iPhone 12 pro max keeps dimming

my screen has been getting dim for a while now. It happens all the time under all different circumstances. It’s not from heat. It’s from a conflict of software settings I think. There are so many settings the IPhone 12 Pro Max has that you could never really find them all. I can almost promise it’s a conflict of settings because when it happens it goes up and down in brightness in various increments randomly.

[Edited by Moderator]

It’s ridiculous because options are available which is being implemented by other manufacturers to prevent overheating. It’s ridiculous because overheating shouldn’t be happening by browsing the internet. I always used Apple devices and love them that’s why I don’t like having such a ridiculous problem with this particular IPhone.

I have all settings off, including the Accessibility settings for display and brightness.

my phone is not overheating even slightly.

im at a loss as to why it keeps dimming. I’ve had my phone for over a year now and it’s doing it now.

Is it a big in a new update?

can someone from apple comment?

I just started experiencing this problem with the SE2 starting last night. I’ve had the phone for more than 6 months and have not had this issue before. Normal tasks like putting it in my back pocket, placing it on the center console or in the cubby never did this before today. So, I don’t think it’s a hardware issue.

All of the dimming UI switches are off. Doesn’t matter.

Confused and annoyed.

I have the same problem have tried everything in settings, it is most annoying. It happens when I am using the camera in the sun and you can’t see the screen to take the shot!! Good one Apple.. It just adds the the other problem I have is zooming in and doing macro’s my iPhone 6 did better close up photos than the iPhone 12 Pro Max… Admittedly the camera is awesome otherwise but when you do electronic work and you need a close up of something it is useless. I use my daughters Samsung as it takes better close ups. I do love my iPhone 12 Pro Max but it doesn’t do what I purchased it for.

Thank you so much for this answer! I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out how to make my phone stop dimming. I’ve tried everything and it dims all of the time! It’s so frustrating because I really can’t see how to use my phone when it dims. Hoping for a software update to fix the issue🤞

My dimming just started 2 days ago. I am very frustrated. My problem is that it goes almost black and since I cannot see the screen at all after it dims, ( due to cataracts) I have to rely on someone else to bring the brightness back up. I do love Apple products and they are a extremely reputable company, however, I feel that Apple should either fix the problem or give us all new and different phones. We pay way too much to have this happening.

have had same issue since i bought, just by sun exprosure in passenger seat. is the only one problem with this device and is a huge one. i wouldnt consider changing my 12 pro max and bought the 512 for that reason. wait for 2 years at least i was thinking. but screen has been a pain in the aaa. just for this reason i wont change to 13 or 14. still gonna wait until it dies and gonna check feedback for before a pay again 1500$ on a device that moslty i use for work and not to scroll social media. but then again, was such a good device if nothing was wrong who would replace it with 13; not me for sure...

best so far tech support comment on my problem

" ok we need to replicate the problem and see what is happening"

jeez, i mean. do they even read this section or just playing monkeys there;

Same issue here. I live in Phoenix. Hike outside a lot. It could be 50 degrees out during winter, and with auto brightness turned off and all the other things support asks you to do, it still auto dims. Unable to see screen. While right clicking to ask Siri or just trying to find a solution, it will go to shutdown screen and emergency call and I can’t tell what I am doing, so several calls to 911. I turned that feature off. Not great for safety. I had this problem with my iPhone 6s Plus. I thought they would have a solution with their new expensive screen. I travel for several months a year. I go to a lot beaches and also mountain hiking, the phone is useless when it auto dims. I have no clue if I’m even touching the picture button and I for sure can’t change the settings of the shot. It doesn’t matter if it is first thing in the morning when it’s cool, case on or off. If it is bright outside it auto dims. Auto brightness is turned off. True Tone turned off. I spent $1,825 512 g and Apple care with theft protection. I’m in the apple ecosystem but this is an issue that is breaking the camel’s back.

This seems like an issue that Apple refuses to acknowledge or fix. They meaning Apple really bragged about the brightness of their screen. I have used other peoples phones hundreds of times while taking their pictures in Turkey, Greece, Thailand, and no issues with auto dimming on their phones. I also am not able to read any emails or do any work with this auto dimming issue.

Before I suggest all of us joining a class action suit against Apple on this, has anyone found a solution? Please none of the turn off and turn back on responses. Or check to see if auto brightness and true font is turned off. I would love to be shown a simple solution and proven that my thoughts about Apple were wrong on this. That they are not addressing this issue. Maybe there is an app out there that can help. Thanks. Rick

No luck. I live in Norway- I use the phone except summer. Then just the basics… obviously there is no solution or it would be “advertised”.

never again new Apple device before first users feedback. Or just jump out of Apple eco-system.

in USA there is a collaboration for action but haven’t found anything for European users..

Frustrating! Auto brightness off, all other settings adjusted and still having the issue with the iPhone 12 Pro Max dimming all the time! Can’t use my expensive paid in full iPhone device without it dimming. Unusable when I need it for navigation, photo taking, and most importantly when I need it!

Same problem here. The office is 72 degrees and the phone is sitting out on my desk. It's dimming by itself even though all the auto-brightness and true tone bs are off. The longer it sits, the dimmer it gets. The slider itself is moving and I'm constantly having to slide it all the way up again. This is different from when it's heat-related. This same thing happened regularly for a month and then suddenly stopped a couple weeks ago. Now this morning it's back to its old shenanigans.

Any suggestions from Apple?

08/31/22 when writing this. I see a lot of you wrote almost two years ago. I’m not sure what iOS you had/have then and now, or if anyone out there who still has this issue ever noticed improvement with software updates? So I’m currently on 15.6.1 and this happens to me all the time and it’s super frustrating because once I slide past 50% brightness it’s all the same whether half way up the slider (50%) or all the way up the slider at 100% it’s not as bright as it it most of the time and I would get a different phone if I could because of how annoying this, and a few other issues I have regularly have are BUT after having to pay a non-covered by insurance repair and making sure I have applecare+ on the repaired phone I have a ridiculous amount of money invested into this phone about 2x the original price. Btw I’m using a 12mini idk if that makes much of a difference or if anyone has found a solution. 

I have owned iPhones since the 3…switched from a Blackberry, currently have an iPhone 12 Pro max and am upgrading to the 14 pro max…I would like to see Apple redesign the iPhone. Instead of concentrating on how THIN and how much freaking GLASS they can get on it, design it so it transfers heat away from the internals. This phone has been the same design since the 4….Give me a phone that will maintain a battery charge longer than 18 hrs (which is about what I get) and not hot enough to fry an egg on after watching a two minute video and I don’t give a rat’s *** how fugly it is!

It could look like a freaking ZUNE for all I care!

My technological life is fully entwined with Apple products, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Home Pod mini, HomeKit with corresponding smart home products, iPad, AirPods…switching is not even an option now without spending a massive amount of money AND a huge headache setting everything back up. The center of all this is the iPhone. Maybe look at the iPad. Metal back? Cooling fins? Vents?

Hey Legitt08, I toggled off that setting. And gave it a few days but I still have it…PARTICULARLY when I’m on Amazon or any other site with a white background. I’m thinking the bright white screen has something to do with it. I lowering my brightness a little to see if it stays cooler. And I still have the cover off. As for the upgrade, I’m going to hold off for now. My wife has the 14 pro max and no issues, but she’s not using hers on many sites with a white background.