Brightness Upscaling not working in 26.3 (fix: make sure all relevant settings are as default)

[PsyPryss]

Brightness upscaling stopped working in Tahoe 26.3 on v4.1.5B47757.

[waydabber]

In what way? I'll need a bit more details on the configuration and what display are you using (built-in XDR or third party HDR)? Do you see the option in the app menu?

[mfehrenbach]

Hi, same for me here: MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2023) on the built-in “Liquid Retina XDR Display.” Was working just fine on 4.1.5, but my Mac updated to 26.3 in the past few days and BetterDisplay no longer has the orange-icon preset (nor the option/section that was in the Settings, IIRC).

Let me know if I can help diagnose! It seems so dim now.

[waydabber]

Hmm. It should simply have a "Brightness Upscaling" option in the app menu. Can you provide a screenshot?

Make sure you are on the default XDR-1600 or HDR Preset.

[mfehrenbach]

Ah, yikes; I think it might be this?

[waydabber]

Hmm. No. It should look like this (it's now disabled on the screenshot):

If you don't have this, then it might be that software based adjustments or color table control is disabled in the app for the display or in general?

[PsyPryss]

The setting can be turned on and off but has no effect. It worked before 26.3.

This is the screen shot of the app. The option is enabled but does nothing. 16" MBP14,6.

[waydabber]

Hi @PsyPryss - yes, apparently the combined slider is disabled which is required for brightness upscaling to work using the main slider. You should be able to activate it under Image Adjustments if you have a software brightness slider there or using the gain control. Alternatively re-enable combined brightness control for the display.

[waydabber]

You should see this:

If you have combined control disabled, you can still brightness upscale under Image Adjustments:

In this mode the upscaling headroom (beyond 100%) depends on the hardware brightness level (the higher it is, the smaller the headroom).

[waydabber]

(let me know @PsyPryss if this fixes the problem)

[peter-fm]

I'm seeing something similar. I toggle the brightness and it increases to 160% but then a couple of seconds later it reverts back to 100% brightness. its almost like MacOS is detecting the over brightness and reverting it back. Macbook pro M2 14" 2023. MacOS 26.3.1 (25D2128)