How to Adjust Brightness in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ever felt your screen is too dim during the day or too bright at night? You’re not alone! Knowing how to adjust brightness in Windows 10 can make your PC easier on the eyes, help conserve battery life, and improve your overall experience — especially if you work or study for long hours.

In this detailed guide, we’ll cover all the ways to adjust screen brightness on Windows 10 — from using quick settings and keyboard shortcuts to advanced display options. We’ll also troubleshoot common brightness issues and explain how to fix them easily.

Why Adjusting Brightness Matters

Brightness might seem like a minor setting, but it affects your comfort, eye health, and device performance more than you think.

Here’s why it’s important:

• 👁️ Eye Comfort: Too much brightness can strain your eyes, while too little can make it hard to read.

• 🔋 Battery Life: Lower brightness saves power on laptops.

• 🌙 Environment Adaptability: Adjusting brightness helps you see clearly in different lighting conditions.

• 🌈 Color Accuracy: Proper brightness ensures realistic color reproduction for photo editing and gaming.

In short — getting the brightness just right keeps your eyes happy and your device efficient.

2. Understanding Screen Brightness in Windows 10

Before diving in, it helps to know that brightness control depends on your device type:

If your PC uses a dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), it may also include display control software for brightness adjustments.

3. How to Adjust Brightness in Windows 10 via Quick Settings

The easiest and fastest way to change brightness is through Quick Settings.

Steps:

1. Click the notification icon (💬) in the lower-right corner of your taskbar.

2. In the Action Center, look for the brightness slider (☀️).

3. Drag the slider left or right to decrease or increase brightness.

That’s it! You can adjust brightness instantly without opening any menus.

💡 Tip: If you don’t see the slider, click Expand in the Action Center — it might be hidden.

4. How to Adjust Brightness Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Many laptops come with dedicated brightness keys. Look for sun-shaped icons (☀️) on the function keys (F1–F12).

Common Combinations:

• Fn + F5 / F6 → Decrease or increase brightness (HP, Dell)

• Fn + F2 / F3 → Adjust brightness (Acer, ASUS)

• Fn + Arrow Keys → Brightness control (some Lenovo models)

If the keys don’t work, ensure:

• The function (Fn) key is enabled.

• Keyboard drivers are up-to-date.

• You’re using the latest version of Windows 10.

5. How to Adjust Brightness via Action Center

Windows 10’s Action Center offers another simple option.

Here’s how:

1. Press Windows + A to open the Action Center.

2. Find the brightness slider at the bottom.

3. Slide it left or right to adjust your display brightness.

If you’re using a tablet, swipe in from the right edge to open Action Center.

6. How to Change Brightness in Windows 10 Settings

For a more precise adjustment, use the Display Settings panel.

Step-by-Step:

1. Right-click on your desktop → select Display settings.

2. Under Brightness and color, use the Change brightness slider.

3. Move the slider to your preferred level.

This method offers fine-tuned brightness control, perfect for long work sessions or nighttime use.

7. Adjusting Brightness on a Desktop Monitor

If you’re on a desktop PC, Windows may not control brightness directly — instead, you’ll need to adjust it manually on your monitor.

How:

1. Locate the physical buttons on your monitor.

2. Press the Menu or Settings button.

3. Navigate to Brightness or Backlight.

4. Increase or decrease as needed.

Some monitors also offer software utilities (like Dell Display Manager or LG OnScreen Control) for on-screen brightness adjustments.

8. How to Automatically Adjust Brightness Based on Lighting

Windows 10 can automatically adjust brightness using a light sensor — great for laptops and tablets.

To enable:

1. Go to Settings → System → Display.

2. Scroll to Brightness and color.

3. Check the box for Change brightness automatically when lighting changes.

This feature is helpful if you move between bright and dark environments throughout the day.

9. How to Adjust Brightness with Power Options

You can also customize brightness based on your power plan — for example, dimming the screen when on battery power.

Steps:

1. Open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options.

2. Next to your selected plan, click Change plan settings.

3. Adjust Display brightness for both “On battery” and “Plugged in.”

4. Click Save changes.

This setting helps extend battery life without manually changing brightness every time.

