Windows 11 · Windows

Adjust screen brightness in Windows 11

Source-checked About 10 minutes

Answer

Use Quick Settings or Settings > System > Display for a built-in screen; use the monitor's controls when Windows does not show a brightness slider.

Guide steps6 steps
  1. Use Quick Settings
  2. Use Display settings
  3. Choose automatic behavior
  4. Handle external monitors
  5. Verify the result for the display brightness control
  6. Narrow down problems with the display brightness control
  7. If it still does not work

Use Quick Settings

Press Windows + A and move the Brightness slider for a supported built-in display.

Use Display settings

Open Settings > System > Display > Brightness and adjust the slider.

Choose automatic behavior

Expand Brightness to enable or disable automatic and content-adaptive brightness when the PC supports them.

Handle external monitors

Use the physical or on-screen controls provided by an external monitor when Windows does not expose its brightness.

Verify the result for the display brightness control

Brightness changes smoothly and persists after restart, power change, and reconnect without crushing detail or causing flicker.

Narrow down problems with the display brightness control

If the slider is absent, adaptive brightness overrides it, only one monitor changes, or the graphics driver reports an error, stop broad resets and return to the last known state. Capture the exact error, versions, hardware or account scope, and failed step before using the linked official support channel.

Video walkthrough

If it does not work

  • If the display brightness control is unchanged after the documented check, return to the first observed condition and identify whether it affects one app, account, device, or every task before repeating steps.
  • If the labels differ after an update or the device is managed, retain the exact condition and use the linked owner source before removing data, resetting Windows, or installing an unrelated tool.
Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.

Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.

Continue with

Change screen resolution and scale in Windows 11Select the intended display, use the resolution and scale marked Recommended, and update the graphics driver if supported resolutions are missing.Browse more Windows 11 tutorials