This is incredibly useful if you can’t get the volume or brightness quite right using the standard keys. Here’s how to do it.
Hold Option and Shift to Make Small Adjustments
Whenever you press the function keys for brightness (F1 and F2) or volume (F11 and F12) on your Mac, a brightness and volume indicator appears. This indicator shows 16 bars representing the different levels. But if you want to fine-tune your Mac’s volume or brightness between these levels, just hold Option + Shift while making the adjustments.
This keyboard hack allows you to fine-tune your brightness and volume control according to a 64-increment bar instead of the default 16-increment bar.
Adjust Levels in the Control Center
Alternatively, you can go to the Control Center then move the slider for your screen display and volume. If you don’t see the volume option on the Control Center:
Go to System Preferences. Click Sound. Tick the box beside Show Sound in menu bar.
Now, you can click the Control Center whenever you need more fine-tuned adjustments to your volume and screen brightness.
This is the default way to control the brightness and volume on a Mac with a Touch Bar. However, you always have the option to disable the Touch Bar to go back to the standard function keys on your Mac.
Get Accurate Volume and Brightness Control
This is a pretty straightforward trick, but it does wonders if you find the default controls give too much of a jump and you want a more gradual volume or brightness increment. Let’s say if the brightness bothers your eyes just a little bit or if you just want a little more sound for your headphone’s audio output.
