One of the most commonly used operating systems in the world is Microsoft’s Windows 10. However, despite its large user base, it is not free from errors and issues. One such issue which may not sound very serious but can prevent you from using your Windows 10 computer is the malfunctioning of the brightness slider. This renders users helpless as they can’t control the illumination of the screen. A over the bright screen and a low & dim lighted screen can both render the computer unusable for the time till the issue is fixed.
There is no specific reason identified for this bug but here are a few quick fixes that can resolve this issue. If you are facing time constraints and have to complete a project or some task urgently, then I recommend you try the Last Method which is at number eight to temporarily resolve the issue. Then, you can try all the steps in order to fix this issue once and for all.
Simple & Quick steps to Fix Brightness not Working in Windows 10
Method 1. Update your Windows 10 Operating System.
Updates are software patches released by Microsoft that ensure the smooth functioning of your Windows 10 Operating system. Windows updates do consume time and Internet data, but they are worth the effort and expense as an updated computer is always stable. The first step for resolving almost all Windows issues is to check for the recent updates and update your computer regularly.
To check for updates on Windows 10, follow these steps:
Step 1. Type Windows Update in the Search box located on the bottom left of your taskbar.
Step 2. From the search results displayed in the start menu, click on Windows Update Settings.
Step 3. The Windows update settings box will open. Click on Check for Updates.
Step 4. Wait for the updates to download and install.
Step 5. Restart the computer and check if the issue of brightness not working in Windows 10 is resolved.
Note: If you face the Windows 10 brightness control issues after an update installed on your computer, then it could be affecting a lot of users globally. The best possible solution is to either uninstall that update or wait for a couple of days as Microsoft will soon release a minor update to fix the issue.
Method 2. Disable/Enable your Display Adapter.
Windows 10 is a great operating system, and consists of many sections control its functions like Display, Sound, Wi-Fi, Network and others. Each function is managed by system files and their respective driver files. A small glitch can occur, which can prevent a specific function from working without affecting the entire operating system. Once such glitch can create issues with your display adapter causing the brightness to change automatically or prevent the slider from moving either way. In such cases, follow these steps to resolve brightness not working on Windows 10:
Step 1. Open the Device Manager by typing it in the search box on the taskbar.
Step 2. A new window will open containing a list of Drivers. Locate Display Drivers and click the arrow next to it. This will further list the drivers in this category.
Step 3. Select your Display Driver and right-click on it. Choose Disable Device from the small list of options. A confirmation box will appear asking you to confirm your action.
Step 4. Select Yes on the confirmation box. The screen will turn off for a few seconds and restore back automatically. The display driver is now turned off.
Step 5. Repeat the steps and Enable the driver this time. The screen will again turn off for a few seconds and will be turned on.
Step 6. Upon performing these steps, a display driver will turn off and then turn on your display driver. Check your Windows 10 Brightness control settings for any change.
Method 3. Update your Display Adapter.
If a simple toggle of the display does not solve the issue of brightness not working in Windows 10, then it is time to try something advanced. Even if your Windows 10 is updated, you can still try to find updates for your display driver only by these steps.
Step 1. Open the Device Manager again and locate the Display Adapters category.
Step 2. Click on the arrow next to it and select your display adapter and make a right-click on it.
Step 3. This time choose Update Driver from the small list of options.
Step 4. Next, from the new list of options, choose Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software and click on it.
Step 5. Windows 10 is quite efficient to scan for updates for the driver selected and if it finds any, it will automatically download and install them.
Step 6. Restart your computer and check for the brightness issue.
Method 4. Reinstall your Display Driver
If the update feature in Windows 10 does not find any update, then it implies that the driver installed in your computer is the latest updated version. But there are chances that this driver might be slightly corrupted. The update feature will not reinstall the driver if the latest’s version is already installed. We will have to do it manually by following these steps:
Step 1. Open the Device Manager again and locate the Display Adapters category.
Step 2. Expand the Display Adapter to reveal your driver’s name and right-click on it.
Step 3. Click on Uninstall Device from the list of options. This will remove the driver from your system.
Step 4. Restart your computer. The reboot will take more time than usual as Windows 10 will automatically reinstall the drivers during the reboot process.
