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Contents

Part 1. Learn 4 Ways to Brighten Video
Part 2. How to Avoid Grainy Footage When Brightening
Part 3. FAQs on How to Make a Dark Video Brighter

How to Make a Dark Video Brighter with 4 Easy Tools

May 19, 2026Andrew Miller

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Is it possible to brighten up a really dark video?

It’s quite common to get underexposed videos, especially when capturing meaningful moments with a phone. The dark footage can be a frustratingly common problem. This often happens due to poor lighting or incorrect camera settings. How can you change the contrast and brightness of a video?

Fortunately, there are still ways to rescue your precious videos. Many modern video editors and dedicated video upscalers can help you improve the brightness, contrast, and overall visibility of your footage. This guide shares four helpful tools to make a dark video brighter and produce a desired look.

Part 1. How to Make a Dark Video Brighter Using 4 Methods

This section will walk you through four methods for brightening a dark video. You can compare them and select either a professional tool or a dedicated AI upscaler to correct exposure issues.

Method 1: Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate (Best All-in-One AI Solution)

Best for: Beginners and most casual users who want a straightforward solution for brightening videos and correcting various issues.

Score:4.8/5

Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate is primarily known for its video converting and editing capabilities. It also has a built-in AI Enhancer with multiple advanced enhancement models, including an individual Low-light Enhancement Model. The AI tool is ideal for quick fixes, such as brightening, contrast adjustment, color correction, noise removal, and more.

Platform: Windows, macOS

Price: Paid software with a free trial version

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Step 1.

Launch Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate and click the AI Enhancer tab. This will take you to the specific video enhancer window. Here, you can click the Add File(s) button to import the dark video you want to brighten.

Step 2.

Once loaded, select the Low-light Enhancement Model on the right. After applying the model, click the Preview button to check the enhanced quality.

Low Light Enhancement Model Vcu Ai Enhancer

Step 3.

Above the Export All button, you can select a suitable upscaling level from the Output Resolution. The software allows you to upscale video to a desired resolution, like 1080p, 4K, or higher. When you are happy with the corrected contrast and brightness, click the Export All button to export it.

Step 4.

If you prefer to manually change contrast and brightness of a video, choose Color Correction on the Home window. Add the dark or underexposed footage you want to fix.

Step 5.

This color correction tool allows you to freely adjust the video contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue to make a dark video brighter with optimized effects.

Method 2: Adobe Premiere Pro (Lumetri Color)

Best for: Professionals and serious editors who have already worked within the Adobe ecosystem.

Score:4.5/5

Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful video editor that features the industry-standard Lumetri Color panel. This integrated tool provides professional-grade color correction and grading workflows. You can directly access it on the editing timeline.

Platform: Windows, macOS

Price: Paid (Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription)

Step 1.

Launch Premiere Pro, add your dark video, and open the Lumetri Color panel. You can click to select the dark clip on the timeline, and then go to the Window menu to choose Lumetri Color.

Step 2.

In the Basic Correction tab, you can use the sliders like Exposure, Contrast, Shadows, Curves, and more to adjust the overall brightness.

You may also need: How to Enhance Video in Premiere Pro

Method 3: DaVinci Resolve (Best for Professional Grading)

Best for: Professionals who want the best possible quality results and maximum control. Ideal for complex lighting fixes.

Score:4.5/5

DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade editor known for its most advanced color grading solution. It has a free version that includes nearly all the color correction tools needed to brighten videos.

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

Price: Free, Paid DaVinci Resolve Studio

Step 1.

When you need to brighten a video using DaVinci Resolve, go to the Color page.

Step 2.

Choose the first node and open the Primaries palette. Four color wheels are offered for you to change contrast and brightness of a video: Lift, Gamma, Gain, and Offset.

Step 3.

To make a dark video brighter, drag the Gamma wheel upwards. You can also gently raise the Lift wheel to brighten the footage.

Method 4: CapCut (Best for Quick Mobile Fixes)

Best for: Social media creators and general users who want to directly edit and brighten videos on their phone.

Score:4.2/5

CapCut (by ByteDance) is incredibly popular because it is the default editor app for TikTok and offers robust editing tools for free. It provides straightforward sliders for exposure and brightness.

Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

Price: Free (with optional, advanced paid features)

Step 1.

Open the CapCut app on your phone and load the dark clip. Tap to choose it on the timeline. Scroll along the bottom toolbar to find the Adjust option.

Step 2.

Use the Brightness and Contrast sliders to manually brighten the video and optimize its overall look. Besides, you can use its web or desktop version to better edit your video with more functions.

Part 2. How to Avoid Grainy Footage When Brightening Video

Sometimes, after brightening a dark video, you may see more pronounced visual noise or grain. Why does this happen? Truth is, your operation of dragging the exposure or brightness sliders does not just brighten the light; it also amplifies digital artifacts or fluctuations. There are some tips for you to minimize grain when making a dark video brighter.

1. Instead of using the “Exposure” slider, try using the “Shadows” slider to gently brighten the dark parts of the image. This protects the brighter parts from becoming overexposed and efficiently avoids noise.

2. Some professional editors and enhancers have a related “Noise Reduction” function. You can select a desired tool to smooth out the grain.

3. When you change contrast and brightness of a video, do not overdo it. Avoid pushing the brightness too far.

Part 3. FAQs on How to Make a Dark Video Brighter

Question 1. How to make a dark video brighter on an iPhone?

When you need to edit a captured video on your iPhone, you can do it directly in the native Photos app. Find the dark video and open it in your Photos app. Tap Edit and then choose the Adjust option. Slide the Exposure bar to the right to increase the overall light levels. You can also adjust Shadows and Contrast to brighten the video. Besides the built-in editor, you can use some third-party apps like CapCut or VN Video Editor.

Question 2. Can I brighten a really dark video online?

Yes, many online video editors can help you make a dark video brighter. Popular options include Clideo, Kapwing, CapCut, Fotor Video Brightener, VEED, and Flixier Video Brightness Editor.

Question 3. How to brighten a dark video in iMovie?

Create a project in iMovie and add the dark video you want to brighten. Put the clip onto the timeline and choose it. Locate the Color Correction icon above the preview window. Click it to display several sliders. You can then brighten the footage by dragging these sliders.

Conclusion

This post tells four efficient methods to make a dark video brighter. While video editing, you often need to brighten it by adjusting exposure and contrast. This is a common and essential skill. You can select your desired editor, like Aiseesoft, Premiere Pro, or CapCut, to make your video brighter and clearer.