How to Turn On or Off Adaptive Brightness in Windows 11
Adaptive Brightness in Windows 11 automatically changes your screen’s brightness based on the light around you.
This feature uses your device’s built-in light sensor to detect how bright your surroundings are. It then adjusts your screen’s brightness to make it easier to see, like making it dimmer in a dark room or brighter in sunlight.
For example, if you move your laptop from a bright window to a dim office, Adaptive Brightness will automatically lower the screen’s brightness. This helps prevent eye strain and can also save battery power.
You can find this setting in Windows 11 under Settings > System > Display.
Open Settings, navigate to System > Display, and toggle the “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes” option. This feature adjusts screen brightness based on ambient light.
How to Turn On or Off Adaptive Brightness
Option 1Using Windows Settings
- Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Click System on the left side.
- Click Display on the right side.
- Find the Brightness section and click to expand it.
- Look for the option “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes”.
- Check the box to turn Adaptive Brightness On, or uncheck it to turn it Off.
- Close the Settings window when done.
Adaptive brightness in Windows 11 can be turned on or off using the main Windows Settings app. This method lets you control if your screen’s brightness changes automatically based on the room’s light. Open Settings, go to System, then Display, and find the brightness options.
Option 2Using Windows Terminal
Using Windows Terminal lets you turn adaptive brightness on or off with a quick command; this is faster than navigating the Settings menu. This method applies the change to your currently active power plan. It’s a good option if you’re comfortable with commands and want a speedy way to toggle the feature.
Turn On Adaptive Brightness
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 1
powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 1
powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
Turn Off Adaptive Brightness
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 0
powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 0
powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
Option 3Using Intel Graphics Control Panel
If your computer uses Intel graphics, you can manage adaptive brightness through the Intel Graphics Control Panel. This tool lets you adjust how your screen’s brightness changes automatically with the surrounding light. You can find the option to turn this feature on or off within the Power settings of the panel.
- Open the Intel Graphics Control Panel.
- Click the Power icon.
- Select either On Battery or Plugged in mode.
- Check or uncheck Enable Display Power Saving Technology to turn Adaptive Brightness on or off.
- Adjust the slider to set how much brightness change you want.
- Click Apply.
- Confirm by clicking Yes within 15 seconds to keep your changes.
Option 4Using AMD Radeon Settings
For PCs with AMD graphics, you can control adaptive brightness using AMD Radeon Settings; this software refers to the feature as Vari-Bright. This setting lets you adjust your screen’s automatic brightness directly within your graphics card’s software. You can turn this feature on or off for specific screens in the Display section of the settings.
- Open AMD Radeon Settings.
- Click Display.
- If you have multiple screens, pick the display you want to change.
- Turn Vari-Bright on or off. This is AMD’s version of adaptive brightness.
- If you turn it on, adjust the Vari-Bright Level slider to your liking.
- Close AMD Radeon Settings when finished.
Summary
- Adaptive Brightness helps your screen adjust brightness automatically based on light around you.
- You can turn it on or off easily through:
- Windows Settings
- Command scripts (BAT files)
- Intel Graphics Control Panel (if you have Intel graphics)
- AMD Radeon Settings (if you have AMD graphics)
- Keep in mind that changes typically apply to your current power plan.
- When your laptop is in battery saver mode, Windows may automatically dim the screen to conserve power.
- Experimenting with these settings can help you find the brightness level that’s comfortable for your eyes.
Adaptive brightness in Windows 11 automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness based on ambient light. This feature saves battery and reduces eye strain. You can turn adaptive brightness on or off in Windows Settings, using command scripts, or through specific graphics control panels like Intel’s or AMD’s. These brightness changes usually apply to your current power plan.
Helpful Links
- Microsoft Support: Change display brightness and color in Windows
- Learn about Adaptive Brightness – Microsoft Docs
- Intel Graphics Drivers Support
- AMD Radeon Settings FAQ
Is adaptive brightness good for your eyes?
Benefits of Adaptive Brightness for Eye Health Adaptive brightness can help reduce eye strain and fatigue. It does this by lowering blue light from your screen and reducing the jarring contrast between your display and its surroundings.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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