How to Turn On or Off Adaptive Brightness in Windows 11
You can turn Adaptive Brightness on or off in Windows 11 to automatically adjust your screen’s brightness based on the surrounding light.
This feature automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness, making it more comfortable to view without you having to do anything.
For example, Adaptive Brightness might lower your screen’s brightness when you’re in a dark room and increase it when you step into direct sunlight.
You can access this setting easily within Windows 11’s Display options, usually found under System settings.
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.
What is Adaptive Brightness?
Adaptive Brightness uses a sensor in your computer to detect the lighting in your environment and adjusts your screen brightness automatically. This helps reduce eye strain and saves battery life on laptops.
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.
You can easily turn adaptive brightness windows 11 on or off using the built-in Windows Settings app. This is the most straightforward way to manage how your screen adjusts its brightness automatically based on the light around you.
Option 2Using Windows Terminal
If you prefer using commands, you can turn adaptive brightness windows 11 on or off with Windows Terminal and a simple script. This method lets you quickly control the feature without opening the main settings menu.
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
Keep in mind: One command adjusts the setting when your PC is plugged in, and the other adjusts it when running on battery power.
Option 3Using Intel Graphics Control Panel
Computers with Intel graphics can manage adaptive brightness windows 11 using the Intel Graphics Control Panel. This dedicated software lets you fine-tune how your screen automatically adjusts brightness, often offering more specific controls than Windows settings alone.
- 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
If your PC uses AMD graphics, you can control adaptive brightness windows 11 through the AMD Radeon Settings, which AMD calls Vari-Bright. This feature lets you manage automatic screen brightness changes directly within your graphics card’s software.
- 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)
- Remember, changes usually apply to your current power plan.
- When your laptop is in battery saver mode, Windows might automatically dim the screen to conserve power.
- Experiment with these settings to find the brightness level that’s comfortable for your eyes.
Adaptive Brightness helps your screen adjust its brightness automatically based on the light around you, saving battery and reducing eye strain. You can turn this feature on or off easily using Windows Settings, command scripts, or specific controls within Intel or AMD graphics software.
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?
The Benefits of Adaptive Brightness for Eye Health Adaptive brightness helps reduce eye strain and fatigue. It does this by lowering the blue light from your screen and making the contrast between your display and its surroundings less jarring.
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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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