How to Use IQOS ILUMA i: First Setup, Pause Mode and Flex Puff

Quick answer: Charge it up first. Once that’s done, hold the button for 4 seconds and it turns on. Push a TEREA stick in up to the line on the filter and wait for the second vibration, which takes about 20 seconds. On ILUMA i and ILUMA i PRIME you can pause by swiping down across the touch screen, and FlexPuff may add 4 extra puffs if the stick isn’t used up.

Just got your device? If you’ve come from an older IQOS, a few things are different now. There’s no blade, there’s no cleaning tool, and the holder on the two-piece models has a small touch screen. Below we go through your first day with it, using what IQOS says in its own user guides. Still choosing a model? Our ILUMA i ONE vs Standard vs PRIME comparison covers that part.

Which ILUMA i do you have?

Check this first, because the controls aren’t the same. ILUMA i ONE is one piece with a cap and a button. ILUMA i (shops often call it Standard) and ILUMA i PRIME come as a holder plus a pocket charger, and only the holder has the touch screen. That’s why Pause Mode is on those two and not on the ONE.

How do you set it up the first time?

Start with a full charge. Plug in with the cable and a power adaptor. The adaptor may be sold separately, so check what came in your box. IQOS puts a full charge of the pocket charger at roughly 135 minutes, and about 90 minutes for the ILUMA i ONE.

Switching on is easy: keep your thumb on the button for 4 seconds and let go. The lights come on slowly. Four solid white lights mean it’s full. If the battery was completely flat, the first blink can be yellow, and that’s fine. It turns white once the charge passes 7%.

On the two-piece models the holder lives inside the pocket charger. Put it in, close the door, and the holder’s own status light shows how much charge it has.

How do you start a session with a TEREA stick?

Take a fresh stick from a sealed pack of TEREA. Then:

1. On the ONE, slide the cap open. On ILUMA i or PRIME, lift the holder out of the pocket charger.
2. Push the stick in up to the line printed on the filter, no further. You’ll feel a vibration once it’s detected.
3. Heating starts on its own. That’s Autostart. If you’ve turned Autostart off, swipe up on the touch screen, or press the button for one second on the ONE.
4. Wait for the second vibration. Preheating takes about 20 seconds.

A session runs for up to about 6 minutes or 14 puffs, whichever comes first. The light ring around the touch screen counts down the time. You’ll get another buzz when about 30 seconds or 2 puffs are left. After that, pull the stick out and bin it. Don’t try to reuse it, because the device won’t heat a used stick. Then close the cap on the ONE, or put the holder back in its charger.

How does Pause Mode work?

This one’s handy. Your phone rings, someone’s at the door, and you don’t want to waste the stick. On ILUMA i and ILUMA i PRIME it goes like this:

• You can only pause in the first 3 minutes or 8 puffs.
• Swipe down across the whole touch screen. A half swipe won’t work. A light vibration tells you it’s paused.
• You’ve got up to 8 minutes. Miss that and the holder switches itself off.
• To carry on, swipe up across the whole screen. It preheats again for around 20 seconds and then vibrates.

There are two catches. Pausing doesn’t give you extra puffs, since the session still ends at 14 puffs in total, before and after the break. And it only works in Performance Mode, for one of two back-to-back sessions. If your swipe isn’t registering, IQOS suggests trying the index finger of your other hand. Odd, but worth a go.

What is FlexPuff, and can you turn it off?

FlexPuff keeps an eye on how you puff. Near the end of a session, if the stick hasn’t been used up, the device may add 4 extra puffs. They still fit inside the roughly 6-minute window. It won’t happen every time, though. It depends on how you used that stick.

It’s switched on when the device is new, and you can turn it off or back on in the IQOS app. Here’s what catches people out: if you paused the session, FlexPuff won’t kick in for that stick. So it’s the pause or the extra puffs, not both. All three ILUMA i models have it, the ONE included.

Should you use Eco Mode or Performance Mode?

This setting is called FlexBattery, and it’s on ILUMA i and PRIME. Performance Mode is the default. You get up to 3 sessions in a row before the holder needs charging, or 2 in a row if you pause one of them. Eco Mode gives you one session, and then the holder goes back in the charger.

So why would you pick Eco? Battery life. IQOS says using Eco Mode for the holder’s whole life can stretch the battery’s lifespan by up to a year, although your own use will change that. You pick the mode in the IQOS app. Just remember Pause Mode isn’t available in Eco.

Do you need to clean an ILUMA i?

Not like an old IQOS. There’s no blade inside, because each TEREA stick carries its own sealed heating part. All IQOS asks is that you keep dust out of the USB port. A gentle blow does it. Got a two-piece set? Give the little contacts on the holder and charger a wipe with a dry, soft cloth. Keep liquids and tools out of the chamber.

The ILUMA i is made for TEREA, so HEETS won’t work in it, and TEREA doesn’t go in older IQOS devices either. Our TEREA vs HEETS guide explains why. And if your device lights up but won’t heat, run through our ILUMA i not heating checklist before you decide it’s faulty.

Common questions

Can I use HEETS in an IQOS ILUMA i?

No. HEETS were made for older IQOS devices that heat with a blade, and ILUMA i takes TEREA. We don’t sell HEETS, but our HEETS to TEREA flavour match helps if you’re switching.

Does the ILUMA i ONE have Pause Mode?

No. You pause by swiping the touch screen, and only ILUMA i and ILUMA i PRIME have one. The ONE still has Autostart and FlexPuff.

How long does one TEREA stick last in an ILUMA i?

Up to about 6 minutes or around 14 puffs, whichever comes first. FlexPuff may add 4 more puffs in that time if the stick isn’t used up.

Why didn’t FlexPuff give me extra puffs?

It doesn’t trigger every time. It also won’t trigger if you paused that session, or if it’s switched off in the IQOS app.

Where can I buy an ILUMA i in Dubai?

You can visit our shop on 14th St, Al Barsha First, or order from our IQOS ILUMA i range online. Delivery in Dubai is usually within the hour, with cash on delivery.

For adults who already use tobacco or nicotine products. Nicotine is addictive, and no tobacco stick is risk-free. TEREA contains a sharp metal part; do not take it apart or swallow it. Keep tobacco sticks away from children and pets. TEREA Dubai is an independent retailer with no affiliation to IQOS or Philip Morris International. Checked on 24 October 2026.