded from Galaxy Store in One UI 7, although panels already downloaded could continue to be used. That change concerns Edge panels and does not establish that Edge lighting was removed: Samsung’s One UI 7 update note.
Optional additional lighting styles
Samsung UK says the Galaxy Store app EdgeLighting+ adds styles named boomerang, celebrate, galaxy, loop, and black hole. The support page does not establish that the app is currently available for every region or device, so check Galaxy Store on your phone rather than assuming it can be installed: Samsung UK support.
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