---
name: "brightnessctl"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "brightnessctl"
version: "0.5.1-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/brightnessctl"
---

# brightnessctl(1)

read and control device brightness

## NAME

brightnessctl - read and control device brightness

## SYNOPSIS

*brightnessctl* \[options\] *\[operation\]* \[value...\]

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  Print this help.

- **-l, --list**

  List devices with available brightness controls.

- **-q, --quiet**

  Suppress output.

- **-p, --pretend**

  Do not perform write operations.

- **-m, --machine-readable**

  Produce machine-readable output.

- **-n, --min-value**=*VALUE*

  Set minimum brightness when using delta values, defaults to 1.

- **-e, --exponent**=*K*

  Changes percentage scaling curve to exponential (linear by default). Default exponent is 4.

  Percentage equation: % = *\[VALUE\]*^*\[K\]* \* *\[MAX\]* \* 100^-*\[K\]*.

  The exponential curve may make the adjustments perceptually equal.

- **-s, --save**

  Save state in a temporary file.

- **-r, --restore**

  Restore previously-saved state.

- **-d, --device**=*DEVICE*

  Specify device name (can be a wildcard).

- **-c, --class**=*CLASS*

  Specify device class.

- **-v, --version**

  Print version and exit.

## OPERATIONS

**i, info**

Get device info.

**g, get**

Get the current brightness of the device.

**m, max**

Get the maximum brightness of the device.

**s, set** *VALUE*

Set the brightness of the device.

### VALUES

You may specify *VALUE* for the **set** command in absolute or relative form, and as a value or a delta from the current value. For example:

**brightnessctl set 500**

Sets brightness to 500.

**brightnessctl set 50%**

Sets brightness to 50% of the maximum.

**brightnessctl set 50-**

Subtracts 50 from the current brightness.

**brightnessctl set +10**

Adds 10 to the current brightness.

**brightnessctl set 50%-**

Subtracts 50% of the maximum from the current brightness.

**brightnessctl set +10%**

Adds 10% of the maximum to the current brightness.

## AUTHORS

Maintained by Mykyta Holubakha, who is assisted by other open source contributors. For more information about brightnessctl development, visit:

https://github.com/Hummer12007/brightnessctl