smart backlight control problem

[narsimelus]

I'm using Xperia Z2 for 2,5 months and its smart backlight control is not working generally. I use "adopt to lighting conditions" for brightness (i'm writing this because it's suggested in an old post), i activated smart backlight control from the beginning and... No, it's not working. 

I open a photograph and stare at it for a while. My "sleep" starts in 30 seconds and although i directly look at screen, it starts. The screen turns off. No smart backlight thing. 

Now, am i missing something or is there a situation that Sony could not handle this property? Before this one, i used Samsung S2 and i know smart backlight control is a software property (in Android 2.3.5 there were no "smart backlight" in this phone, but with Android 4.1 it was ok). Then, what is the reason of this problem?

Thanks. 

[Rickard]

Hi and welcome to the community! Since you're new please be sure that you have checked out our Discussion guidelines.

Sorry to hear that the smart backlight is not working.

Are you holding your phone when you try this. Smart backlight control works when your holding the phone in your hand.

[narsimelus]

Hi again, 

Yes, i'm holding the phone in my hand while looking at it directly. Is this not general problem? What should i do for this, if it's only for me?

[BeadyEye]

I have the same issue. Where I do notice it works is when I play a YouTube song and put the phone screen down, the screen turns off within 5 seconds. Or maybe that's a different setting that affects that.

[Rickard · Accepted solution]

It works fine when i test it here. I've tested it in several units so i'm not sure what causes it.
From what i've been able to find when testing here it doesn't rely on the camera but movement. Does the accelerometer and gyroscope work in your phone if you test them from the service menu? To access that, dial *#*#7378423#*#* and go to Service tests.

[narsimelus]

Interestingly, i never tried the movement for smart backlight. I hold it tightly, i look at it directly but... With movement it seems as it's working. 

Still i have one question: Before turning off the screen completely (sleep mode) screen light gets decreased as you know. At that time if i shake the phone, it does not get affacted from that movement. Is it normal? 

[Rickard]

Glad that we could solve the issue

It's the same in my device. If i hold it very still and it starts to dim down, movement will not keep it active.
But you must have really steady hands. I find it very sensitive and only slight movement will keep it active. I don't need to shake it or anything like that.

[narsimelus]

Because while reading long paragraphs i keep it motionless 

I hope in Android Lollipop version this feature becomes better. If you can carry my message the developer team, they can do that. 

Anyway, for now it's ok. Thanks a lot for your help. 

[Rickard]

I'll forward this as feedback internally

[hedrox87]

Yes... I had the same problem in my z2... welll shaking hand helps in fact, but it's hard to read long meils when your moving the screen around to make gyroscope work. I really thought that it uses front camera to follow the eyes, which would be I guess better, or using face recognition when its in our palm.