Dim screen brightness of MBP, using AppleScript (and while using a secondary monitor)?
I just got a secondary monitor to use with my MacBook Pro (13" Retina Early-2015). I previously had AppleScripts for dimming and for increasing the brightness of the MBP screen—either to no bars or to about 75%—but now they aren't working for some reason (w/ or w/o the external monitor plugged in). I also tried using Shades but both screens keep flashing every 2-3 seconds (I'd rather use an AppleScript as well).
Basically, my external monitor is my main screen and I want to be able to dim my MBP screen using an AppleScript to either no bars or about 75% (of which the scripts will then be redirected to keyboard shortcuts with an application).
What AppleScript code would be needed to do this?
EDIT: Here is the old that worked really well before, but for some reason stopped (with out without an external monitor plugged in).
tell application "System Events"
repeat 16 times
key code 107
end repeat
end tell
and
tell application "System Events"
repeat 11 times
key code 113
end repeat
end tell
Solution 1:
Having a secondary monitor was not the issue, it was that I also needed an external keyboard.
When using an external keyboard, the brightness key codes change from 107
and 113
to 145
and 144
respectively, to lower/raise the brightness level.
For anyone interested, the correct key code
events that works with an external keyboard (tested/works with an external Apple keyboard) are:
To lower the brightness all the way use:
tell application "System Events"
repeat 16 times
key code 145
end repeat
end tell
The above code will lower the brightness all the way, regardless of where it's currently set. If it's already set at anything below 100%, any extra lower key code
events, while still executed, are done so harmlessly and are just ignored when the above code runs.
To raise the brightness to, e.g. 75%, use:
tell application "System Events"
repeat 12 times
key code 144
end repeat
end tell
Note that if you want a smother transition, add a delay 0.02
command to each repeat
loop, otherwise the transition can appear quite abrupt.
Solution 2:
This script will set the value of my display brightness to 75% on my MacBook Pro running OS Sierra if I only have just my retina display available in my display preferences
tell application "System Preferences"
if it is running then
quit
end if
end tell
delay 0.2
activate application "System Preferences"
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click button "Displays" of scroll area 1 of window "System Preferences"
delay 1
set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 of group 2 of tab group 1 of window "Built-in Retina Display" to 0.75
end tell
delay 1
quit application "System Preferences"
end tell
This script will set the value of my display brightness to 75% on my MacBook Pro running OS Sierra if I have retina display available and I have airplay enabled and using my airplay device as a second monitor in display preferences
tell application "System Preferences"
if it is running then
quit
end if
end tell
delay 0.2
activate application "System Preferences"
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click button "Displays" of scroll area 1 of window "System Preferences"
delay 1
click radio button "Display" of tab group 1 of window "Built-in Retina Display"
set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 of group 1 of tab group 1 of window "Built-in Retina Display" to 0.75
end tell
delay 1
quit application "System Preferences"
end tell
For both of these scripts though, my built in retina display is my main monitor.
Here is a revised version of the script which will set the brightness to 75% without bringing system preferences application to the front. I think you will find this to be more efficient.
tell application "System Preferences"
reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
end tell
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window "Built-in Retina Display"
set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 of group 2 of tab group 1 to 0.75
end tell
quit application "System Preferences"
Solution 3:
The earlier answer from wch1zpink for Sierra doesn't work later versions of macOS. On macOS 10.15.5 I see 2 different element hierarchies appear at different times, so handling both:
set brightness to 0.75
tell application "System Preferences"
reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
end tell
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window 1
set tryUntil to (current date) + 2 -- 2 seconds
repeat
try
tell group 1 to tell tab group 1
set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 to brightness
end tell
exit repeat
on error errorMessage
try
tell tab group 1
set value of value indicator 1 of slider 1 to brightness
end tell
exit repeat
end try
if ((current date) > tryUntil) then
error errorMessage
end if
end try
end repeat
end tell
In my testing, this completes in between 0.02 seconds and 0.7 seconds, depending on whether System Preferences is already open. The repeat code causes retries if the element hierarchy isn't yet ready.