To adjust brightness on PS5, you need to know there are two separate controls: one for the screen picture (handled through HDR calibration) and one for the console's power indicator light. The screen brightness setting lives inside the HDR menu, not a general slider, and it directly changes how games and media appear on your display.
Adjusting screen brightness with HDR calibration
The primary way to adjust brightness on PS5 for games and media is through the HDR calibration tool. This is a built-in test pattern that helps you match the console's output to your specific display's capabilities. Here's how to run it:
- From the PS5 home screen, select the Settings icon (the gear symbol).
- Go to Screen and Video.
- Select Video Output.
- Choose Adjust HDR.
The system will display a series of test images. Use the on-screen prompts to raise or lower the brightness until the pattern is barely visible in the darkest areas and fully visible in the brightest areas. This process calibrates the console's HDR signal to your TV or monitor, which improves visibility in dark scenes and prevents washed-out highlights. The setting applies globally to all HDR-supported games and media, so you only need to do it once per display.
That often results in crushed blacks (too dark) or blown-out whites (too bright). Running the calibration takes about two minutes and is the single most effective way to adjust brightness on PS5 for actual gameplay.
Calibrating brightness with your TV or monitor
Before you run the PS5 HDR calibration, you should first set your TV or monitor's own brightness and backlight controls correctly. The console's HDR adjustment only works well if the display itself is not overly bright or too dim. Avoid using dynamic contrast or auto-brightness features, as they interfere with the PS5's calibration.
Once the display is set, run the PS5 HDR calibration as described above. This two-step approach, display first, console second, ensures the HDR test pattern is accurate. If you only adjust the PS5 without touching the TV, you might end up compensating for a display that is already misconfigured, which can lead to a picture that looks correct in one game but wrong in another. After calibration, you can fine-tune the TV's backlight slightly if the image still feels too dim or too bright, but the PS5 settings should remain the baseline.
Changing the console power indicator light brightness
The second type of brightness adjustment on PS5 is for the physical light on the console itself. This is the small LED strip near the power button that lights up when the system is on. You can set it to one of three levels: Dim, Medium, or Bright. To change it:
- Go to Settings from the home screen.
- Select System.
- Choose Beep and Light.
- Under Power Indicator, select Brightness.
- Pick Dim, Medium, or Bright.
This setting only affects the console's LED, not the screen picture. It is useful if the light is distracting in a dark room or if you want a subtle indicator instead of a bright glow. The change takes effect immediately, so you can test it right away.
Frequently asked questions about PS5 brightness
Is there a general brightness slider on PS5?
No. The PS5 does not have a single "brightness" slider that adjusts the entire screen output. Instead, the console relies on HDR calibration to set the dynamic range for games and media. For non-HDR content (SDR), the PS5 does not offer a brightness adjustment at all; you would need to change the brightness on your TV or monitor itself. The only brightness setting built into the console's menus is the power indicator light, which is separate from the picture. While you can't adjust screen brightness directly, you can change PS5 background to a darker image if the menu feels too bright, or you can change theme on PS5 to switch to a darker overall interface.
What if HDR looks too dark after calibration?
If HDR content appears too dark even after running the Adjust HDR tool, the issue is usually the display's backlight or local dimming settings, not the PS5. Raise the backlight on your TV or monitor to its maximum or near-maximum level, and disable any power-saving or ambient light sensor features. Then re-run the PS5 HDR calibration. If the picture is still too dark, check if your display has a specific HDR picture mode (like "HDR Game" or "HDR Standard") and select it, as these modes often have higher peak brightness than standard modes.
Does adjusting HDR affect all games?
Yes, the HDR calibration applies system-wide to every game and media app that outputs HDR. However, some games have their own in-game brightness sliders that work independently. If a specific game looks off after calibration, use that game's own settings to fine-tune it, but leave the PS5's HDR calibration untouched. For SDR games, the PS5 does not apply any brightness adjustment, so any changes must be made on the display itself.
