How to Adjust Mac Volume and Brightness More Precisely

[MacRumors]

On a Mac that has a top row of function keys, Apple includes volume and brightness controls that can be used to make adjustments in stepwise increments. However, there may be times when you want to make more fine grained adjustments to these settings than the default increments allow – in which case, read on.

Whenever you tap the volume or brightness controls on your keyboard, you'll see an indicator appear on your Mac's screen with 16 fixed increments separated by lines. With the help of a keyboard modifier, it's actually possible to make more nuanced quarter-step changes to sound volume and screen brightness using a total of 64 increments.

Before you press the volume or brightness controls, hold down the Option and Shift keys together on your keyboard. Now go ahead and make your adjustments, and you should see the onscreen indicator move forwards and backwards in smaller increments (four over each segment).

It's a simple tip, but it's really useful for when just tapping the control on its own feels like too much of a jump, and you'd prefer more accurate control over, let's say, how quiet or loud your headphone audio output is, for example.

Article Link: How to Adjust Mac Volume and Brightness More Precisely

 

[EllZ89]

something cool to know yet something ill never use 👍

 

[Nermal]

Indeed. I've known about this for ~20 years and I think I've needed it once.

 

[tkermit]

Doesn't work on iPadOS with a Magic keyboard, unfortunately.

 

[Unami]

Nice Tips.

Is there still a keyboard shortcut for keyboard-brightness? Got a new macbook and been missing that from my old one.

Also, while I'm at it: Which genious thought that putting "Erase Disk" just below "Eject" (when richt-clickng an external drive) was a good idea?

 

[Boomshala]

Nice tips : it also would be good to know how in the case of Apple Studio Display dual set ups, how & if it is possible to change brightness on both displays at the same time...

 

[symphony3299]

Is there still a keyboard shortcut for keyboard-brightness? Got a new macbook and been missing that from my old one.

Also, while I'm at it: Which genious thought that putting "Erase Disk" just below "Eject" (when richt-clickng an external drive) was a good idea?

yep I remmaped my F5 and F6 using this method and it works awesome! (who even uses dictation and do not disturb as it's easily accesible in the control center) https://www.idownloadblog.com/2022/03/25/bring-back-keyboard-brightness/

 

[Samu25]

Great tip, I have been using it daily since I found it on reddit a while ago. It makes the biggest difference when using headphones and when adjusting brightness at night.

Does anyone know if there’s a way to do this on iPhone for the volume buttons? 🤔

I know you can adjust more finely by enlarging the volume slider in Control Center, but it is not precise enough for my likes and requires too many taps.

 

[JoshuaBru]

I wish this could be done in iOS. Sometimes the lowest volume setting isn’t quiet enough if the kids are sleeping

 

[yannxou]

I wish this could be done in iOS. Sometimes the lowest volume setting isn’t quiet enough if the kids are sleeping

In iOS/iPad you can do fine adjustings by tapping the volume and opening its larger version in the control center.
I use this quite a lot specially when playing via AirPlay since the volume button steps are sometimes too large at lower volumes.

 

[shinkansenwarrior]

Just tried it....never knew OMG. Sooo many hidden features I am unaware of but not complaining!! It is a nice surprise. Thx always for the tips MR.

 

[ScreenSavers]

I use this all the time! Great hidden feature.

 

[JoshuaBru]

In iOS/iPad you can do fine adjustings by tapping the volume and opening its larger version in the control center.
I use this quite a lot specially when playing via AirPlay since the volume button steps are sometimes too large at lower volumes.

Holy I had no idea. Thank you just tried it

 

[NapZzz]

I can't be the last one to know this.

 

[rikki_t]

Just tried it....never knew OMG. Sooo many hidden features I am unaware of but not complaining!! It is a nice surprise. Thx always for the tips MR.

So many hidden features............like the F keys that used run across the top, have to rely on muscle memory to hit the right one, if the machine is sold with the 'PRO' tag in front of it's name the keyboard aught to be for pros' too, would not bat an eyelid if one fine day we have an emoji key at the top, and a Ai Chat key, and a completely useless something else key, still lets hear it for Apple innovation you know you want them

 

[chrisly]

Wow I love it, thanks so much.

Would have needed it many times in the past already. You always learn something new I guess

 

[Firestorm007]

I find it very good to change the brightness levels in a darkish room at night. I just have to remember the short cut!

 

[Lyrics23]

In iOS/iPad you can do fine adjustings by tapping the volume and opening its larger version in the control center.
I use this quite a lot specially when playing via AirPlay since the volume button steps are sometimes too large at lower volumes.

Holy I had no idea. Thank you just tried it

You don’t need to tap the control centre sliders, either.

Just press and hold the slider to expand it, then just slide up/down for the volume or brightness adjustments.

It’s only one less tap, but it makes a difference.

 

[DaMacGuy]

I've used this about a half dozen times over the past several decades... but with my Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and numeric keypad it's while holding ONLY the shift OR control key and hitting the adjustment buttons that does this. Hitting the option key and hitting the adjustment buttons brings up the related settings panel. Shift and option only changes by the default amount.

Just me?

 

[Cameront9]

Also, while I'm at it: Which genious thought that putting "Erase Disk" just below "Eject" (when richt-clickng an external drive) was a good idea?

I think a lot of quirks on MacOS like this are because the designers assume you're just going to drag the disk to the trash to eject it rather than right-click.

 

[CG_Man]

Great, now make it for Apple TV

 

[ghostface147]

I’d like to know who’s Mac keyboard has the enter key like that.

 

[richard13]

This was something I knew but forgot. It may be useful at night when overall sound levels are low and trying to fall asleep.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

This was something I knew but forgot. It may be useful at night when overall sound levels are low and trying to fall asleep.

I never quite forget it, but about once every two years I am reminded that I know it.... if that makes sense, lol.

 

[racerhomie]

I have been using this on my Macs since 2015. Very nice for Brightness Adjustment at night