If your iPhone screen appears too dark, there are several steps you can take to adjust and optimize the brightness. Here are 15 ways to make your iPhone screen brighter, covering various settings and potential issues.
1. Adjust Brightness in Control Center
To quickly increase the screen brightness, use the Control Center. On iPhone X and later models, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. For iPhone 8 and older models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Locate the brightness slider (represented by a sun icon) and drag it up to increase the brightness.
2. Adjust Brightness in Settings
Alternatively, you can adjust the brightness in the Settings app. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and drag the brightness slider to the right to increase the screen brightness.
3. Turn Off Reduce White Point
The Reduce White Point feature can significantly dim your iPhone screen. To turn it off, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle off Reduce White Point. This will restore the full brightness of your screen.
4. Turn Off Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode reduces screen brightness to conserve battery life. To turn it off, go to Settings > Battery and toggle off Low Power Mode. This will restore the optimal screen brightness.
5. Check App-Specific Brightness Settings
Some apps, especially media players and browsers, have their own brightness settings. Check within these apps for a brightness slider and adjust it to your desired level.
6. Turn Off Focus or Do Not Disturb
Focus modes like Do Not Disturb or Sleep can significantly dim your iPhone screen. If you have activated these modes, tap the Focus icon on the Lock Screen and turn it off to restore normal brightness.
7. Turn Off Auto-Brightness
Auto-Brightness adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient light. If this feature is causing issues, you can turn it off by going to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggling off Auto-Brightness. Note that this may affect battery life.
8. Turn Off iPhone Screen Zoom
The Zoom feature can affect screen brightness. To turn it off, go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom and toggle off Zoom.
9. Disable Attention Aware Features
If your iPhone has Face ID, it may dim the screen if it detects you're not looking. To disable this, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Attention Aware Features and toggle off the feature.
10. Let Your iPhone Cool Down
High temperatures can cause the screen to dim. If your iPhone is overheating, let it cool down. Avoid using it in direct sunlight and do not try to cool it down too quickly, as this can cause damage.
11. Remove Screen Protector
A screen protector can sometimes reduce screen brightness. If you suspect this is the issue, try removing the screen protector to see if it improves the brightness.
12. Reset All Settings
If none of the above steps work, you can reset all settings on your iPhone. This will restore default settings and may resolve the brightness issue. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
13. Check for Software Issues
Sometimes, software issues can cause brightness problems. If you've tried all other steps, consider performing a DFU (Device Firmware Update) restore. This is a deeper restore than a standard reset and can resolve software-related issues.
14. Inspect the Brightness Sensor
The brightness sensor, usually located near the front-facing camera, can be obstructed by dirt or other debris. Clean this area to ensure the sensor can accurately detect ambient light.
15. Contact Apple Support
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it may be a hardware problem. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or authorized service center for further assistance. Non-Apple displays can also cause lower screen brightness, so ensure any repairs are done by authorized personnel.