iPhone 15 Pro screen brightness issue after iOS 26 update

After ios 26 update when waking up the phone (iphone 15 pro), the screen brightness is very low. After unlocking the phone, screen remains dimm regardless of the light intensity. I have to lock and unlock phone again to make automatic brightness start working (and brighten the screen to level that allows me to use the phone). This doesn't happen every time but often enough to be annoying.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: IOS 26 brightness bug

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Sep 19, 2025 1:35 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 6, 2025 4:40 PM

So whoever mentioned to delete the widgets from the home lock screen, thank you. This eradicated the problem completely. I have not played with adding them back again to the lock screen because it was a pain fixing the issue. I’d rather forgo having them for now.

118 replies

Sep 28, 2025 8:57 PM in response to BaltazarGabka

This is also happening to me on my 15 Pro Max. If I navigate to Instagram and an HDR photo is posted it’ll put the screen brightness back to normal. Otherwise, like everyone else, I have to lock and unlock it to get it to go back to normal.


I briefly owned a 17 before returning and didn’t ever have that issue. (I returned it because the depleted battery on my 15PM still lasted longer than the standard 17’s with the apps I normally use.)

Oct 7, 2025 6:56 AM in response to mako288

Hi, Apple Support Communities is not Apple Support. Apple and Apple Support do not participate here. Everyone posting, commenting and reading are fellow Apple users just like you.


I can address some issues you’re experiencing. Facebook scrolling is a FB issue. Their developers have not fully optimized the app for iOS 26 yet. FB has had 10 updates in last month. An update every 3 days should tell you how buggy their app is.


Liquid Glass can not be turned off. Every time Apple makes significant UI changes some like it some do not like it. Apple is making slight UI changes in response to feedback from users. Link is below to add your voice.


Scrolling on Home Screen is probably just an optimization issue. 26.1.0 will have improvements and optimizations.


Brightness dimming could be hardware or software. Either wait for 26.1 or have Apple do diagnostics. If 26.1 doesn’t resolve almost certainly hardware.


Product Feedback - Apple


Sep 19, 2025 6:16 PM in response to BaltazarGabka

I'm having the exact same issue on my iPhone 15 Pro Max since I upgraded to iOS 26. Nearly half the times I unlock my phone, it's too dark, so I have to lock and unlock it again so it's bright enough to see.

The brightness is always fixed after the second unlock, but this is very frustrating.


I have toggled all the settings off/on that everyone has said to and forced a restart. The only thing I haven't done is a factory reset of my phone and I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that.

Sep 23, 2025 2:22 AM in response to BaltazarGabka

i have had the same since day one. I have also already tried restarting it many times and it works fine for like the first 10 unlocks after that, before starting to be dim again. I have also used recovery mode to reinstall (update) the phone's os again, but i havent tried fully wiping and reinstalling it as thats too much hassle. Hopefully this gets fixed as it’s super annoying.

Sep 29, 2025 12:03 PM in response to BaltazarGabka

Same issue on my iPhone 15 Pro Max as well, 26.0.1 did not correct. Seems to be something with the camera? When I have my phone sideways on the charge dock at night too, the standby display does not show on motion like it did prior to iOS 26. This is the alarm clock like display that shows when the phone is sideways on a magsafe charging dock. Anyone else experience this as well?


The brightness can adjust after a bit of time (10-20 seconds) but it does not always adjust.

iPhone 15 Pro screen brightness issue after iOS 26 update

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