How to Fix Display Brightness Not Working on Mac

As a Mac user, you may have experienced the issue of display brightness not working on your device. This can be frustrating, especially when you're working in a dimly lit environment or need to conserve battery life. In this blog post, we will provide you with effective solutions to fix the display brightness issue on your Mac. 

Reasons Behind the Issue

There are several possible causes of the display brightness not working on your Mac. Some of the most common reasons include outdated software, corrupted system files, and hardware issues. 

Outdated software can cause compatibility issues with your Mac's hardware, which may result in display brightness not working. Corrupted system files can cause your Mac to malfunction, including the display brightness. Lastly, hardware issues like a faulty display or graphics card can also cause the display brightness to fail.

Solutions to Fix Display Brightness Not Working on Mac

Fortunately, there are several solutions that you can try to fix the display brightness not working on your Mac. 

Method 1: Reset SMC (System Management Controller)

The first solution you should try is resetting the SMC. The SMC controls various functions on your Mac, including the display brightness. Here's how to reset the SMC:

1. Shut down your Mac. 

2. Press and hold the left Shift + Control + Option keys, and then press the power button at the same time. 

3. Release all keys and power on your Mac. 

Method 2: Reset PRAM/NVRAM

PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) and NVRAM (Non-volatile Random Access Memory) store various settings on your Mac, including the display brightness. Resetting PRAM/NVRAM may solve the display brightness issue. Here's how to do it:

1. Shut down your Mac. 

2. Press the power button to power on your Mac, and immediately press and hold the Command + Option + P + R keys. 

3. Keep holding the keys until you hear the startup sound twice. 

Method 3: Use Terminal Commands

If the above methods don't work, you can try using Terminal commands to fix the display brightness issue on your Mac. Here's how to do it:

1. Launch the Terminal app on your Mac. 

2. Type the following command and press Enter: 

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.iokit.AmbientLightSensor "Automatic Display Enabled" -bool true

3. Enter your password when prompted, and then press Enter. 

 Additional Tips

To prevent the display brightness issue from happening again, make sure to keep your software up-to-date, especially the macOS operating system. You should also avoid exposing your Mac to extreme temperatures, as this can cause hardware issues. 

If the display brightness issue persists, try troubleshooting by booting your Mac in Safe Mode or contacting Apple Support for further assistance. 

The display brightness not working on your Mac is a common issue that can be solved with the solutions provided in this blog post. By resetting the SMC or PRAM/NVRAM or using Terminal commands, you can restore the display brightness function on your Mac. Remember to keep your software up-to-date and avoid exposing your Mac to extreme temperatures to prevent the issue from happening again.