brightness ☆

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Description:
Change macOS display brightness from the command-line

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 1.2@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: System utilities

Tags: macos brightness display cli utility system

Install: brew install brightness

About:
Brightness is a lightweight command-line utility that allows users to adjust the brightness of connected displays on macOS. It communicates directly with the system's I/O Kit framework to set brightness levels precisely. This tool is ideal for automation and users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows over using physical monitor controls.

Key Features:

Command-line interface for quick brightness adjustments
Supports multiple external displays
Works without GUI interaction
Lightweight and scriptable

Use Cases:

Automating brightness adjustments in development workflows
Controlling external monitor brightness via keyboard shortcuts
Batch updating brightness across multiple connected displays

Alternatives:

brightness-cli – Similar functionality, but brightness (nriley) is more actively maintained and supports multiple displays better
MonitorControl – GUI-based alternative with OSD support, but requires more system resources

License: BSD-2-Clause

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 12, 2025 7:14pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	333181c7