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How to brighten a video? This is a common question online, and for good reason. Many people consume content by watching videos every day. Therefore, content creators often need to enhance and brighten videos to make their content look more appealing and engaging. Having said that, we have discovered, tried, and tested 8 of the best video brighteners for different devices. So, let's look at their strengths, weaknesses, and guided process to breathe life into your dull and dark videos.
Several technical and environmental factors may contribute to the darkness in your footage. Low light conditions and underexposed camera settings issues are just a few examples. Each of these issues can impact the final look. Understanding these causes is the first step toward improving the visual quality of your video. This ensures your audience gets a clear, vibrant viewing experience.
Here are a few reasons why your videos may appear dark:
To fix the dark video and improve its brightness, it's essential to grab a video brightener. Here are some compelling reasons why video brighteners have become a hit among users.
Now, you have seen the pros, cons, and guided process of how different video brighteners work on specific devices. If you're unsure which one to choose, here's a comprehensive comparison table of popular tools to brighten video.Take a keen look, as it will help you make an informed decision for professional results.
| Video Brighteners | Ease of Use | Output Formats | GPU Acceleration | Brightening and Enhancement | Best For | Compatible Platform |
| UniFab HDR Upconverter AI | Easy – more settings, but guided AI | Exports HDR10/Dolby Vision (10–12 bit, Rec.2020/DCI‑P3) | Yes (GPU‑accelerated AI, Fast & HQ modes, 50×) | Advanced AI dynamic brightness, contrast, color balance, tone curves | Users wanting cinematic HDR conversion from SDR | Desktop (Windows and Mac) |
| UniFab Video Converter | Very high – intuitive GUI, drag‑and‑drop, complete control | 1000+ formats (MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, 8K, audio) | NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Quick Sync (up to 50× speed) | Basic brightness/contrast in editor + toolkit (denoise, sharpen, deinterlace, stabilize) | Desktop users needing conversion, fast editing, batch workflows, brightness tweaks | Desktop (Windows and Mac) |
| Wondershare UniConverter | Medium high – clean UI, presets | 1000+ formats | Yes | Basic brightness/exposure filters (one‑click) | Versatile desktop conversion & simple editing | Desktop (Windows and Mac) |
| Fotor Video Brightener | Very high – one-button web tool | Common video formats (MP4, MOV, and WebM) | No | Auto-brightness with contrast/saturation tweaks | Quick online fixes for brightness/contrast | Web-based |
| Clideo | High – intuitive slider UI | MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, VOB, others | No | Manual sliders for brightness, contrast, and saturation | Browser-based quick brightening/conversions | Web-based |
| VEED | High – guided tools, web interface | MP4, MKV, AVI, WEBM, etc. | No | Brightness, exposure, contrast, saturation plus filters | Online editors with filters, captions, and simple tweaks | Web-based |
| InShot | Very high – mobile‑friendly UI | Mobile formats (iOS/Android) | Limited – no GPU support, HDR issues | Brightness, lightness, contrast, filters on mobile | On‑the‑go mobile edits with brightening | iOS and Android |
| ActionDirector | High – simple editor, but ads/watermarks in the free version | Up to 4K mobile/desktop formats | No | Slider-based brightness, contrast, saturation, effects | Quick edits & brightening for action-cam footage | Windows and Android |
In low-light settings, videos may look too dark and dull. While many video brightener software programs are available, getting hands-on with the best one seems complex. We have tried and tested these 3 top desktop AI video brightener software to brighten and enhance a video without hassle. Learn the pros, cons, and detailed process to get clarity on each tool's usage.
UniFab HDR Upconverter AI automatically transforms any SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) video to HDR (High Dynamic Range). When the HD display defines the number of pixels, the HDR refers to the number of color gamut of each pixel.
That means HDR denotes the quality of pixels that leads to the overall visual quality of any video image. Now, UniFab offers conversion of any SDR video to both the HDR variations, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, by adjusting colors, brightness, depth, details, and contrast. So, let's see how to brighten a video using this AI-powered program.
✅Transform any dark SDR video to HDR10 with a 10-bit color depth, 1000 nits brightness, and I024 shades for each color channel.
✅Enjoy Dolby Vision, with 12-bit color depth, 4000 nits brightness, and 4096 shades for each color channel, for cinematic visual satisfaction.
✅UniFab supports DCI-P3 & Rec 2020 color spaces to explore more color gamut and broader dynamic range.
✅Choose Fast, Full HD, QHD, or Stunning 4K UHD Models, you can enjoy SDR to HDR conversion without compromising the quality.
30-day Free Trial with full feature access!
After launching and opening the UniFab tool on your desktop, select the “HDR Upconverter” option. Then, upload your desired dark video for brightening, hit the “+” option or drag the file.
Now, select between HDR 10 or Dolby Vision, and you can also select from two Color Spaces.
