why does my screen dim after 5 minutes

[bdugan]

my mbp screen dims when not in use for about five minutes. I dont know why it does this or how to fix this. Its annoying when reading something online. Does anyone know how to change this? Thanks

 

[jsw]

Try System Preferences... (below the apple on the upper left)->Energy Saver. then adjust the "Put display to sleep..." option.

 

[galstaph]

does it light back up when you move on the trackpad, or press a key?
if so it is probably an autodimmer. My ibook does this and the setting is in the energy saver panel in system preferences

 

[Fleetwood Mac]

Its a feature on all mac notebooks to try and conserve battery life. Its real helpful IMO. It can extend battery life quite a bit.

 

[dmw007]

Its a feature on all mac notebooks to try and conserve battery life. Its real helpful IMO. It can extend battery life quite a bit.

I agree- it is a nice feature.

 

[yg17]

I don't mind the feature when running on battery, but it's annoying as hell when I'm plugged in. I wish there was a way to disable it

 

[Counterfit]

This can also help prolong the life of the display's backlight, even if only a little bit. That's usually the first thing to go, although they do last a while anyway.

 

[jsw]

I don't mind the feature when running on battery, but it's annoying as hell when I'm plugged in. I wish there was a way to disable it

There is. Go to the Energy Saver panel, select "Settings for: Power Adapter", then tell it to never sleep the display.

 

[Nermal]

There is. Go to the Energy Saver panel, select "Settings for: Power Adapter", then tell it to never sleep the display.

Except that doesn't work

 

[kretzy]

Except that doesn't work

You're right, it doesn't. I've been experiencing the same problem. I believe it started after the last OS update. I might be wrong though.

 

[jsw]

Except that doesn't work

Really? Odd. It seems to listen to my settings, but I have it set at 30 minutes or something, not "never", and it seems to work OK (I don't time it, but it never blanks on me unless I've walked a way for a bit).

Edit: haven't checked it recently... maybe the last update did screw it up. But it used to work.

 

[mikehowett]

Energy Saver, Other Options:

Uncheck; "Automatically reduce the brightness of the display before sleep" option, I think that should do it

EDIT: Just tried it with my PowerBook and no dimming even after 10 mins

 

[zign]

Energy Saver, Other Options:

Uncheck; "Automatically reduce the brightness of the display before sleep" option, I think that should do it

EDIT: Just tried it with my PowerBook and no dimming even after 10 mins

Doesn't work for my or my girlfriends mbp. Weird.

 

[SC68Cal]

It's interesting how the Mac notebooks use the backlight energy saver strategies, while wintel laptops used speedstep technology.

 

[mmmcheese]

You're right, it doesn't. I've been experiencing the same problem. I believe it started after the last OS update. I might be wrong though.

I have mine set to never (while on power adaptor), and it stays on. I have done all the software updates.

That probably doesn't help, but it does actually work.

 

[Counterfit]

It's interesting how the Mac notebooks use the backlight energy saver strategies, while wintel laptops used speedstep technology.

Macs have that too. (Or at least something similar)

 

[skillz1318]

i have similiar problems i checked the box so it doesnt dim display before sleep and its set at 30 minutes...it used to stay full brightness then shut off display at 30 min, i dont know if it was the update or not, but the settings havent changed and it dims after 5 minutes, then shuts off after 30 min...doesnt really bother me since it comes right on after i move the mouse, but it seems like it could be a problem with the software...will test later to see if i have it never sleep display if that matters