How to Adjust the Brightness of the Dashboard in a Car?

[LeBennett]

In the settings of the central control screen, there is an option to adjust the brightness of the dashboard. Below is some relevant information about the car dashboard: 1. Definition: The car dashboard is a device that reflects the working conditions of various vehicle systems. Common indicators include the fuel indicator, washer fluid indicator, electronic throttle indicator, front and rear fog light indicators, and warning lights. 2. Speedometer: The speedometer actually consists of two gauges. One is the speedometer, and the other is the odometer. 3. Tachometer: The tachometer is generally located within the dashboard, placed symmetrically with the speedometer.

[LaWalter]

I've been driving for over ten years, so adjusting the instrument brightness is second nature to me. Most cars have a rotary knob on the left side of the steering wheel with a small gauge and sun symbol. When the dashboard feels too bright at night, just turn it counterclockwise to dim. If the markings are hard to see due to glare during daytime, turn it clockwise to brighten. Note that German cars require turning on the parking lights first before adjustment, while some American models hide this function in the steering wheel menu—just press the directional buttons to find the 'Instrument Settings' option. Here's a pro tip: it's safer to pull over when adjusting brightness while driving, as it can dangerously distract you.

[StJayla]

Just helped my neighbor adjust the brightness of his new Corolla's dashboard a couple of days ago. Nowadays most cars integrate this function into the multi-function steering wheel: press the menu button with your left hand → select vehicle settings → enter the lighting options to see the brightness slider. More advanced infotainment systems even allow separate day/night mode adjustments, or automatically switch when headlights are turned on. I recommend setting it to a level that neither overpowers the navigation screen nor strains your eyes at night - the middle setting is usually safest. By the way, owners with anti-spy films should pay special attention; if the film is too dark, you'll need to set the brightness to maximum.

[DominicLee]

The location of instrument panel brightness adjustment is particularly interesting. Japanese cars like Honda prefer to place it below the steering wheel's left side, aligned with the rearview mirror adjustment knob; domestic new energy vehicles such as XPENG integrate it directly into the quick menu of the central control screen; older Mercedes models take it to another level—requiring you to find an inconspicuous small wheel on the side of the headlight switch assembly. It's highly recommended to check the backlight color after adjusting the brightness, as some cars support switching between blue/white backlight. If the knob malfunctions, don't panic—it's likely caused by water ingress during car washing leading to a short circuit; simply disassemble and dry it.

[LaAlessandra]

The weirdest adjustment method I've ever seen while repairing cars was on a Volvo: First press the start button to power on, then hold the odometer reset button on the dashboard for 5 seconds until the backlight flashes before you can adjust it. Currently, mainstream operations fall into two categories: Manual cars use physical knobs, usually with MIN/MAX scales; For automatic adjustment cars, there's a light sensor hidden behind the windshield, and the dashboard automatically dims when the headlights are turned on. A reminder for new drivers: Cars with dark tinted films should keep the brightness at maximum during the day, but must be manually dimmed at night, otherwise the pupils will be stimulated by strong light and make it harder to see the road.

[Paisley]

Don't panic when you can't find the button—90% of models hide it in three locations: either the knob with an instrument cluster icon in the left steering wheel control area, the 'Display' or 'Lighting' section in the infotainment settings, or the SETTING button near the gear lever. A hidden feature I discovered while renting a Korean car: adjusting brightness while the engine is off only changes the default value; real-time adjustments take effect only after starting the engine. Here’s a lesser-known tip: setting it too dim makes maintenance indicators hard to see, while too bright affects road visibility judgment. EV owners, note that high brightness drains battery—keeping it at medium is recommended.