Auto Brightness Not Working on Android? Try These Easy Fixes

[FIX] Auto Brightness Not Working on Android – Easy Solutions 

Auto brightness is one of the most useful features on Android. It adjusts your screen's brightness automatically based on the surrounding light, helping save battery and reduce eye strain. But what if auto brightness suddenly stops working?

You're not alone. Many Android users in are reporting this issue across different brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Realme, Vivo, and more.

In this guide, we’ll show you the top working solutions to fix the auto brightness or adaptive brightness issue on Android. Let’s get started!

 

Why Auto Brightness Stops Working?

Here are the most common causes:

Software glitch or update issue

Sensor blockage (dirt or screen protector)

Corrupt settings or app conflicts

Battery saver restrictions

Outdated Android OS or firmware

Hardware sensor failure (rare)

Let’s move to the step-by-step fixes.

 

Fix 1: Restart Your Phone

This might sound simple, but restarting your device clears temporary bugs that could be affecting the brightness sensor.

Steps:

1. Press and hold the power button

2. Tap on Restart

3. After reboot, check if auto brightness is working

 

Fix 2: Enable/Disable Adaptive Brightness Manually

Sometimes, toggling the feature off and on again can reset the sensor.

 

Steps:

1. Go to Settings

2. Tap on Display

3. Tap on Adaptive Brightness

4. Turn it OFF, wait a few seconds, then turn it ON again

Tip: Some devices may list this as “Auto Brightness” or under “Brightness Level”.

 

Fix 3: Clean the Front Sensor Area

Your phone’s ambient light sensor is usually near the front camera. If this area is blocked by dirt, oil, or a screen protector, the sensor might not work.

 

Steps:

1. Clean your screen gently using a soft cloth

2. Remove or reposition any screen protector

3. Avoid using very thick tempered glass

Test the sensor in different lighting conditions after cleaning.

 

Fix 4: Recalibrate Adaptive Brightness

Android learns your brightness preferences over time. But if it has learned the wrong behavior, you can reset the data.

Steps (For Android 9 and above):

1. Go to Settings > Apps

2. Tap the 3 dots > Show system apps

3. Find Device Health Services

4. Tap on Storage & cache

5. Clear Storage and Cache

6. Restart your phone

Now your adaptive brightness will learn from scratch.

 

Fix 5: Check for Battery Saver Restrictions

When Battery Saver mode is on, it can disable adaptive brightness on some devices.

Steps:

1. Open Settings

2. Go to Battery > Battery Saver

3. Make sure it's turned OFF

4. Also check App Battery Restrictions for system apps

 

Fix 6: Update Your Phone's Software

Outdated software might have bugs or compatibility issues affecting brightness controls.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings

2. Tap on System > Software Update

3. Download and install any available update

4. Restart the device

Fix 7: Boot in Safe Mode (Check for App Conflicts)

If the problem is caused by a third-party app, Safe Mode helps identify it.

Steps:

1. Press and hold the power button

2. Long press on Power Off

3. Tap OK to reboot into Safe Mode

Now check if auto brightness works.

If YES → An app is causing the issue. Uninstall recent apps.

If NO → It might be a system-level issue.

To exit Safe Mode: Just restart your phone normally.

 

Fix 8: Factory Reset (Only If Nothing Else Works)

If all else fails, a factory reset will bring your phone to default settings. But backup your data first!

Steps:

1. Go to Settings

2. Tap System > Reset Options

3. Choose Erase all data (factory reset)

4. Confirm and wait for the process to complete

Caution: This will erase everything. Only use if other methods failed.

 

Bonus: Use Brightness Control Apps

While not a true fix, you can use apps like:

Lux Lite

Velis Auto Brightness

Brightness Manager

These apps give manual control and some auto brightness features if your sensor is damaged.

 

When It’s a Hardware Problem

If:

Your screen is always too dim/bright

Auto brightness never works in any condition

Sensor test apps (like “Sensor Box”) show no light readings

…then it might be a hardware issue. Visit an authorized service center for diagnosis.

 

Conclusion

Auto brightness not working on Android can be annoying, but it’s usually a simple software issue. Try these solutions step-by-step:

1. Restart

2. Toggle adaptive brightness

3. Clean the sensor area

4. Reset device health services

5. Update your phone

6. Check battery saver

7. Test in Safe Mode

8. Factory reset (last option)

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If nothing works, it may be time to visit a repair shop.