How-To

How to Turn Off or Manage Auto Brightness on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Last Updated on December 22, 2021

Your Windows PC can adapt to different lighting conditions. If you want to configure or turn off auto brightness on Windows 11, follow these steps.

If you’re working in different environments, you may prefer your screen brightness to adapt by lowering or raising the overall brightness for you. However, this can cause issues, especially if the lighting conditions aren’t right for you. You may need to conserve battery power, for instance.

Windows is clever, but it isn’t perfect—you may need to switch auto brightness off on your PC. If you’re trying to manage or turn off auto brightness on Windows 11, you can do so by following these steps.

Configuring Windows 11 Brightness Settings

Before you begin, there are some things you’ll need to consider first.

Firstly, each Windows 11 device handles auto-brightness differently. Some adjust the brightness based on ambient surroundings, while others have light sensors built-in. Another feature Microsoft introduced is Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC). It adjusts brightness and contrast based on the content being displayed.

The controls you have available in Settings will be different based on your device’s features. Automatic or (adaptive) brightness is only available on Windows 11 systems with a built-in display such as a laptop, tablet, or an all-in-one desktop PC. You won’t see an auto brightness option when you’re using a desktop with an external monitor, for example.

How to Turn Off or Manage Auto Brightness on Windows 11

To manage or turn off auto brightness on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Press Start or hit the Windows key to bring up the menu, then click Settings. You can also hit the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I to launch Settings directly.

2. Once Settings opens, click System from the left panel, then Display on the right.

3. Next, click Brightness under the Brightness and color section and uncheck Change brightness automatically when lighting changes.
4. Uncheck the Help improve battery by optimizing the content shown and brightness option immediately underneath.

4. From here, you can also adjust the Brightness slider to adjust the display’s brightness manually.

How to Manage Display Brightness from Quick Access on Windows 11

You can also use the Quick Settings menu if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to adjust your display’s brightness. To open and manage brightness on Windows 11, do the following:

1. The Quick Settings menu is hidden—click the button where Wi-Fi, Speaker, and Battery icons are located on the taskbar at the right to view it. You can use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + A to launch Quick Settings.
2. In the Quick Settings menu, drag the brightness slider to increase or decrease the brightness of the built-in display.

4. After adjusting the brightness to where you want it, exit the Quick Settings menu by clicking an empty area on the desktop.

How to Manage Auto Brightness in Battery Saver Mode on Windows 11

Windows 11 will reduce your display’s brightness while in Battery Saver mode. That makes sense because blasting your display’s brightness eats up a lot of battery juice. You can, however, change settings to prevent Windows 11 from changing the brightness. Use the following steps:

1. Click the Start button and open Settings. Alternately, you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I to open Settings directly.
2. Once you’re in Settings, head to System > Power & battery.

3. Expand the Battery section on the right and select the Lower screen brightness when using battery saver slider toggle, switching it to the Off position.

With this setting disabled, your screen’s brightness will remain at the level you set it to the next time the battery saver mode kicks in.

Controlling Windows 11 Display Settings

Having your display adjust automatically to different lighting conditions can be a nice feature—if it works right. When it works, it can help save battery life and allow you to view the screen optimally. However, there will be times when it doesn’t work to your liking. Microsoft makes it easy to turn off or manage auto brightness in Windows 11 by following the steps above.

There are other ways you can change your display settings in Windows 11, however. For example, if you’re worried about eye strain, you can start using dark mode on Windows 11. For a more personalized desktop experience, you can change the Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar colors to suit your needs.