If the brightness slider moves but the screen brightness does not actually change, the most common causes are the display driver, monitor type, or automatic/adaptive brightness behavior.
- Check whether this is an external monitor.
- If the PC is connected to an external monitor, Windows might not show or control brightness for that display.
- In that case, use the physical brightness buttons on the monitor itself.
- Try changing brightness from Settings.
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Display.
- Under Brightness, adjust the slider.
- On Windows 11, brightness can also be changed from the Network icon area on the right side of the taskbar.
- Turn off content-based adaptive brightness.
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Display.
- Select Brightness.
- Set Change brightness based on content to Off.
- This stops Windows from automatically changing brightness and contrast based on what is on the screen.
- If automatic brightness is enabled, test by turning it off and back on.
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Display.
- Under Brightness, check whether brightness automatically when lighting changes is available.
- Toggle it off, then on again.
- Update the display driver.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the display adapter and select Update driver.
- If the brightness slider is missing or does not work, Microsoft recommends updating the display driver.
- Check Windows Update optional driver updates.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.
- Install any available display-related updates, then restart.
- If Device Manager shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, install the correct graphics driver from the PC or laptop manufacturer.
- That usually means the proper graphics driver is not installed or is corrupted.
- After installing the correct driver, restart and test brightness again.
- If auto-brightness stopped working after a recent Windows update on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, use the temporary workaround.
- Adjust the brightness slider manually once, or press a brightness hotkey.
- Plug or unplug the charger.
- Turn Battery Saver on or off.
- Put the device to sleep while on battery power.
- These actions can reactivate the ambient light sensor.
If this is a desktop PC with an external display, the expected result is that Windows brightness control may not work at all, and the monitor’s own controls must be used. If this is a laptop with a built-in display, focus first on the display driver and optional updates.
- Change the brightness, contrast, or sharpness of a picture | Microsoft Support
- [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/display-graphics/change-display-brightness-and-color-in-windows#adjust-display-brightness)
- [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/display-graphics/change-display-brightness-and-color-in-windows)
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