Step 5. If the restart was quick and you find that the colors displayed are not satisfactory, then follow the first two steps and choose Scan for Hardware Changes from the small list of options. This will force Windows to install the drivers.
Step 6. Restart your computer again and check for the issue of brightness not working in Windows 10.
Method 5. Update Drivers Manually.
Display Adapter Manufacturers or OEM may develop certain updates for their hardware and post these updates on their websites. They are, of course, free to download and install. Microsoft takes time to review each driver’s updates from OEM and then release it, bundled with their update patch. You can try to visit the official website of your display adapter and download the latest update and install it.
Follow the same step mentioned in Method 3. Update your Display Adapter with a small change while choosing the source for searching for drivers.
Choose Browse my computer for driver software and select the file downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. To identify your display adapter’s make and model, type msinfo32 in the Run box and click on OK.
Note: To open the Run box, press the Windows key and R, simultaneously.
On the msinfo32 window expand the Components category and locate Display. Click on Display, and your display adapter information will be displayed on the right side.
Visit the devices manufacturer’s official website and download the drivers for your display adapter to resolve the Windows 10 brightness control issue.
Method 6. Run the Windows 10 Troubleshooter.
Windows 10 has an in-built troubleshooter which automatically identifies the issues and also attempts to fix them. It is a powerful tool and has successfully fixed many issues on my computer in no time. Here the steps to run the Windows 10 troubleshooter:
Step 1. Type Troubleshoot in the search box on the taskbar.
Step 2. From the results displayed on the taskbar, choose Troubleshoot Settings.
Step 3. A new window will open, displaying various troubleshoot options. Scroll down the list on the right side of the window and locate Power.
Step 4. Click on Power and then click on Run the Troubleshooter.
Follow the onscreen instructions, and it will attempt to resolve the issue of brightness not working on Windows 10. Any other issues detected will also be fixed automatically.
Method 7. Enable the Generic Monitor Driver.
Some third-party drivers may cause conflict with the default Windows 10, and this can result in Windows 10 brightness control issues. Switching back to the default driver of your monitor may resolve the issue. Here are the steps to enable the default drivers.
Step 1. Open Device Manager once again. From the list of the drivers, locate and select Monitors.
Step 2. Click the arrow beside the Monitors category to expand it. It will display Generic PnP Monitor.
Step 3. Right-click on Generic PnP Monitor, and choose Enable Device.
Step 4. If the device is already enabled, then disable it and re-enable it.
Step 5. Restart your computer. This simple toggle might resolve the issue of brightness not working on Windows 10.
Method 8. Switch to Microsoft Basic Display Driver.
If all the above methods fail, then the temporary option is to switch your display adapter to the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. It is a light-weight generic driver that works in almost all conditions. The reason why I did not suggest this method earlier is that this driver does not use your graphics card to its full potential. It will also restrict advanced functionalities of your display adapter and limit it to a simple graphic card. But it will fix the issue of brightness not working on Windows 10, and you will be able to increase or decrease the brightness.
Step 1. Open the Device Manager for one last time, and select Display Adapters.
Step 2. Right-click and click on Update Driver just as done in Method 3.
Step 3. From the two options, click on the second option that states Browse my computer for driver software.
Step 4. Click on Let Me Pick from a List of Available Drivers On My Computer.
Step 5. The next screen will display your display driver along with the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. Choose the latter and select next.
Step 6. Your screen might flicker and then blackout for a few seconds and then revert to normal. The Microsoft Basic Display Adapter will now be active, which will resolve all your Windows 10 brightness control issues.
Note: This is a temporary solution and you will have to wait for driver updates from Microsoft or OEMs to be able to use your display adapter permanently
Your thoughts on the issue of brightness not working in Windows 10
The Brightness Slider can often cause serious issues and make your computer unusable in some cases such as when the brightness is set to dim or low. These steps would be extremely helpful to sort this problem and lighten up the monitor screen. If you lack time to go through all the steps, then just remember the last step to switch to the basic display adapter and it will surely resolve any issues in Windows 10 related to brightness control for time-being.
If you do not face any issue with brightness control now, then bookmark this page by pressing CTRL + D for future use.