How to Change Brightness in Windows 10

This guide shows you every built-in way to adjust screen brightness in Windows 10, from the quick Action Center slider to keyboard shortcuts and power settings. You’ll learn the fastest method for your laptop, tablet, or desktop monitor, plus how to fix it when the slider is missing or grayed out. No extra software is needed for most steps.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 PC (laptop, tablet, or all-in-one) with a built-in display.
For external monitors: the monitor’s own physical buttons or OSD (on-screen display) menu.
Optional: the keyboard shortcut key (often a sun icon) on your laptop’s function row.

Step-by-Step

Use the Action Center (fastest for laptops/tablets): Click the notification bubble icon in the far right of the taskbar (or press Win + A). Click the brightness tile—it looks like a small sun. Each click cycles through 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. For finer control, click the chevron (^) next to the brightness tile to reveal a slider, then drag it left or right.
Use the Settings app: Press Win + I to open Settings. Go to System > Display. Under the “Brightness and color” section, drag the Change brightness slider. This slider is the same one that appears in the Action Center.
Use your laptop’s keyboard shortcut: Look for a key with a sun icon (often on the F5 or F11 key, but varies by manufacturer). Hold down the Fn key and press the sun-up or sun-down key. Some laptops allow direct pressing without Fn—check your manual or try both ways.
Use the mobility center (Windows 10 only): Right-click the Start button and select Mobility Center (or press Win + X and choose it). Under “Display brightness,” drag the slider. This is handy when the Settings app is not responding.
Adjust an external monitor: If you’re using a desktop monitor, the Windows brightness slider usually does nothing. Use the buttons on the monitor itself to open its OSD menu, then navigate to the brightness setting (often a sun icon). Adjust it with the monitor’s +/− buttons.
Enable adaptive brightness (optional): In Settings > System > Display, scroll down and click Advanced display settings (or just “Advanced display”). Under “Brightness and color,” toggle Change brightness automatically when lighting changes on or off. This uses the ambient light sensor to adjust brightness automatically. Note: this option may not appear on all devices.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong slider: The Windows brightness slider only works for built-in laptop/tablet screens. For external monitors, you must use the monitor’s physical controls—the Windows slider will appear to do nothing.
Forgetting the Fn key: On many laptops, the function row keys (F1-F12) perform media or brightness actions only when you hold Fn. If pressing the sun key alone doesn’t work, try holding Fn.
Confusing brightness with night light: Night light adds a warm tint to reduce blue light, but it does not change the actual brightness. If the screen looks dimmer or orange, check that Night light is off in Settings > System > Display.
Dragging the slider too fast: The slider may not register every pixel of movement. Drag slowly and release to let the screen update.

Tips

Create a desktop shortcut (advanced): Right-click the desktop, choose New > Shortcut, and paste this: %windir%\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /internal. This opens a quick display menu, but it’s not a direct brightness slider—it’s a handy alternative for multi-monitor setups.
Use the slider in the login screen: Before signing in, click the Ease of Access icon (the clock icon) on the bottom-right, then select “Display” to adjust brightness—useful if you can’t see the screen well.
Update your graphics driver: If the slider is missing or unresponsive, updating the Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA driver often restores it. Use Windows Update or the manufacturer’s website.
Check your power plan: In Control Panel > Power Options, click “Change plan settings” next to your active plan, then “Change advanced power settings.” Under “Display,” you can set separate brightness levels for battery and plugged-in modes.

Troubleshooting

No brightness slider in Settings/Action Center: This usually means your display driver is missing or outdated. Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager), expand “Display adapters,” right-click your adapter, and choose “Update driver.” If that fails, uninstall the adapter and restart—Windows will reinstall it.
Slider is grayed out: This often happens when the display is set to a fixed brightness by the hardware (e.g., some external monitors or projectors). For laptops, try disabling and re-enabling the display in Device Manager, or check if your manufacturer’s utility (like Intel Graphics Command Center) has overridden the setting.
Brightness changes on its own: Adaptive brightness may be enabled. Turn it off in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings. Also check your power plan for “Enable adaptive brightness” and set it to Off.
Keyboard shortcut doesn’t work: Some laptops require the manufacturer’s keyboard driver or utility (e.g., Dell QuickSet, HP Hotkey Support). Install the latest keyboard driver from your laptop maker’s support page. Alternatively, use the Action Center slider.
Brightness resets after reboot: This is often caused by a power plan setting. In Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings, set the “On battery” and “Plugged in” brightness to the same value, or set them to your preferred levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t the brightness slider work on my desktop monitor?

Windows only controls built-in laptop/tablet screens. For external monitors, use the monitor’s physical buttons to access its OSD menu and adjust brightness there.

How do I make the brightness slider appear if it’s missing?

Update your display driver via Device Manager or Windows Update. If that doesn’t work, check if your PC has a generic PnP monitor driver—replace it with the specific driver from your monitor manufacturer.

Can I set different brightness for battery vs. plugged in?

Yes. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > Display > Display brightness, and set separate values for “On battery” and “Plugged in.”

What is adaptive brightness and should I turn it off?

Adaptive brightness uses an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust brightness. If you find it annoying or it makes the screen too dim, turn it off in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.

Does Night light affect brightness?

No, Night light only changes color temperature (adds a warm tint). It doesn’t change the actual brightness level. If your screen looks dim, check the brightness slider separately.

Why does my screen go dim when I unplug the charger?

Windows automatically lowers brightness on battery to save power. You can change this in Power Options as described above, or simply adjust the slider after unplugging.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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