Hi all,

There are a number of apps on the Android App Store that enable you to lower the minimum backlight brightness (or claim to), but I'm looking for de-Googled FOSS options.

Any suggestions?
Thanks

Isnt this already an aosp feature?

'Tis not.

needs root, but you can just write 0 to the sysfs brightness file (/sys/class/backlight/..../brightness or smth like that)

Extra dim isn't even that dim 😭

Def is

I wonder if programs like redshift offer any guidance or inspiration on how this might be done. I know setting to below 0% would likely involve dimming the image rather than the backlight.

Or perhaps drivers allow completely switching off the backlight, and one could use software pwm to manually set it lower, although that entails some risk of flickering

I used this app before it came built into the OS for me: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.jmstudios.redmoon

I'm driving the latest GrapheneOS and don't see it. I don't think they actively remove that option, but I might be wrong. Where are you seeing it, and are you sure it's not your OS that implemented it instead of upstream AOSP?

It's this setting: https://github.com/aosp-mirror/platform_frameworks_base/blob/1cdfff555f4a21f71ccc978290e2e212e2f8b168/packages/SettingsProvider/src/android/provider/settings/backup/SecureSettings.java#L68. You can trace it in the source code. The general name is Reduce Bright Colors. Check Graphene's src for that. Woulda linked Google's AOSP web page but it's giving me 503 because that's how Google do these days.

Hmm looks like that's a filter option, not an actual backlight control. Probably would work well if I was OLED, but alas I'm not.

I will have to look into this. Thanks

I'm on graphene and see it. Your device may not support HDR.

Not on a Kindle Fire 😕

Ah yeah, it's just a translucent overlay slapped on top of everything. It's the fallback option when nothing else works.

Lots of apps that advertise lowering screen brightness below 0% just do that, so I thought that's what you mean.

There is also a way to properly filter the colors, which doesn't discolor things as badly, but I believe you need root for that, or for it to be built into the OS, like the "Extra Dim" option that various ROMs have.

I guess, there might also be ROMs where the manufacturer decided to limit how low you can set the brightness via the UI, even though the hardware would accept lower values. In that case, yeah, try what @hexagonwin@lemmy.today posted with writing to that file via ADB.
Maybe you can also do that via Termux somehow, if you've got root on your device.

Low dynamic range

I'm on a Pixel 9a running Graphene and it's not an option on mine, it's probably not an option on the Pixel tablet either but I'm not at home to check. I'm guessing you've got a 10 series?

oh..

I'm using AOSP.

i wonder if there's an app to easily do it already?

it's nothing complicated, if you want an easy to launch shortcut you can look into Termux Widgets and write a shellscript

Thanks!

It supports HDR. It's got enhanced HDR brightness, but not the option OP mentioned: Extra dim.

You're compiling your own? Interesting.

It exists in Graphene, but it's in the accessibility settings. I have it as a tile in my quick settings. Try searching for "dim" in the Settings app.

Thank you!

Ive got an 8

Huh. That's a weirdly inconsistent feature, my Pixel tablet doesn't have it either.