
If the screen is too bright for your liking, can you turn brightness down on Roku? Let’s see!
Turning the brightness down on your Roku device helps reduce eye strain and conserve energy. It also prolongs the lifespan of your TV. You only need a few clicks to adjust the brightness on your Roku.
To turn the brightness down on your Roku, press the Home button on your remote to access the main menu and go to Settings. Next, choose the Display type and adjust the brightness.
Alright, let’s explore other methods.
Can You Turn Brightness Down on Roku – 10 Quick and Easy Methods
There are several ways to turn down the brightness on your Roku, depending on the type of your device, the app you‘re using, and your TV settings TV.
Let’s enumerate them here.
#1: Adjust Using Your Roku Remote
The simplest way to adjust the brightness on Roku is through the remote control that comes with your device.
Look for a button with an asterisk or labeled Options and press it to bring up the settings menu.
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select TV Picture Settings.
- Go to the Brightness section.
- Use the arrow buttons to decrease the brightness level.
Pro Tip: Also adjust the contrast and sharpness settings to enhance the picture quality of your Roku further.
#2: Use the Roku App to Adjust Brightness
Can you turn brightness down on Roku? Yes. Another way to do it is using the Roku app on your phone or tablet.
The app has a virtual remote that lets you change the brightness level and enjoy other features, like voice search, private listening, and casting.
- Open the Roku app on your device.
- Tap on the Settings icon.
- Select TV Picture Settings.
- Use the brightness slider to decrease the brightness level.
Note: Ensure you have the latest version of the Roku app installed on your device.
#3: Enable Local Dimming
Local dimming brightens or dims specific areas of your Roku screen to improve picture quality.
It makes the contrast better but also causes blooming or loss of detail at times.
Info: Not all Roku TVs have the same type of local dimming. Check the specifications of your Roku TV model to see what kind it has and how well it performs.
Here are the three types of Local Dimming:
- Edge-lit
- Direct-lit
- Full-array
Generally, full-array local dimming is considered the best option because it has more LED zones and better control over the backlight.
To enable local dimming on your Roku device or TV, follow these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select TV Picture Settings.
- Go to Advanced Picture Settings.
- Choose Local Dimming and enable it.
Note: Be sure to check if your TV supports local dimming. Not all TVs have this feature.
#4: Adjust Your Roku’s Picture Mode Settings
If you want more control over how your Roku displays content, you need to know more than just how to turn brightness down on Roku TV.
We’ll teach you how to adjust the picture mode settings, so you fine-tune other aspects of picture quality.
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select TV Picture Settings.
- Go to Picture Mode and select a different mode.
- Choose from the following: Low Power, Normal Vivid, Sports, Movie, or Gaming.
- Press OK on your remote to enter Advanced Picture Settings.
Note: Each picture mode has a different level of brightness and contrast.
#5: Use Expert Picture Settings
Expert Picture Settings are for advanced users who want to fine-tune the quality of their TV.
They allow you to change white balance, color space, color management, and 11-point grayscale. But, these settings need professional calibration tools and skills.
To use Expert Picture Settings, follow these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select TV Picture Settings.
- Go to Advanced Picture Settings.
- Select Expert Picture Settings.
- Adjust the brightness level using the brightness slider.
Note: The best brightness level depends on the lighting around you, so don’t be afraid to try different settings.
#6: Tweak the Ambient Light Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor lets you adjust the screen brightness based on your room’s light. Using this feature enables you to save energy and prevents eye strain.
But if you want manual control over your screen’s brightness, you must turn it off.
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select TV Picture Settings.
- Go to Ambient Light Sensor.
- Adjust the brightness slider to your liking.
Pro Tip: Ensure the sensor is clean and free of any obstructions to ensure accurate readings. Then, adjust the sensor’s sensitivity settings to match your environment better.
#7: Activate Eco Mode on Your Roku
Eco Mode helps save energy and reduces the performance of your device. It lowers your screen’s brightness level, making it look darker than normal.
Activating this will reduce the power consumption of your device, saving you money in energy costs.
To activate Eco Mode on your Roku device, follow these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select System.
- Choose Eco Mode.
- Turn ON Eco Mode.
Note: Enabling Eco Mode will cause your Roku to turn off automatically when not in use.
#8: Enable Night Mode
Can you turn down the brightness on a Roku TV through Night Mode? Night Mode allows you to reduce the brightness and adjust the volume level when it’s late at night to avoid disturbing others.
To enable Night Mode, follow these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your Roku button.
- Scroll down and select TV Picture Settings.
- Choose Night Mode from the list of modes.
- Turn ON Night Mode.
Once turned on, your Roku will automatically adjust the brightness and volume levels to suit your viewing preferences.
#9: Turn On the Smart Viewing Feature
The Smart Viewing Feature on Roku devices optimizes picture quality based on the displayed content type.
It enhances contrast, color accuracy, sharpness, and motion clarity in different genres of movies and shows.
To turn on Smart Viewing Feature on your Roku, follow these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select System.
- Choose Smart Viewing from the list of features.
- Turn ON the Smart Viewing Feature.
Note: Smart Viewing Feature alters the original appearance of content, so turn it off if you care about the accuracy and authenticity of the picture quality.
#10: Use Quick Settings to Adjust Brightness
As a last step, make use of your device’s Quick Settings feature. It’s a fast way to tweak the brightness settings to turn it down, especially when watching in a dark room.
Quick Settings gives you access to some common picture and sound settings, so you don’t have to leave the content you are watching.
To adjust the brightness of your Roku through Quick Settings, follow these steps:
- While watching a TV show or movie, press the asterisk button on your Roku remote.
- The Quick Settings menu will appear on your screen.
- Use the arrow buttons to highlight Brightness.
- Press the Enter button to open the Brightness settings.
- Use the arrow buttons to decrease the brightness level.
- Press the Enter button to save your changes.
Note: If you’re happy with the new brightness level, press the asterisk button again to exit the Quick Settings menu and continue watching your content.
If the above methods don’t work, check the settings on your TV and see if there are any options for adjusting the brightness. Contact Roku customer support for further assistance if you still have trouble turning the brightness down on your Roku device.
Quick Recap
Can you turn brightness down on Roku? The easiest is using your remote’s asterisk or Options button and choosing from different picture modes or brightness settings. Activating your Roku’s Eco Mode and Night Mode will also dim your brightness.
Whether you want to save energy, reduce eye strain, or enhance your viewing experience, choose the above methods to suit your needs.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.