Select the “Start” option to brighten your video by converting it to HDR.
This is the easiest and fastest way to make your video images clear and bright. If you are a beginner in color correction, UniFab Video Converter is your first choice.
✅Effortlessly brightens up the video without any technical knowledge
✅Supports customized settings with a built-in video editor
✅Ultra-fast (50x faster) file conversion with batch processing
✅Efficiently and losslessly converts and compresses videos in 1000+ media formats
Step 1: Launch UniFab, select the Video Converter module, then add the dark video footage to brighten it in the interface.
Step 2: Then, click Editor icon to select Effect beneath your video's thumbnail. Customize the video output parameters. For e.g., adjust the brightness slider. Also, set the contrast, saturation, and white balance. Additionally, add the filters you feel best for your video.
Step 3: Once you have customized the output parameters, click OK and initiate the brightener procedure.
Wondershare UniConverter software is software for editing, converting, and all other video-related operations. This software can easily edit your video and apply special effects to make it ready to post on your social media accounts. In the popup box under the Video Effect label move the slider to the right side and the video brightness will be increased. You can also adjust contrast, and saturation, and apply premade filters on the videos.
Pros
Brightens dark videos with a click, with advanced video editing functions.
Seamlessly handles high-res (4K, 8K, and HDR) files.
Convert and enhance bulk videos without hassle.
Supports over 1000+ formats for effortless conversion.
Download videos directly from YouTube and 1000+ other video-sharing sites.
Cons
Expensive price plans compared to lower-cost alternatives.
Limited advanced editing with only basic editing features.
Occasional slow performance and crashes, especially with large and complex tasks.
Step 1: Download and run the Wondershare Uniconverter on your Windows or Mac computer.
Then, tap the + (Import) icon to upload and edit your dark video clip to the program. Or just drag the intended video clip into the interface.
Step 2: Select the Options icon beneath the video thumbnail. Now, go to the Video Effect window. Adjust the Brightness slider to match your preference. Similarly, set the levels of Contrast, Saturation, and White Balance to improve the video’s tone.
Step 3: Next, preview the modified video clip. Once satisfied, click the Output Format menu. Select the Device tab and choose your device from the left pane.
Step 4: Tap Convert to export the brightened video footage in your desired format.
Online tools are quite popular among casual users. However, since they pose a threat to privacy, it is essential to use only the most reliable ones. We have discovered the three top tools to help you brighten video online. Let's dive into learning their pros, cons, and detailed working steps to see how you can put them to use.
To know how to brighten a dark video, Fotor is a quick fix with its instant and automatic video brightening function. It lets you brighten videos available in three formats such as MP4, MOV, and WebM. After brightening any video, you can instantly share it to any required social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, etc. You don't need to install or download this online tool. While brightening any video, this tool focuses on the main object of the video while maintaining its details.
Pros
Full automatic and instant brightening with an advanced AI algorithm.
Online tool works on all devices and OS, including Windows, Mac, Android & iOS.
Automatic adjustment of brightness, contrast, and saturation with artificial intelligence.
It also upscale video from low resolution to HD.
Cons
There is no manual parameters adjustment option.
You need to take a paid version of the app to download the output in HD quality.
Step 1: After opening the Fotor website, upload the dark video available in a Fotor-supported format.
Step 2: This AI-powered tool will instantly and automatically identify the uploaded video and brighten it by automatically adjusting the brightness, color, and saturation under the “Enhancer” function on the right side.
Step 3: Next, you can preview the brightened video and compare the output with the original one. Once you are satisfied, you can download the enhanced video.
Clideo is a handy online tool for brightening up dark videos without any cost or installation. It's easy to use directly in your browser, but some features are limited in the free version. For full access, you need to upgrade to the premium version.
Pros
Simple and intuitive interface.
Change the different video file settings for enhanced brightness.
It supports adding fade and vignette effects to video clips.
Converts the output video to popular media formats such as MP4, AVI, MOV, VOB, WMV, and more.
Convenient slider bar to adjust individual options.
Cons
Lacks advanced video editing features.
Potential for slow processing times with no collaborative editing.
Requires upgrading to a paid version to remove the watermark on the output video.
Step 1: Open Cldeo.com on your web browser. Click All Tools on the main page and select Adjust Video.
Step 2: Click Choose File to import the dark video you wish to brighten.
Step 3: Drag the Brightness slider on the right side to increase the video brightness. Similarly, drag the Contrast, Saturation, and Hue sliders left and right to adjust them.
Set the Fade and Vignette effects to match your preferences.
Step 4: Play the video in its built-in video player to preview it before downloading. Once you are satisfied, select the video format from the bottom-left corner. Then, click Export in the lower-right corner and select Download to save your brightened video.
