One curious detail about the Nexus 6 is that this device doesn't include an information LED, since Google usually includes them in its hardware devices so users can be visually informed of their device's status. Well, the model we're talking about does have one… but it's inactive.
This is curious, and interesting at the same time, as it suggests that the Mountain View company cares about this, but it's surprising that it can't be used by default upon turning on the device. The component is located right behind the top speaker on the front of the Nexus 6.
Furthermore, this LED is RGB , meaning it can change the color it illuminates, which is also a plus since it allows you to choose the right color depending on the application displaying the alert. This makes the information it provides much more comprehensive and useful.
It's worth remembering that the Nexus 6 includes Ambient Display , a feature that takes advantage of the AMOLED panel to illuminate only the necessary pixels and display notifications on the screen. Google typically prioritizes this experience, which explains why the LED is disabled by software despite its physical presence.
Yes, it is possible to activate it
It has been revealed that the Nexus 6's LED can be activated for regular use without affecting the device's functionality. To do this, the first step is to root (unlock) the device , which you can do by following the steps outlined in this Android Help link . However, once you execute the " Root every command as root " option with the appropriate tool, for now, the LED will only illuminate when the device is charging—something that will surely change over time.
To get the most out of it, the community uses Light Flow , an app that takes control of the LED with root permissions. It's recommended to disable Ambient Display if you're going to rely on the LED, as this prevents the screen from turning on with every notification and saves battery . After installing the app, enable root mode and grant superuser permissions when prompted.
Light Flow allows you to customize colors and patterns per app (calls, messages, social media, battery, calendar, etc.). In some cases, depending on the build, color limitations have been reported (for example, the LED might display mostly green), but with the right settings, alerts can be differentiated quite accurately. If you need an extra level of customization, modules like Xposed offer advanced options for mapping colors per app.
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- Blue LED
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- Green LED
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- Red LED
The discovery that the Nexus 6 hides an LED is both surprising and interesting, and it's quite striking that it's not active by default (although, admittedly, its location isn't ideal). If you own a Nexus 6 and aren't afraid of tinkering, now you know what you can do with your device.
Ambient Display vs. LED: When to Use Each
Ambient Display offers a clean visual experience and low power consumption thanks to its AMOLED screen, ideal for checking quick notifications. The LED, on the other hand, provides discretion (just a flicker) and allows you to distinguish alerts by color without turning on the screen. If you don't want the panel to light up at night or during meetings, the LED is a very practical alternative.
Advantages, compatibility and known limits
The Nexus 6's LED is true RGB , so it can display various shades. However, Google doesn't natively support it on this model, and its use depends on third-party apps and root access . Some users report that, depending on the system and app versions, the shades may not be perfect (white tends toward bluish tones, or dark blue can be mistaken for light blue). Even so, the indicator works and is useful.
On related Motorola devices, the hidden LED is used to indicate a critically low battery when the screen won't turn on; on the Nexus 6, the LED is present, but this behavior isn't enabled by default. Another point to consider is that if the LED software conflicts with the system, it may be necessary to restart the app or clear its cache.
Setup Tips with Light Flow
Within Light Flow, you'll find several key sections: Notification Settings lets you define color, sound, and vibration for each event (for example, low battery threshold or reminders); Settings allows you to change the theme, LED brightness , sleep options, persistent icon, and LED Control (letting the app manage the LED when the screen is off or charging); Volume lets you adjust system and app volume. There's also More Apps (a list of compatible apps), an optional Live Wallpaper , LED testing tools , and Help with developer contact information.
To maximize results: disable Ambient when relying on the LED, avoid overlapping notifications from multiple apps at the same time, and keep Light Flow updated to benefit from compatibility improvements with the Nexus 6.
Source: XDA Developers.
Anyone looking for a subtle light signal on the Nexus 6 will find it: the LED is there, it's multicolored , and with root and Light Flow, it can become a powerful and customizable notification system without giving up Ambient Display when needed.
