Apple Watch Series 6 not bright enough in dark environments. (Same issue as Apple Watch 5)

Yeah, I returned mine after a week. I also spoke to Apple Support on the phone, and filled out the feedback form, and at the Apple Store when I returned it. I'm sure the feedback doesn't hurt, but if watches are being returned for this reason, I'd expect it to have greater impact. After all, the 5 apparently suffers from the same problem and Apple never changed it.

However in my case I went back to my Nike+ AW 3. (I ported to the AW6 with the same black background watch face, and that was especially difficult to see in low light) So if the 6 is your first Apple Watch, likely a different decision.

The new features I was looking forward to using: ECG and the VO2, but I found the oxygen readings wildly off and essentially useless. My $20 fingertip sensor is way more accurate. Didn't get to try the ECG features.

So waiting for a fix for the AW6 screen, or even the 7 before re-buying.

Amazing roroapple ; )   Thank goodness I read all the posts in this thread. I just got my series 6 for Christmas today (oh yesterday now!) and immediately noticed the very dim screen after my series 4 and was very disappointed.  Thank you so much for sharing the fix roroapple as it worked a charm.  I’ve no idea why it works but it does so anyone that’s read this far PLEASE PLEASE try this, it takes literally two seconds and hey presto an amazingly bright series 6 screen. Thanks again roroapple, great work 😉.   By the way I’m using the latest watchOS 7.2 and your fix  still works perfectly so you are safe to update 

Yes got mine today also noticed this when sitting on lounge. I worked out that if you just tap flashlight icon on iwatch it fixed it for little while. But when screen turns off it goes dim again. Really annoying but much easier than grabbing iPhone and turning on flashlight. I am going to see how long this annoys me and maybe take back. This is my first iwatch can someone please tell me is there much a difference with 4 ? Thanks

Make sure that “Always On” is set to On in the Display and Brightness settings. I had turned it off months ago in an attempt to fix this issue and when I tried this workaround with the Phone app, it would stop being bright after I put my arm down or the screen went off.

So I went and changed Always On back to On, and now watch stays bright all day (until I take it off). Hope that helps!

Mine has not had the issue for almost 2 months since I did the reset without restoring from backup. I have the SE, so I’m not sure it works for all models. It’s a pain changing all the settings to where you want them again and reloading watch faces, but I wouldn’t want to go back to not using this watch and I just couldn’t live with the dim screen.

I just received my new Apple Watch 6 and love it. Sadly, because increasing screen brightness is so limited, I’m sending it back for a refund. Very disappointing. I hope Apple addresses this issue in the next version of the watch.

Bought myself an Apple Watch six for Christmas, get all excited, beautiful watch, and then I spend about two hours trying to figure out how to make the screen brighter, after reading all of these comments, I’ve just realized that I have to return a beautiful watch.

I just moved from series 4, and I'm having the same exact issue, moreover toggling between the 3 levels of brightness I noticed that there's no difference between the middle level and the maximum brightness when I change it!!!

I upgraded from an Apple Watch 4 to the NEW “supposedly better” Apple Watch 6...

Holy Crap it’s so much dimmer at night like all these complaints claim! I’ve also submitted a report and I’d encourage everyone to do the same. This screen or light sensor is Garbage!

I have chased up my initial complaint (2nd January) with Apple again yesterday - no surprise I have still not had a reply.

I can believe I had quicker / better responses from Fitbit. Come on Apple, this should be an easy fix for you and help maintain your customer base.

Indeed It's, I have also moved from series 4, I returned mine and now I'm waiting for my original watch to come back as I canceled the trade-in and I've been informed it will take 10 days.... And now I have no watch at all #fail

I replaced my AppleWatch 4 with AppleWatch 6, and I was shocked by the dim display. I purchased my first Apple product in June 1983, and I've been a loyal customer to this very day. In the last four years, I've been less impressed with Apple products for several reasons, and this one is no exception. The display is so dim that I plan to return the Apple Watch 6 for a refund. This breaks the ecosystem for my needs, so I may sell off my 8 HomePods, and move on to something more usable.

Is there a fix for this yet? I bought a Series 5 and have the same problem. The worst of it is when i am out and about and in the darkish street with lights i still find it hard to read at all as the screen is so dim.

I tried the 3-stage brightness setting but the first two low and medium do seem to do something but the high setting does nothing and looks the same as medium setting.

also, i think the brightness setting is not really meant for the dark and more for sunlight setting but i am struggling to read this in the dark and low light room.

will apple fix this as this is making the watch a bit useless in day-to-day dark environments.

thanks

I just found a work around for this. Go to phone on your iwatch series 6 and tap keypad. Hit the little green back arrow at the top on the left..tap keypad again. then depress the side winder (the crown wheel) twice... don’t know why but this brightens the screen 😂