Torch quick access

madduck

Hey there,

Is there a way to quickly turn on and off the torch, ideally without having to interact with the touch screen?

I just migrated from LineageOS, and there I could turn on/off the torch with a long-press on the power button. This meant that I could actually pull the phone out of my pocket, press the power button as I do so, and have the torch on by the time the phone's out.

GrapheneOS is great, and I am happy to have migrated, for there are plenty things working now that I was missing beforehand, mostly related to Google Spyware. However, this torch access shortcut from LineageOS is possibly the feature I miss the most.

TranceSeven

madduck Maybe something like Key Mapper would work for you? I've not tried it myself, so can't vouch for it either way. I just read your post and I remembered seeing the app recently.

aika

madduck If you ever find a solution, let me know. I've installed GOS a week ago and I very much miss the squeeze gesture for quick access to the flashlight on my Pixel 4 XL.

I do understand though implementing such a feature is probably out of scope of this project.

likethesilence

https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/498

likethesilence

Here, this is a better explanation:
https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/636#issuecomment-945037346

Basically the feature isn't actually that useful and it's out of the projects scope

Sifer

TranceSeven This is exactly how I'd solved this problem. There is no twist to turn on torch so I use and combiation of vol up, down. to turn on and off torch.

I only wish GOS were to implement a timer on the torch. If you were to leave it on the torch stays on for what seems hours. I've left the torch on for that 70 minutes.

My last phone, a motorola, automatically turned that torch off after 10 minutes.

If anybody has a solution for this, please reply.

matchboxbananasynergy

I've marked this as solved, but feel free to discuss alternative approaches to achieve this, if you'd like!

MetropleX

madduck the option on the issue tracker is marked as enhancement Priority low. As a project with only 5 full time devs all focused on the fast moving dynamic environment of privacy and security focused research and protection and with that expertise it is best suited to focusing their time/energy efficiently. Don't take abrupt objective responses as offensive just take from it the fact that if you want a feature create it and make a PR or weigh up the pros and cons of a flash light shortcut removing a simple swipe and tap with the standard benefits as well as the pace of developing things like sandboxed play services, storage scopes, cross user notifications etc.

Probably best not taking what occurs on the issue tracker in the main over experiences in the community at large. Mods for example have more time to discuss things a little more philosophically where devs won't.

madduck

MetropleX Thank you.

madduck

aika KeyMapper, as suggested by others, can be set to turn the torch on. It doesn't work for power, or when the screen is off, but I can now turn the screen on and hold down vol-down to toggle. Better than nothing.

FU6QydnIELkx

Here's an example of a much more important usage for the power button long-press: shutting down or rebooting the phone from in your pocket when forced to surrender it.

ve3jlg

FU6QydnIELkx Here's an example of a much more important usage for the power button long-press: shutting down or rebooting the phone from in your pocket when forced to surrender it.

This use of the button supports maximizing privacy and security. I like it.

vvf69107

FU6QydnIELkx important imo too

DigitalSoup

No idea what this app is like.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.rnazarevych.shaketorch

madduck

DigitalSoup

Works like advertised. But I am a little sceptical about accidentally turning the torch on when e.g. mounted to my bike's handlebar. KeyMapper works okay for now, despite requiring two keys to be pressed.

thrik

https://www.f-droid.org/en/packages/io.github.sds100.keymapper/

I use this to quick toggle the flashlight. It's a very versatile app. I have it set to toggle whenever I press volume up and then volume down directly after (I just roll my finger on it).

You can even use swipe up/down/left/right on a fingerprint reader to do the same.

madduck

thrik Thanks, it works, except for when the device is locked. But I think this is a Pixel 6 Pro problem, and also I cannot use the fingerprint gestures on this device.

thrik

madduck I think it's a limitation of what Keymapper is able to do. But yes, it is better than needing to go all the way into the dropdown menu toggles IMO. Glad it's working out for you

Groetg

Keymapper, great tip! Vol up is now toggle bluetooth at my pixel 6

Graphite

I got used to toggling the torch with a lock screen gesture. But I understand this is out of scope for GrapheneOS. Automation can be done with 3rd party apps.

rbird2

Starting with Android 13, it's possible to control multiple brightness levels of the flashlight.

The links provided are for a cool little app that has the following features:

Features:

dimming your flashlight level by level
shortcut buttons for different brightness levels
SOS flash button
morse code flash mode
quick settings tile for fast access
private, no ads, no internet connection
modern Material You (M3) design elements
app colors adapt to device's system colors

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cyb3rko.flashdim&hl=en

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.cyb3rko.flashdim/

https://github.com/cyb3rko/flashdim

A little OFF topic, but I thought some may find it useful...

MetropleX

rbird2 not off topic at all and very useful for those interested. Love to see people so passionate to help others like this. Makes the community a valuable appreciable resource having people offering solutions.

cyb3rko

rbird2
MetropleX
Thank you guys :)