Google Pixel 5 missing camera auto flash to allegedly make a comeback with a future update

Google has incorporated some extremely sophisticated image processing algorithms in its Google Camera app for the Pixels which are lauded far and wide.

These algorithms have helped the Google Pixel 5 (or any other Pixel for that matter) compensate for its outdated camera hardware and put the device’s camera performance at par with other flagships with more ‘modern’ sensors.

But perhaps, the company got a bit too cocky with its software image processing abilities on Google Camera for Pixel 5 and decided to do away with the minor but crucial auto flash feature sometime during October.

This move could have been made to encourage users to use Night Sight more often. But again, Night Sight may be pretty capable, but is still a far cry from the good old reliable flash.

And hence, Pixel 5 users have been complaining about the missing auto flash feature on Google Camera even months after its removal.

Why did Google remove the auto-flash in favor of auto-night mode in the camera app? I mean night mode works pretty well, but I’ll take a picture in a pitch black room and it attempts to use night mode and is completely useless. Instead you need manually toggle flash on and off, which is hidden in the top menu and super annoying. Am I missing something?
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Recently though, things have seemingly taken a turn for the better as a Redditor shared the screenshot of their correspondence with the Google Support Team.

Thanks for letting me know this. I’d suggest you to please uninstall the system update and then you will be able to see the auto flash camera feature on your device and please submit the feedback for the same.

Also, I’d like to inform you that this issue will be fixed in the next coming update for your device and then you will not need to uninstall the updates for the auto flash camera feature. Please let me know tor any other concern or help.

As apparent from the above, it appears that the return of the auto flash feature is on the horizon. And while an exact date for its arrival was not provided, the screenshot does state that the feature will be revived with a forthcoming update for the Pixel 5.

Another important observation made here is that the support team referred to the feature’s omission as an ‘issue’. This potentially implies that its removal wasn’t really deliberate. Perhaps, it was removed mistakenly. Or maybe the recent update just broke some stuff.

Either way, if the missing flash feature is something you cannot live without, then you may simply try uninstalling Google Camera updates. This is because the issue wasn’t present on older versions of the app.

Or you can simply wait as the Google Support Team has recommended. Judging by the screenshot, the update’s rollout shouldn’t be too far off anyway.

For now, you might want to check out our dedicated Android 11 bug tracker for further coverage on matters like these.

Note: The Google Pixel 5 hasn’t exactly been shy from various issues. Be sure to check out our Google Pixel 5 section if you’re curious about it all.

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