Phasmophobia Summoning Circle Not Working? Apparently, There's a Wrong Kind of Fire
If you’ve lit all five Summoning Circle candles in Phasmophobia and the ghost refuses to appear, you may have encountered a developer-confirmed Firelight bug. Use an Igniter (matches or a lighter) directly on the ritual candles instead of lighting them with another burning candle or lantern.
Kinetic Games has acknowledged the problem and intends to fix it in the upcoming Unity 6 update.
Yes, apparently there is a right and wrong kind of fire for summoning the dead.
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Five candles, five flames, absolutely no bloody ghost
On October 15, a player reported lighting every candle in the Summoning Circle without triggering the expected ghost manifestation.
In the resulting Reddit discussion, Kinetic Games founder Daniel Knight, known as Dknighter, confirmed that using a Firelight to ignite the ritual candles can cause this problem.
Someone then asked what he meant by Firelight, because Phasmophobia has apparently reached the point where even setting things on fire requires a terminology examination.
The distinction is simple:
Igniter: Matches or a lighter. This is what you should use to light the Summoning Circle.
Firelight: A burning candle or lantern that can be used to light other objects. This is the method associated with the bug.
And that's what makes the whole thing particularly ridiculous.
Lighting one candle with another candle is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Humanity has been managing it for centuries without needing a software update. Phasmophobia even allows Firelights to be used for lighting things.
Yet here you are, preparing to drag a murderous supernatural entity into the physical world, only to discover that the source of your perfectly legitimate flames might prevent the entire operation.
Imagine explaining that to an actual occultist.
We've drawn the circle, prepared the candles and completed the ritual. Unfortunately, the ghost cannot attend because someone used a lantern.
What's especially irritating is that the candles can appear to have been lit successfully. You've done what the game seemingly asked you to do, so why would you suspect the fire? The ghost is missing. Surely that's where the problem lies?
Apparently not.
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But not every failed summoning is this bug
Before blaming Firelights for every paranormal disappointment, remember that Summoning Circles have other mechanics affecting what happens when the final candle is lit.
Lighting the ritual candles normally consumes sanity. Each candle costs 16%, meaning a complete summoning can drain 80% under normal conditions.
If your sanity is already below 16% when the final candle is lit, the ghost can immediately begin a cursed hunt instead of remaining stationary for the usual manifestation.
Lighting the final candle during an existing hunt can also change the expected sequence.
In other words, a ghost that immediately starts hunting isn't necessarily evidence of the Firelight bug. Sometimes the ritual is malfunctioning. Sometimes the ghost has simply decided to skip the formalities and get straight to murdering everyone.
Using an Igniter avoids the confirmed Firelight problem. It doesn't override the Summoning Circle's other mechanics.
When will Kinetic Games fix it?
Knight indicated that the team intends to fix the Firelight issue with Phasmophobia's Unity 6 update.
According to Kinetic Games' October 7 patch notes, that update is currently scheduled for November 2026, having been moved from October.
That's the intended window, although it isn't a guarantee that the fix will arrive on a particular day.
Until then, stick to matches or a lighter when activating the Summoning Circle.
The ghost might still try to murder everyone in the building, but at least it won't have grounds to complain about where you bought your fire.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't my Summoning Circle working in Phasmophobia?
A developer-confirmed bug can prevent the Summoning Circle from working correctly when you light its candles using a Firelight, such as another burning candle or lantern. Try using an Igniter instead.
Can I use a Firelight to activate the Summoning Circle?
Normally, yes, but Firelights are currently associated with a known bug. Use matches or a lighter directly on the ritual candles to avoid the issue.
Why did the ghost immediately start hunting instead of appearing?
If your sanity is below 16% when you light the final candle, the ghost can immediately begin a cursed hunt without the usual stationary manifestation. This is an intended mechanic, not necessarily a bug.
How much sanity does the Summoning Circle consume?
Each candle normally costs 16% sanity, for a total of 80% across all five candles.
When will the Summoning Circle Firelight bug be fixed?
Kinetic Games intends to address the bug in the Unity 6 update, currently scheduled for November 2026. However, the fix and its exact release date are not guaranteed.
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