Adjust Brightness: The Best Display Brightness Shortcut for Mac M1

Introduction

Adjusting screen brightness on your Mac M1 is essential for a comfortable viewing experience, reducing eye strain, and optimizing battery life. Whether you work in a dimly lit room or under bright lights, knowing how to adjust brightness quickly can make all the difference.

While most Mac keyboard brightness shortcuts are intuitive, some users face challenges, especially when using external monitors or third-party keyboards. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best brightness control shortcuts for Mac M1, what to do if they don’t work, and alternative solutions like using the Touch Bar, apps, or Terminal commands.

Learn more about MacBook Screen Brightness & Color Profile

Default Display Brightness Shortcut on Mac M1

For most Mac M1 users, the easiest way to adjust Display brightness is by using the built-in keyboard shortcuts:

• F1 Key (🔅) – Decrease brightness
• F2 Key (🔆) – Increase brightness

However, if you’re using an external keyboard without dedicated brightness keys, you may need to use:

• Fn + F1 to decrease brightness
• Fn + F2 to increase brightness

To ensure these shortcuts work, check your settings:

1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard
2. Under Function Keys, make sure “Use F1, F2, etc., keys as standard function keys” is disabled.

If your Mac keyboard brightness controls still don’t work, keep reading for troubleshooting tips.

Learn more about Display Brightness Shortcuts for Mac M1, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro

What to Do If the Display Brightness Shortcut on Mac M1 Doesn’t Work

If your brightness control shortcuts are unresponsive, try these solutions:

1. Restart Your Mac

Sometimes, a simple restart fixes unresponsive screen brightness controls.

2. Check for macOS Updates

Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install any pending updates. macOS updates often fix brightness control issues.

3. Reset the NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory)

NVRAM stores settings like display brightness. To reset it:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately press Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.
3. Release the keys and check if the brightness shortcut works.

4. Adjust Brightness Manually

If shortcuts don’t work, you can manually change brightness under System Settings > Displays.

Using Touch Bar to Adjust Display Brightness on Mac M1

If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can use it to control display brightness easily:

1. Tap the Control Strip (on the right side of the Touch Bar).
2. Look for the brightness slider (🔆) and adjust as needed.

For faster access, customize the Touch Bar:

1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Customize Control Strip.
2. Drag the brightness control icon into the Touch Bar for quick access.

Best Apps to Create a Custom Display Brightness Shortcut for Mac M1

If you want more control over screen brightness, third-party apps can help:

1. MonitorControl (Best for External Displays)

• Lets you use your Mac keyboard brightness shortcuts on external monitors.
• Download from GitHub.

2. Lunar (For Automatic Brightness Adjustments)

• Adjusts brightness based on time of day or ambient lighting.
• Works great with both built-in and external displays.

3. BetterTouchTool (For Custom Shortcuts)

• Lets you set custom brightness control shortcuts on your Mac keyboard.

Adjusting Brightness on External Monitors with Mac M1

Mac M1 computers don’t always allow brightness adjustments on external monitors using keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to fix that:

Option 1: Use MonitorControl or Lunar

These apps enable screen brightness control for external displays using keyboard shortcuts.

Option 2: Adjust Brightness Using Display Settings

1. Go to System Settings > Displays.
2. Select the external monitor and change the brightness manually (if supported).

Option 3: Use Your Monitor’s Built-in Buttons

Most external displays have hardware buttons to adjust brightness directly.

Bonus Tip: Adjusting Display Brightness with Terminal (Advanced Users)

For those who like command-line solutions, Terminal can also be used to control screen brightness. Here’s how:

1. Install brightness control tools via Homebrew: brew install brightness
2. Use this command to adjust brightness (value between 0 and 1): brightness 0.7 (Example: 0.7 means 70% brightness.)

This method is useful if your keyboard shortcuts aren’t working, or if you want to create custom automation for brightness control.

Conclusion: The Best Way to Use a Display Brightness Shortcut on Mac M1

To adjust brightness on your Mac M1, the best option is to use F1/F2 keys or the Touch Bar. If those don’t work, apps like MonitorControl or Lunar can help—especially for external monitors. For advanced users, Terminal commands offer an alternative method.

No matter your setup, these brightness control methods will ensure a seamless experience while working on your Mac. Let us know which method worked best for you!

FAQ