How to Change Screen Brightness in Ubuntu Linux

Adjusting your screen brightness is important for your eyes. Why? It helps you see clearly in different rooms and saves your battery life. What happens when you are done? Your screen will be at the perfect light level for your current environment.

Ubuntu Linux automatically adjusts screen brightness for some laptops or computers based on the current lighting conditions. This automatic setting helps make sure your screen is readable wherever you go.

These automatic settings might not work well with an external monitor. For an external monitor, you usually need to use the physical buttons on the device itself.

How to adjust the screen brightness in Ubuntu Linux

Sometimes, you may want to turn off automatic adjustments to set the brightness yourself. If you need to change your display, follow these steps.

Method 1: Using the Quick Settings Menu

1. Click the status area in the top-right corner of your screen. This is where your Wi-Fi, battery, and volume icons live.
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4. Look for the brightness slider in the menu that pops up.
5. Drag the slider left or right to change the light level.
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Method 2: Using the Settings App

1. Open your app drawer and click on Settings.
2. In the left sidebar, click on the Power tab.
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5. Under the Screen section, move the Screen brightness slider to your preferred level.

General

If you are an advanced user, you can control brightness using the command line. You can use tools like brightnessctl or by editing files in /sys/class/backlight/. These methods are useful for scripts or custom keyboard shortcuts.

Note on compatibility: Brightness control depends on your display server (Wayland vs. X11) and your graphics drivers. If the sliders do not appear or do not work, ensure your graphics drivers are up to date. Some older hardware may not support software-based brightness control, requiring you to use the monitor’s built-in hardware menu instead.

If you have trouble with these settings, you may need to disable automatic brightness to take full manual control.

Adjusting your brightness helps you see better and keeps your device running smoothly. Follow these steps whenever your screen feels too bright or too dim.