Computer-Tips Windows 11

Nov 18, 2025

Adjusting screen brightness helps improve visibility, reduce eye strain, and save battery life. In Windows 11, changing brightness is easy, but it only works on laptops and portable devices that support built-in brightness control.
If you’re using a desktop PC with a monitor, you must use the monitor’s physical buttons instead — Windows cannot adjust brightness for external displays.

This guide explains how to change brightness in Windows 11, keyboard shortcuts, how to fix the missing brightness slider, model-specific methods for HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Surface laptops, and more.

It also includes important keywords like how to reduce brightness in Windows 11 shortcut key, how to change brightness on Windows 10, shortcut key to increase brightness in Windows 10, and more.

The Windows brightness slider only appears when:

You are using a laptop

Your laptop supports Integrated Display Technology

Correct graphics drivers are installed

Brightness control does NOT work on desktop PCs, monitors, or TVs connected via HDMI/VGA/DisplayPort.

Click on Wi-Fi / Sound / Battery icon in the taskbar

Move the Brightness Slider left or right

This is the easiest way to change screen brightness.

Open Settings

Go to System → Display

Under Brightness & color, adjust the Brightness slider

This method works on all Windows 11 laptops.

Almost all laptops come with dedicated brightness keys on the keyboard.

Common laptop shortcut keys:

Use these keys if you prefer quick brightness control.

Press Fn + F2 to decrease

Press Fn + F3 to increase

Or use Settings → Display → Brightness

Use Fn + F4 (down) and Fn + F5 (up)

Or use brightness slider from Quick Settings

Use Fn + F5 / Fn + F6

ThinkPad: Fn + Home/End

You can also use Lenovo Vantage App to manage brightness

Use Fn + F5 / F6

Or use MyAsus app controls

Fn + Left Arrow (decrease)

Fn + Right Arrow (increase)

Brightness keys located on the top function row

Also supports auto brightness from Display Settings

Fn + F2 or Fn + F3

Also supports Samsung Settings brightness control

Use your laptop’s brightness keys:

Reduce brightness → Fn + Brightness Down Key

Increase brightness → Fn + Brightness Up Key

These keys vary by brand but typically appear as sun icons.

If brightness slider is missing:

Use this internal link:
https://multicaretechnical.com/how-to-update-drivers-on-windows-11-complete-guide

Intel / AMD / Nvidia drivers must be installed for brightness control to work.

Press:
Ctrl + Shift + Win + B

Brightness slider won’t appear on external monitors.

Open Device Manager

Expand Monitors

Right-click Generic PnP Monitor → Enable

This restores the slider in most cases.

Brightness keyboard buttons only work on:

Laptops

All-in-one PCs

Surface devices

Desktop PCs with monitors will NOT support brightness keys.

You can adjust brightness even if Windows 11 is not activated using:

Quick Settings panel

Display settings

Keyboard shortcut keys

Activation does NOT affect brightness control features.

The process is similar to Windows 11:

Open Action Center

Adjust the brightness slider

Or open Settings → System → Display

Use slider under Brightness and color

Shortcut keys also work in Windows 10.

Windows 7 supports brightness control through:

Control Panel → Display → Adjust Brightness

Laptop function keys

Power Options → Change Plan Settings

But Windows 7 no longer receives updates.

For additional Windows 11 guides:

Missing drivers or using an external monitor can cause this issue.

No, it works only on laptops and built-in laptop displays.

Update display drivers or enable Generic PnP Monitor in Device Manager.

Use the Fn + Brightness Down key (varies by laptop brand).

Press Fn + Brightness Up (sun-shaped icon) depending on your laptop model.

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