Auto brightness is not working on MacBook Pro OS X Lion

Still not fixed in the curren version of Lion, along with the non-working lighted keyboard.

I think I have the same issue. But are you all having this issue, here is what is happening to my macbook pro 15. My auto brightness goes black until i hold the f2 key to get the displayback up. But beside that the screen is going completely dark after hitting the f1 key on the fifth time.

I don´t have that issue. My display works well, except for the fact that the brightness doesn´t adjust itself when the light changes.

I think i fixed it after i uninstalled an application i had that crashed on me. It was netbeans. I think did the pr reset and the lighting seems to have fixed my over dimming issue.

I think this is all related.

I got a new MBPro and love it and backed it up from a saved Time Machine Copy after my computer was stolen (and foud by SFPD b/c of Find my Phone btw). However, after I saw a weird error message the following started ot happen (within the first 3 weeks of having comp btw)

(1) external monitors don't work if I shut the lid whereas my old one did - even with my upgrade to Lion

(2) Dimming doens't work either as a slider or as a F1 or F2 function - old one did.

and

(3) computer won't wake up from sleep if lid is closed without hitting power button a number of times for a long period of time. When the computer does reboot all screens and windows are reopened (as the option indicates).

Anyone? BIOS update did nothing. Disk Permission check, nothing. 10.7.2 update, nothing. BTW I have a non-compatibility issue with a Canon Color Laser printer too. Grrr.

It seems that with the 10.7.3 version the problem has been solved.

Yes, my auto-brightness has also started working again following the 10.7.3 update. I am very pleased and relieved. It must have been a very difficult issue for Apple to resolve because it took them 3 updates and more than 7 months to fix it.

My fingers are crossed that it keeps working.

It's working better, but I don't consider it fixed.

I still get inconsistent behavior, like sometimes opening the MBP lid in darkness and getting a way-too-bright screen that I have to manually crank down.

This was working perfectly fine before Lion, and I can't possibly see how this very basic function can be "very difficult for Apple to resolve".

Seems fixed to me as well...

I think you're right Frank - it is not as slick and reactive as it used to be in Snow Leopard - it was perfect then - but at least they've got it working after 7 long months. Maybe after another 7 months they'll have it completely back the way it was. At one time it just worked!

I initially thought the auto-brightness problem had been fixed in 10.7.3, but sadly it hasn't. The auto-brightness works when the Mac starts, but I find it loses control and fails after wake from sleep.

I have telephoned AppleCare several times but they are not aware of this bug. They think a PRAM reset cures it, but it doesn't. As soon as the machine goes to sleep then auto-brightness fails on wake.

I have used the Apple Form to report the bug. It might eventually get fixed if others would kindly report it as well please. Here is the link:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Just wanted to chime-in with my findings ... I was having the same issue with my 13" MBP (2010), even after upgrading to 10.7.3. Just did a PRAM reset this morning, and it seems to be auto-adjusting correctly now.

Had this same problem a couple times now, but a PRAM or SMC reset should do the trick - this comment has links to both howto articles:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3267420?answerId=15952350022#15952350022

So to summarize the System Preference > Displays > Automatic Adjust Brightness works by you selecting the lowest brightness setting on the slider. Put it in the middle (default) and that is as dim as the display goes. Move it at the lowest end and that as dim as it will go.

To test go into a dark room and set it to the lowest setting you find comfortable. While the "automatic adjust brightness" checkbox is ticked. Flash a light into the iSight camera (use your phone) and the screen brightness automatically goes to max setting FROM THE POSITION OF THE SLIDER.

I did not know how this setting worked the first time either.

Hope this helps someone.

Kind of new to apple products and after a while I started to think this was the way my iMac and iPhone auto brightness worked and thanks to your post I now know. 🙂