A few days ago, Apple released iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS 13.3 and tvOS 16.4 with a number of new features for their respective systems. Among them is a new accessibility option that dims the video when it detects stroboscopic effects or flashes of light. Learn how to enable this feature on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
- What is Dim Flashing Lights accessibility feature?
- Requirements for dim flashing lights on your Apple device
- How to turn on dim flashing lights on iPhone and iPad
- How to Automatically Dim Flash Light Videos on Mac
- Turn on dim flashing lights on Apple TV
What is Dim Flashing Lights accessibility feature?
Some types of videos, often filled with action, contain quick flashes of light called stroboscopic effects. While some viewers are not bothered by this, other stroboscopic lighting effects and flickering lights may bother others.
Some movies and TV series show a strobe or flashing light warning because it can disturb people and cause symptoms in others. For example, stroboscopic lighting effects can cause people, such as people with flickering dizziness, to become nauseated and disorientated. They can also induce seizures in people predisposed to epilepsy and induce seizures in people who have the condition.
Dim Flashing Lights is a user safety feature that automatically dims the video screen when flashing lights or strobe effects are detected. If you or someone you know is at risk of triggering these visual effects, you can enable this feature.
Requirements for dim flashing lights on your Apple device
Don’t worry. This feature has no hardware restrictions, which means you only need to make sure your device is running a supported OS version in order to run this feature.
- If you have a Mac, your device must be running macOS 13.3 to use this feature.
- Meanwhile, if you have an iPhone or iPad, make sure your device is running iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4.
- For Apple TV users, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD must be running tvOS 16.4 to use this new feature.
To find out which macOS your Mac is running, click the Apple logo in the menu bar → About This Mac, then look at the larger macOS version.
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings → General → Software Update.
How to turn on dim flashing lights on iPhone and iPad
- Go to “Settings”on your iPhone → tap on “Accessibility”.
- In the Vision section, select Movement.
- Turn on dim flashing lights.
How to Automatically Dim Flash Light Videos on Mac
- Click the Apple logo in the menu bar → select System Preferences.
- Select Accessibility from the sidebar. Go to the Vision category and select Display.
- Turn on dim flashing lights.
Turn on dim flashing lights on Apple TV
- Go to Settings on Apple TV → Accessibility → Motion.
- Turn on dim flashing lights. When this feature is enabled, you will see the playback timeline display blinking indicators for supported media.
Completion…
Whether you are a user or someone who cares about others, enabling this feature is always helpful. This helps ensure that people don’t experience any unpleasant physical effects caused by strobing and flashing lights in the video.
With iOS 16.4, Apple also introduced some other noteworthy features such as voice isolation for phone calls and Apple Pay Later. Have you tried these features? Have you seen the difference? Let us know in the comments below.