10. How to Change Brightness Using Display Driver Settings

If you’re using a graphics card, your driver software might have its own brightness controls.

For Intel Graphics:

1. Right-click your desktop → Intel Graphics Settings.

2. Go to Display → Color Settings.

3. Adjust the Brightness slider.

For NVIDIA:

1. Right-click → NVIDIA Control Panel.

2. Choose Display → Adjust desktop color settings.

3. Move the Brightness slider to modify screen brightness.

For AMD:

1. Right-click → AMD Radeon Settings.

2. Select Display → Color.

3. Adjust Brightness under Display settings.

These options provide advanced customization for gamers or editors who need precise color and light control.

11. How to Use Adaptive Brightness in Windows 10

Adaptive Brightness uses sensors to adjust screen light automatically based on ambient light conditions.

To turn it on:

1. Type Control Panel in the search bar → open it.

2. Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options.

3. Click Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.

4. Expand Display → Enable adaptive brightness.

5. Turn it On for both battery and plugged-in modes.

It’s ideal for reducing eye strain in changing environments.

12. Troubleshooting Brightness Not Working

If brightness adjustments don’t seem to work, don’t worry. Let’s troubleshoot.

Common causes:

• Outdated display drivers

• Missing power settings

• Third-party apps interfering with brightness controls

Fix:

1. Update display driver:

   • Open Device Manager → expand Display adapters → right-click → Update driver.

2. Restart the display driver: Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B.

3. Run Windows Update: Sometimes, new patches fix brightness bugs.

4. Check power plan: Reset to default under Power Options.

13. How to Fix Brightness Slider Missing in Windows 10

If you can’t find the brightness slider under Display settings, it’s usually a driver issue.

Try this fix:

1. Open Device Manager → expand Monitors.

2. Right-click Generic PnP Monitor → choose Enable device.

3. If it’s already enabled, right-click and select Update driver.

4. Reboot your PC.

If the slider still doesn’t appear, reinstall your display adapter driver or reset Windows display settings.

14. How to Adjust Brightness in External Displays

For external monitors, brightness control depends on hardware — Windows usually can’t adjust it directly.

Options:

• Use monitor’s physical buttons to access on-screen menu.

• Use graphics card software like NVIDIA or AMD Control Panel.

• Install monitor utilities (e.g., ScreenBright, Monitorian) to adjust brightness through Windows.

15. Brightness Adjustment Tips for Battery Saving

Brightness plays a huge role in battery life. Here’s how to balance comfort and conservation:

• 🔋 Use 40–60% brightness indoors.

• 🌞 Enable adaptive brightness for outdoor use.

• 🕶️ Use dark mode and night light to reduce strain.

• ⚡ Create a power plan that dims brightness on battery automatically.

Reducing brightness by just 30% can extend battery life by up to 20–30% on most laptops!

16. Conclusion: Brightness Control for Comfort and Efficiency

And there you have it — a complete guide on how to adjust brightness in Windows 10!
Whether you prefer quick sliders, keyboard shortcuts, or advanced driver tools, you now have every method at your fingertips.

Proper brightness settings help you:

• Protect your eyes

• Improve battery life

• Enhance your overall display experience

So next time your screen feels off, don’t squint — just slide!

17. FAQs About Adjusting Brightness in Windows 10

1. Why can’t I adjust my brightness on Windows 10?

This usually happens due to missing or outdated display drivers. Update them through Device Manager.

2. How do I make my screen brighter than the max setting?

Open your GPU control panel (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) and increase brightness or contrast manually.

3. Where is the brightness slider in Windows 10?

Find it under Settings → System → Display → Brightness and color.

4. Does lowering brightness save battery?

Yes, significantly — it’s one of the simplest ways to extend battery life.

5. Can I set automatic brightness adjustment?

Yes, enable adaptive brightness in Power Options or Display settings if your device has a light sensor.

🧩 Key Takeaways

In summary:
Adjusting brightness in Windows 10 is simple but powerful — it enhances comfort, reduces eye strain, and helps your laptop last longer. Whether you’re working late, watching movies, or gaming, mastering these brightness settings will make your PC feel perfectly tuned to you.