How to: DualShock 4 Dim Light Bar

This week’s PlayStation LifeStyle Help Desk is another simple one, but something that is very good to know. Many people complained about the bright light coming off of the back of their DualShock 4s after the PlayStation 4 initially released. They worried about the drain on the DualShock 4’s already relatively short battery life, and how annoying the light could be in a dark room, or when reflecting off of the TV at certain angles.

I personally never found these things to be an issue, but having options is never a bad thing. After some time, Sony finally relented and allowed people a way to dim the light bar with one of their firmware updates, and now that PS4 update 4.00 is out, dimming the light bar is more simple than it ever has been before. In this PSLS Help Desk, we’re going to show you hot to dim the light bar, as well as dispel some myths about its drain on the DualShock 4’s battery.

How to Dim the DualShock 4 Light Bar

With update 4.00, dimming the light bar is as easy as holding down the PS button on the DualShock 4, highlighting the Sound/Devices option, then selecting Brightness of DUALSHOCK 4 Light Bar. You can now choose between three options: Bright (Standard), Medium, and Dim. That’s all there is to it!

Does Dimming Help the Battery Life?

I would be lying if I said that dimming the light bar doesn’t help the DualShock 4 battery life, but the differences are marginal at best, and if that’s your primary reason for dimming the light bar, you may want to reconsider. In controlled tests, where the controller is not being used for games at all, the Bright (Standard) setting can last just shy of 11 hours. Each progressive setting adds about 40 minutes to the battery life, for a high end total of about 12 hours and 20 minutes on Dim.

If you move these controlled tests into real world playing conditions, those margins shrink even more, seeming to cut the improvements about in half, so during active gameplay, our findings are that the Dim setting will get you about 40 more total minutes of game time than the Bright (Standard) setting, at best. While it may not massively improve your battery life, if you have a highly reflective TV surface, dimming can help to reduce that glare on the screen.

Things to Note

When you go to dim the light bar, the PS4 warns “If you select other than [Bright (Standard)], brightness may be insufficient when using some applications. In situations where the PlayStation Camera needs to recognize the light bar, the light bar will become bright regardless of this setting.”
With PlayStation VR just a few weeks away, some games may require the light bar to be bright. According to the above message, it seems that the PS4 will automatically handle the settings when needed.
Some applications needing the light bar for motion tracking with the PlayStation Camera is the reason that the lightbar cannot be turned off completely.

What brightness setting do you have your light bar on? What do you want to see in the next Help Desk? Let us know via the comments or email us!

Essential Reading:

Top 10 PS4 Games for Holiday 2016

Top 10 PS4 Games for Holiday 2016
Battlefield 1

First up in Battlefield 1. Developed by DICE and published by EA, this first-person shooter is set during World War I, and gives players the tools-of-the-time to wage war against one another. After the biggest beta in EA history, with over 13.2 million players taking part, it can’t just be us here at PlayStation LifeStyle who are excited. Battlefield 1 releases on October 21st.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Next, we have a double whammy of Call of Duty action. We’ll admit that it’s Modern Warfare Remastered that we’re most excited to play. However, to actually get access to the remaster, you have to pick up an Infinite Warfare. Fortunately, Infinite Warfare is looking better with each new trailer that gets released, so we’re not too bitter. Both games release on November 4th, however on PS4 it’s possible to get 30 days early access to the Modern Warfare Remaster campaign by pre-ordering.
Dishonored 2

On November 11th, the Arkane Studios developed Dishonored 2 will launch. Set fifteen years after the first game, players can choose to play as either Emily or Corvo as they attempt to reclaim the Empire’s throne. We’re excited to continue the story of these characters, and see what improvements have been made to the game’s stealth, and should we get caught, brutal combat systems.
Final Fantasy XV

The first Final Fantasy game on our list today is Final Fantasy XV. Playing as main protagonist Noctis, players must explore the world of Eos, on a journey to retrieve a powerful stolen crystal. Square Enix claims that this Final Fantasy will be a major departure from previous games, providing a darker atmosphere that focuses on more realistic environments and human characters. We can’t wait to get stuck in and immerse ourselves in a brand new world when the game releases on November 29th.
Mafia III

Hangar 13 is the developer at the helm of delivering the next Mafia installment. Mafia III is set in 1968, in the fictional city of New Bordeaux. Put into the shoes of Lincoln Clay, players can wander the open world. The end goal for Clay, and therefore players, is to enact revenge against the Italian mob. We’ll be earning our vengeance at launch on October 7th.
Rise of the Tomb Raider

Almost a year after the Xbox release, PlayStation owners are finally going to get their hands on Rise of the Tomb Raider, when it launches on October 11th. Gameplay-wise, expect more of what made the 2013 reboot so great, along with improvements in the stealth department. No competitive multiplayer this time around, but there are Challenge Modes with specific mission requirements that we just know we’ll become obsessed with.
The Last Guardian

We feel a little anxious adding this title to our list, for fear that it will get delayed yet again, but here it is anyway. The Last Guardian, this mythical game that many thought would never see the light of day, will supposedly launch on December 6th. What we’ve seen from gameplay so far is the completion of simple puzzles in order for both the young boy and his giant griffin friend to progress. Hopefully their relationship is an interesting one, as this game really needs to do a lot to live up to the monumental hype.
Titanfall 2

Though Xbox exclusivity kept PlayStation fans from enjoying the first Titanfall, the sequel will be coming to PlayStation 4. Titanfall 2 brings Pilots and Titans together once again, as the Frontier Militia faces off against the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation. This time around there’s a single-player campaign, a heavily requested component. Titans will start falling when the game releases on October 28th.
Watch Dogs 2

The change of style and location has us excited about Watch Dogs 2. While the first game oozed gray and had little personality, the sequel looks vibrant and fun. Set in San Francisco, players will use their hacking know-how to take down an advanced surveillance system and the evil corporation behind it all. Watch Dogs 2 launches on November 15th.
World of Final Fantasy

Just in case one Final Fantasy wasn’t enough, Square Enix is also launching World of Final Fantasy, which is coming to both PS4 and PlayStation Vita on October 25th. The world of Grymoire is a land populated by classic Final Fantasy characters and monsters, and you must explore it to recover lost memories. Yes, it looks cute as hell, but whatever, we’re still damn excited for it.