How to detect if screen brightness has changed in Android?

Question

I have searched extensively and couldn't find a similar question.

I would like to know if there is any way to detect when the screen brightness of a mobile device has been changed.

I have already tried to store the old value when the app starts and repeatedly check usingSettings.System.getInt(getContentResolver(),Settings.System.SCREEN_BRIGHTNESS); to compare the initial and final value of screen brightness , which is not a good way of doing so.

Thanks

EDIT: This question states that I have already tried the solution of using Settings.System.SCREEN_BRIGHTNESS to get current screen values and periodically check for screen brightness changes. I am looking for a more efficient way of doing such an operation.

Barstow

Possible duplicate of Get preferred screen brightness in Android – James

There doesn't seem to be any system level broadcast about the screen brightness so you cannot know when the user changed it unless you keep polling, which I agree is not the best practice. Add to it the issue that @James just linked and you got a pretty hard problem in your hands. – Overmeasure

@James the problem being discussed there suggests the same method I have already tried, I was looking for an alternative solution :D – Barstow

Answer 1

yes, there is a way by using ContentObserver:

• code:

    // listen to the brightness system settings
    val contentObserver = object:ContentObserver(Handler())
    {
        override fun onChange(selfChange:Boolean)
        {
            // get system brightness level
            val brightnessAmount = Settings.System.getInt(
                    contentResolver,Settings.System.SCREEN_BRIGHTNESS,0)
  
            // do something...
        }
    }
  
    // register the brightness listener upon starting
    contentResolver.registerContentObserver(
            Settings.System.getUriFor(Settings.System.SCREEN_BRIGHTNESS),
            false,contentObserver)
  
    // .....
  
    // unregister the listener when we're done (e.g. activity destroyed)
    contentResolver.unregisterContentObserver(contentObserver)
  

other useful links:

• what thread is ContentObserver.onChange called on?
• Change the System Brightness Programmatically

Footnote

Thank you for your method, but permission is not required, because we get the system settings, not set them – Ebberta

Answer 2

There are no receivers provided to detect brightness change.

You have to run a Service or Thread to check the brightness change by yourself.

Settings.System.getInt(getContext().getContentResolver(), 
             Settings.System.SCREEN_BRIGHTNESS);

The above code will give you current system brightness level. Periodically detect the brightness and compare with the old one.

Note: If the system is in Auto Brightness mode, you can't get current brightness level. See this answer.

Mukluk

I have already tried out this method (already stated in question) , was looking for a more efficient way to do so. – Barstow

The answer is no. There is no method to do it efficiently. See the link I have shared in the answer. – Mukluk