pressed the favorite button on my pico remote but the lights only go to like 80% brightness, not all the way.

Diagnosis

The issue isn't a hardware failure or a connectivity glitch, but rather a configuration mismatch between the Pico remote's programmed "scene" and your expected output. In the Lutron Caséta ecosystem, the Pico remote doesn't simply trigger a "max power" command; it triggers a specific brightness percentage saved to that button's memory slot. If the lights are stopping at 80%, it means the Favorite button is currently mapped to a 80% dimming level. This often happens during the initial setup process or if a user accidentally adjusted the slider while the "Favorite" programming mode was active. Because the Caséta system uses Clear Connect wireless technology to communicate between the Pico and the dimmer, the dimmer is simply executing the precise command it received. To confirm this, try using the physical paddle switch on the wall; if the lights reach 100% via the wall switch but not the remote, the problem is definitively the remote's software mapping.

How to Fix It

To recalibrate the Favorite button to 100% brightness, follow these precise steps within the Lutron app:

1. Launch the Lutron app on your mobile device and ensure you are connected to the same network as your Lutron Smart Bridge.
2. From the main dashboard, select the specific Room where the problematic dimmer is located.
3. Locate the dimmer switch icon and tap the "Settings" gear or the "Favorites" star icon located in the top right corner of the device control screen.
4. You will see a visual representation of your Pico remote buttons. Identify the button currently assigned to the "Favorite" function (typically the middle button on a 5-button Pico).
5. Tap the button to open its specific brightness adjustment slider.
6. Drag the slider all the way to the right until it reads "100%".
7. Tap "Save" or "Done" to commit this change to the Smart Bridge, which will then broadcast the updated command to the dimmer switch.
8. Test the remote immediately by pressing the Favorite button to ensure the lights now hit full luminosity.

If That Didn't Work

• Perform a Hard Reset of the Pico Remote: If the app says 100% but the lights stay at 80%, the remote may have a cached mapping error. Remove the battery from the Pico remote for 30 seconds, then re-insert it. If that fails, you may need to unpair the remote from the dimmer and re-pair it by pressing and holding the "Off" button for 5 seconds until the LED flashes, then following the pairing sequence on the wall dimmer.
• Check for "Adaptive Lighting" or "Schedules": Check if you have a "Smart Away" or "Circadian" schedule active in the Lutron app. Some advanced schedules override manual brightness commands to prevent glare or save energy during specific hours of the day, capping the maximum output regardless of the button pressed.
• Inspect the Bulb Compatibility: Ensure you are using Lutron-compatible dimmable LED bulbs. Non-compatible bulbs can sometimes experience "plateauing," where the dimmer sends a 100% signal, but the bulb's internal driver cannot handle the voltage and caps the output at a lower perceived brightness. Try swapping the bulbs with a known compatible brand like Philips Hue (in non-smart mode) or GE Relax.
• Verify the Dimmer Trim Settings: If the "100%" setting still looks dim, the low-end or high-end trim may be misconfigured. In the app, go to Device Settings and look for "Trim." Adjust the high-end trim to ensure the dimmer is allowing the full voltage range to reach the bulbs.

Heads Up

• Battery Maintenance: Pico remotes use CR2032 coin cell batteries. If the battery is low, the remote may send "stuttering" signals that cause the dimmer to stop short of the target brightness. Replace the battery if the LED on the remote dims during a press.
• Avoid Overloading: Ensure the total wattage of your bulbs does not exceed the maximum rating of the dimmer (usually 150W for incandescent or 60W for LED). Overloading can cause erratic dimming behavior and voltage drops.
• Avoid "Smart-on-Smart": Never use a smart LED bulb (like Hue or LIFX) with a Caséta dimmer switch. This creates a "double-dimming" effect that can flicker the bulbs or cause them to stop at random brightness levels.
• Placement Matters: Keep the Pico remote within 30 feet of the dimmer for the most reliable signal. While Clear Connect is powerful, metal obstructions or large mirrors between the remote and the switch can cause signal degradation.