LG 38WR85QC-W Auto-Brightness Not Working — Anyone Else?

Troubleshooting Auto-Brightness Functionality on the LG 38WR85QC-W Monitor

Recently, I acquired the LG 38WR85QC-W, a high-resolution ultrawide monitor that boasts an auto-brightness feature designed to optimize display clarity based on ambient lighting conditions. However, I’ve encountered persistent issues where this feature appears non-functional, prompting a deeper investigation into possible causes and solutions.

Observations and Configuration Details

  • Behavior: Activating auto-brightness results in the screen brightness dropping to an almost unreadable 1-3%, regardless of ambient light levels.

  • Connections:

  • Laptop: Linux work laptop connected via USB-C.
  • Desktop PC: Connected via DisplayPort and USB-B.

  • Sensor Placement: The ambient light sensor is located at the bottom right side of the monitor, near the joystick control, and is unobstructed.

Troubleshooting Steps Conducted

  1. Adjusting Power and Energy Settings:
  2. Enabled and disabled the Smart Energy Saving feature through the on-screen display (OSD) menu to rule out conflicts.

  3. Contrast and Display Interference:

  4. Disabled DFC (Dynamic Fine Contrast) to prevent contrast adjustments from affecting auto-brightness behavior.

  5. Software Interference:

  6. Reviewed AMD graphics software settings to identify any conflicts that may interfere with auto-brightness, but found no anomalies.

  7. Firmware Checks:

  8. Confirmed the monitor firmware is up-to-date; no updates are currently available.

  9. Factory Reset and Environmental Testing:

  10. Reset the monitor to factory settings.
  11. Tested in various lighting conditions—bright and dark rooms—to observe any changes in auto-brightness response.

Additional Context

It’s worth noting that I previously owned the LG 38WN95C-W, the predecessor to the 38WR85QC-W. Unfortunately, the auto-brightness feature did not work on that model either, though it was not a priority for me at the time.

Seeking Community Insights

Has anyone else experienced similar issues with the auto-brightness feature on LG monitors? Specifically, does auto-brightness function reliably for you on the 38WR85QC-W or comparable models? Could this problem stem from firmware limitations, hardware sensor malfunctions, or software conflicts? Alternatively, might this be a widespread issue affecting multiple units?

Conclusion

While the auto-brightness

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