To adjust brightness in Windows 11, press Windows + A to open Quick Settings and move the Brightness slider, or go to Settings > System > Display and use the Brightness control. On many desktop PCs and external monitors, Windows doesn’t show a brightness slider, so you change brightness with the monitor’s own buttons or a DDC/CI tool such as PowerToys Power Display.
These steps match current Windows 11 releases, including version 26H2 (September 2026), on laptops, tablets and all-in-ones with a built-in screen. Windows 10 has its own short section near the end, and external monitors are covered under troubleshooting.
How to Adjust Brightness on Windows 11
The fastest method on a Windows 11 laptop or tablet is Quick Settings. Use the Display page in Settings when you also want the automatic brightness options.
Step 1: Open Quick Settings
Press Windows + A, or click the network, volume, or battery icons at the right side of the taskbar.
The Quick Settings panel opens above the taskbar.
Step 2: Find the Brightness Slider
Look for the slider with a sun icon. It appears on laptops, tablets, and other PCs with a supported built-in display. If it isn’t there, see the troubleshooting section below.
Step 3: Move the Slider
Drag the slider to the left to make the screen dimmer or to the right to make it brighter. The display changes as you drag, so stop when the screen feels comfortable.
The new level applies right away. Click anywhere outside the panel to close it.
How to Change Brightness from Windows 11 Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Display.
- Find Brightness under Brightness & color.
- Move the slider left or right to adjust the built-in display.
- Select the arrow next to Brightness to expand the automatic options described below.
The brightness changes as you drag, and Windows saves it without a separate Save button.
Windows + I is only one route: you can also open Settings on Windows 11 from Start or by right-clicking the Start button.
The Settings method is useful when you also want to review automatic brightness, content-based brightness, HDR, Night light, or other display options.
If the colors look off rather than too bright or dim, here’s how to change monitor color in Windows 11.
Why Is the Brightness Slider Missing?
A missing brightness slider doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Microsoft notes that you might not see the slider on devices that use an external monitor. In that case, use the buttons or joystick on the monitor to open its on-screen menu and change the brightness there.
On a laptop or other device with a built-in screen, a missing or broken brightness control usually points to the display driver. Update the display adapter driver in Device Manager, then restart Windows.
If you are trying to control a separate display, follow the steps for changing the brightness on a second monitor in Windows 11.
How Automatic Brightness Works in Windows 11
Some Windows 11 PCs can change brightness on their own. If your computer has a light sensor, go to Settings > System > Display, expand Brightness, and turn on Change brightness automatically when lighting changes. On HDR displays this adjustment can take longer to kick in. You can still fine-tune the level with the slider.
Some built-in displays also support content adaptive brightness, which changes brightness and contrast based on what’s on the screen. Microsoft labels it Change brightness based on content, with Off, Always, and On battery only choices. Turning it off can shorten battery life a little. If neither automatic option appears, your hardware doesn’t support it.
Can You Use a Keyboard Shortcut to Change Brightness?
Many laptops include brightness keys in the top row of the keyboard. They usually show small and large sun icons and may require you to hold the Fn key. The keys vary by manufacturer. Don’t confuse them with the keyboard backlight key. For HP models, here’s how to turn on the keyboard light on an HP laptop.
If you’d rather press those keys without holding Fn, you can change the Fn key settings on your laptop.
On an RGB keyboard you can also change the keyboard light color in Windows 11 with Dynamic Lighting or the maker’s app.
Windows has no universal brightness key combination because the laptop maker sets those keys. Windows + A is the reliable Windows shortcut: it opens Quick Settings, where the brightness slider appears on supported displays.
Other Ways to Change Brightness
Windows Mobility Center (laptops)
- Press Windows + X, or right-click the Start button.
- Select Mobility Center if it appears in the menu.
- Drag the Display brightness slider.
The screen brightness changes right away. Mobility Center is mainly found on laptops, so it may not appear on a desktop PC.
