Samsung has quietly introduced manual brightness adjustment for Always-On Displays in its One UI 8.5 update, fixing a long-standing user frustration.
The new feature, located within the Lock Star customization tool, lets users manually control AOD brightness through a simple slider. Previously, users were stuck with automatic mode or turning the display off completely—no middle ground existed.
Automatic brightness has been the primary complaint about Samsung’s AOD implementation. The ambient light sensor often keeps the display too bright in dark rooms, particularly at night, or too dim in bright sunlight. Users have been requesting manual control for years.
The slider allows precise adjustment below or above what automatic mode provides. Changes apply instantly without requiring a restart. Automatic mode remains default, but users can now override it when needed.
Nighttime use is the obvious benefit. Instead of a glowing screen on your nightstand, you can dial it down to a comfortable level. The control also helps in movie theaters, dim restaurants, or bright outdoor environments where automatic mode misjudges the situation.
Lock Star, which started as a basic customization tool, continues expanding its role as the central hub for lock screen and AOD settings.
The update is rolling out now to compatible devices. It’s not a headline feature, but for anyone who’s squinted at their phone in the dark or wished for more visibility in daylight, it’s overdue and genuinely useful.