Veed is another fresh add brightness to an online video website where you can insert videos from the computer hard drive and add special effects or light. Using this online brighten dark videos website, you can also make other adjustments to the videos such as adjusting contrast, saturation, exposure, and many more things. There is an online player available inbuilt on the website where you can play near about any format videos.
Pros
Supports many animations and transitions for enhanced video effects.
Inbuilt camera and recorder to record camera, audio, screen, and slides.
Allows for preview and editing of video before export.
Shares the enhanced videos directly on social media platforms.
Cons
Lacks a batch editing mode to process bulk video simultaneously.
Requires signing up or logging in to download the output clip.
Dependence on internet connection and performance issues when working with large files.
Step 1: Launch the VEED Video Brightness Editor on your web browser. Tap Get Started Now. Then, click Accept and Continue to proceed with the Terms and Conditions dialog.
Step 2: Click + Add media to this project to import your dark video.
Step 3: Under the video thumbnail on the main screen, you'll find three horizontal dots. Click them and select Adjust from the dialog menu box. Drag the Brightness slider to the right until you achieve the desired brightness. You can also adjust the contrast, exposure, hue, and saturation.
Similarly, adjust the Effects sliders to modify the sharpness, noise, blur, and vignette.
Note: In the left sidebar, click Settings. This will enable you to change the size, background, frames per second (fps), and other parameters.
Step 4: Once done, play and preview the video in its built-in video player. Then, click Save My Video in the upper-right corner and select Export Video. If you haven't logged in earlier, you'll be asked to create a free account to download and share the enhanced video.
Android users can also brighten their dark video footage with a qualified video brightener.
ActionDirector stands out as one of the best video brightness editor apps for brightening a video on the go. Here, we have tested the ActionDirector app to help you learn how to brighten a dark video on Android. Let's check its strengths and weaknesses and learn the detailed guide.
Pros
Explore advanced editing with color, brightness, contrast, and saturation adjustment.
Experiment with cutting and cropping to highlight any specific part of the video.
Try multiple video filters to make your video distinct and dynamic.
Use various transitions to give a seamless streaming experience to multiple videos.
Give a dynamic appeal to any video with animated stickers.
Cons
Users face annoying ads & take lots of time to process lengthy video.
Output video comes with a watermark.
Step 1: After installing the app on Android device from the Google Play Store, open it > select “Edit” > next, import the dark video for enhanced brightness.
Step 2: Head to the menu and select “Adjustment.” > Then select “Brightness.” > You must move the slider to the right to improve the brightness.
Step 3: Next, adjust contrast, saturation, and hue according to your requirements. Then, opt for the “Export” option to save the enhanced and brightened video.
Having the convenience of brightening a dark video on the go is a blessing. What if you can do it conveniently on your iOS?
InShot is the video brightness editor app that is widely used by commoners and professionals for iPhone video brightness. Aside from just filters and adjustments, this app has some great in-built features like mirroring, pixelating or flipping your videos. This app is only supportable on the iOS platform.
Pros
Try multiple ready-to-use filters to adjust brightness, curves, and contrasts.
Get output video in 4K 60fps quality.
Experiment with voice-over, music, and sound effects.
It lets you control video speed with slow motion or speed up.
Smart green screen editing option.
Create multi-layered video with Picture-in-Picture effect.
Cons
Maximum exclusive features are available in the paid version.
Some professional effects are missing.
Step 1: Start with the app on your iPhone, select “VIDEO,” > and then “New.” Choose the dark video you want to brighten up, then select the green circle.
Step 2: After that, select “Filter” > hit “Adjust” > then select “LIGHTNESS.” Next, move the slider to the right side to brighten the video.
Step 3: After that, you can further adjust saturation, warmth, brightness, and contrast to make your dark video brighter. Then, save the video in your iPhone library.
Brightening your video not only improves visibility but also helps your content stand out and connect better with your audience. Whether you're editing on a desktop, working online, or using your phone, there's a perfect video brightener out there for you. From powerful desktop tools like UniFab to quick online options like Clideo and mobile-friendly apps like InShot, you have plenty of choices to enhance your videos with ease. The right tool depends on your platform, editing needs, and the level of control you want over the final result.
Many free and paid video brightener software programs are available to enhance the brightness of videos. Simply upload your video to any platform and manually adjust the brightness and contrast. Then, change the color balance of the video. While these tips can be helpful, the process is somewhat time-consuming and complex.
Yes. Besides increasing brightness, you can adjust the contrast, saturation, hue, and white balance (WB) to enhance the quality of dark videos. While contrast manages light intensity, saturation brings out the intensity of colors.
Depending on your use and needs, suggesting the 'best' software can be vague. However, for Windows and Mac users, UniFab Video Converter stands out as one of the best options. It can brighten, color grade, and edit your video footage with ease, even without any technical expertise.