PowerShell (set an exact percentage)
If you want a precise level, open PowerShell and run this command, replacing 50 with any value from 0 to 100:
(Get-CimInstance -Namespace root/wmi -ClassName WmiMonitorBrightnessMethods).WmiSetBrightness(1,50)
The built-in screen jumps to that percentage. The command uses the same brightness interface as the Windows slider, so it doesn’t work on most external monitors.
PowerToys Power Display (external monitors)
Microsoft’s free PowerToys app includes Power Display, which puts a brightness slider for each external monitor in one flyout. It talks to the monitor over DDC/CI (Display Data Channel Command Interface), a standard many monitors support, sometimes only after you turn it on in the monitor’s own menu.
- Install PowerToys and open PowerToys Settings.
- Turn on Power Display and confirm when asked.
- Press its activation shortcut, or select Open Power Display.
- Drag the Brightness slider for the monitor you want to change.
If two or more monitors support it, Link brightness levels gives you one slider for all of them.
Does Lowering Brightness Save Battery?
Yes. The screen is one of the biggest power users on a laptop, and Microsoft’s power settings guide lists a dimmer screen among its battery tips. Energy saver, under Settings > System > Power & battery > Energy saver, turns on when the battery runs low and limits background activity. With Lower screen brightness when using energy saver turned on, it also dims the screen.
Brightness vs. Night Light
Brightness controls how much light the display produces. Night light changes the color temperature by making the screen warmer. If a screen feels harsh at night, try lowering brightness and turning on Night light together.
- Go to Settings > System > Display.
- Turn on Night light, then select the arrow next to it.
- Adjust Strength, or turn on Schedule night light and choose Sunset to sunrise or Set hours.
The screen takes on a warmer tint. If Night light is grayed out, update your display driver. It isn’t available with some drivers, such as DisplayLink or Basic Display.
Troubleshooting Brightness Problems
- No slider on a desktop PC: normal with an external monitor. Use the monitor’s buttons, its on-screen menu, or PowerToys Power Display if the monitor supports DDC/CI.
- No slider on a laptop: open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, update the graphics driver, then restart. A laptop showing Microsoft Basic Display Adapter is missing its real driver; get it from Windows Update or the laptop maker.
- Brightness keeps changing: turn off Change brightness automatically when lighting changes and set Change brightness based on content to Off.
- Screen dims on battery: Energy saver may be on. Turn it off in Quick Settings, or turn off Lower screen brightness when using energy saver.
- Fn keys do nothing: install your laptop maker’s keyboard or hotkey utility, or use Quick Settings instead.
- External monitor ignores Power Display: turn on DDC/CI in the monitor’s menu, or connect it directly instead of through a dock or adapter.
Change Brightness in Windows 10
In Windows 10, open Start > Settings > System > Display and move the Change brightness slider under Brightness and color. You can also press Windows + A to open Action Center, which shows a brightness slider on many laptops. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so it no longer gets security updates. Microsoft’s display brightness guide has a tab for each version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to change brightness in Windows 11?
Press Windows + A to open Quick Settings, then move the Brightness slider. On many laptops, the brightness keys on the top row are just as quick.
Why don’t I see a brightness slider on my desktop PC?
If the PC uses an external monitor, this is normal. Change the brightness with the buttons on the monitor. PowerToys Power Display can add a slider for monitors that support DDC/CI.
Can Windows 11 adjust brightness automatically?
Yes, on supported hardware. Some PCs adjust brightness based on room lighting, and some adjust brightness and contrast based on what’s on the built-in screen.
Why does my screen brightness keep changing by itself?
Automatic brightness, content-based brightness, or Energy saver is probably doing it. Open Settings > System > Display, expand Brightness, and turn off the automatic options, then check Energy saver under Power & battery.
Can I change brightness on an external monitor from Windows?
Usually not with the Windows slider. Use the monitor’s own controls, or PowerToys Power Display if the monitor supports DDC/CI. Graphics control panels can also darken the image, but that changes the picture rather than the backlight.
Already at the lowest setting and still too bright? Here are ways to make screen brightness lower in Windows 11.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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