iPhone 15 Pro screen brightness issue after iOS 26 update

oh no, it is random, nothing to do with the brightness of images, doesn't matter what time of the day, focus you iPhone etc. Yesterday I just could not be bothered to switch the screen off and on again, so I just opened up the camera app with the whole screen brightness still low, took a photo and opened up the image as I was just using it for quick reference, then when the image opened, the screen brightness pops back to normal. Hope I make more sense now

Just as an easier fix, have you tried telling Siri to set screen brightness to a specific percentage? I do this often when I’m outside in Florida bright sunshine. I’ll say, “Siri, please set brightness to 75% .” She instantly sets brightness to the percent I requested. It’s hands free and works flawlessly. Just a thought.

Raise to Wake was never enabled on my device, but the problem still persists. I have tried everything except removing all widgets, but to no avail. In some cases, the problem has occurred less frequently, but I think this is more by chance than anything else. I don't want to try the tip with the widgets now, because it would only fix the symptom, not the cause (if at all). 

I hope Apple's response to my bug report (see below) refers to the release of iOS 26.3. If not, I will respond to the bug report again as unresolved.

HeyYouGetAwayFromMyWindow wrote:

I turned off Raise to Wake (in Display and Brightness) which removed the problem but it would return as soon as I switched that setting back on. Over the weekend I left Raise to Wake off for over 24 hours and when I turned back on the problem did not return.

I’m not sure why having Raise to Wake turned off for so long made the fix permanent, the only thing I can think of running overnight are iCloud backups (so that’s odd).

Dear community, this bug isn't resolved with iOS 26.3 after almost 5 months since iOS26 launched. It's annoying for all of us and deactivating other functions is not and can't be the solution.

If you haven't reported this issue yet, please make a report:

https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/

If you have already made a report before 26.3, please write a follow-up notice in your ticket.

Hi, this is not Apple Support. Apple and Apple Support do not participate in the communities here. They only moderate community posts to insure all user guidelines are followed in regard to content and user behavior. Everyone posting is just like you, a user. Your comments and feelings will not be reviewed by Apple. Apple will make changes based partially on the feedback they receive through their official channel, linked below.

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You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

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Although this doesn’t fix the issue, it makes living with the bug a lot easier. If you run into it while you’re on the Home Screen after Face ID unlock, you can use Type to Siri to reset the brightness. Just double tap the bottom edge of the Home Screen to bring up Type to Siri. It’s much easier than locking and unlocking the iPhone again or opening another app to reset the brightness.

MrGius89 wrote:

Just use "reduce white point" to 25%, the bug will disappear.

Adjusting or (de-)activating other settings can be a workaround but don't fix a bug. That's like suggesting to turn down the brightness manually to a minimum.

BTW: iOS 26.5 won't fix it.

I don't want to jinx it, but I updated my phone to iOS 26.1 today and so far I haven't had any brightness issues during unlock tonight.

for me the fix was turning off the Liquid Glass setting on the wallpaper clock hope this helps.

The only thing that has partially worked for me is the removal of widgets on lock screen. The dimming is still present but it’s happening less.

Good tip. An additional idea is just to say “Siri, set brightness to 50%” or whatever level you want.

Same same. iPhone 15 Pro. Updated to 26 last week. Ever since, roughly 1 in 4 times when I lift my phone to wake it, the screen is way too dim. I have auto brightness on. The only workaround is to hit the power button on the right of the phone to go into sleep mode, then press it again or lift the phone to wake it.

Absolutely astonishing that Apple didn't catch this during testing for iOS 26.

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.)

I really hope the people in this thread are reporting this bug to the Apple feedback app. I’ve reported it twice within a few months and each feedback showed there are NO similar reports. Report it please.

Hi, I was asking SpoofMeister about his issue. He specifically referred to photos in his post directly above mine (I sort mine oldest to newest).

I’ve read through this entire thread and I think multiple different issues are being discussed with similar symptoms. This is partly what leads to the confusion. Someone posts a solution (or workaround) to their particular issue and someone with an entirely different issue (but similar symptoms) responds that it doesn’t work. This leads to even more confusion and frustration when multiple people try a fix not intended for their specific situation.

I think anyone still having the issue should contact Apple Support and work through them getting it either resolved or escalated to engineering. Just my 2¢.

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