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Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account Browse Articles Quizzes & Games All Quizzes Hot Personality Quizzes Dating Simulator Learn Something New Support wikiHow Log in / Sign up Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Last Updated: June 21, 2026 Fact Checked Using the Action Center Using Windows Settings Troubleshooting Expert Interview This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over 7 years. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,398,502 times. Is your PC monitor too bright or too dim? You can easily adjust the screen brightness of your Windows 10 computer in the Settings menu. You can also change the screen brightness in the action center in the taskbar. This wikiHow guide will show you how to adjust the screen brightness in Windows 10. Change Display Brightness in Windows Open the Action Center in the taskbar and drag the brightness slider. Alternatively, go to Settings > System > Display and drag the brightness slider. Optionally, check the box labeled Change brightness automatically when lighting changes in the display menu. Using the Action Center 1 Open the Action Center. Click the message icon to the right of the clock in the taskbar to open the action center. If you’re considering upgrading your monitor or switching to a 2-monitor setup , check out our guide on how to choose a monitor. If you’re considering upgrading your monitor or switching to a 2-monitor setup , check out our guide on how to choose a monitor. 2 Drag the brightness slider to adjust the screen brightness. It's near the bottom of the screen and has a sun icon next to it. Drag it to the left to lower the screen brightness, and to the right to raise the screen brightness. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Note that the brightness slider only appears in versions 1903 and later of Windows 10. To change the brightness in earlier versions, use the Settings menu method below. The slider won’t appear if you’re using a desktop PC and external monitor. Use the monitor’s control buttons to adjust the screen brightness. For example, if you’re using your TV as a monitor , you’ll need to use the buttons to navigate to the brightness settings on the TV. Note that the brightness slider only appears in versions 1903 and later of Windows 10. To change the brightness in earlier versions, use the Settings menu method below. The slider won’t appear if you’re using a desktop PC and external monitor. Use the monitor’s control buttons to adjust the screen brightness. For example, if you’re using your TV as a monitor , you’ll need to use the buttons to navigate to the brightness settings on the TV. Using Windows Settings 1 Click the Start menu . The Windows Start menu is the icon that has the Windows logo in the taskbar. By default, it's in the lower-left corner of the taskbar. If you’re trying to change the brightness on an external monitor, you’ll need to use the monitor’s buttons. For example, an external monitor connected to a laptop will have buttons on the sides or back. If you’ve connected two monitors to your laptop or desktop, you’ll need to adjust them separately. If you’re trying to change the brightness on an external monitor, you’ll need to use the monitor’s buttons. For example, an external monitor connected to a laptop will have buttons on the sides or back. If you’ve connected two monitors to your laptop or desktop, you’ll need to adjust them separately. 2 Click . The Settings menu is the icon that resembles a gear. It's on the far left side of the Windows Start menu. 3 Click System . It's the first item in the Windows Settings menu. It's next to an icon that resembles a computer. 4 Click Display . It's the first option in the sidebar to the left. This opens the display settings. 5 Drag the slider bar to adjust the screen brightness. The slider bar that says "Change brightness" is at the top of the display settings. Drag the slider bar to the left to lower the screen brightness. Drag it to the right to increase the screen brightness. Use a lower screen brightness to conserve power/battery life. Use a lower screen brightness to conserve power/battery life.

6 Set the brightness to change automatically (optional). Some PCs can automatically adjust the brightness when the lighting in your environment changes. In the Display settings menu, go to the “Brightness and color” section. Check the box labeled Change brightness automatically when lighting changes . In the Display settings menu, go to the “Brightness and color” section. Check the box labeled Change brightness automatically when lighting changes . Troubleshooting 1 Troubleshoot the slider by updating the display driver. Finding and updating drivers is easy . If you’re not using a desktop PC and the slider is either missing or not working, updating the display driver can sometimes resolve the issue: Search “Device Manager” in the taskbar search box. Click Device Manager in the list of results. Select Display adapters in the Device Manager window. Select your display adapter driver. Right-click the display adapter driver. Click Update driver and follow the prompts. Search “Device Manager” in the taskbar search box. Click Device Manager in the list of results. Select Display adapters in the Device Manager window. Select your display adapter driver. Right-click the display adapter driver. Click Update driver and follow the prompts. 2 On external monitors, use the physical buttons. If you don't see the brightness slider or if you see no changes, you may need to use the buttons on your monitor instead. With most monitors, you can find the brightness options by pressing the physical "settings" button. Question I tried doing all these steps, but the brightness is not changing. What should I do? R2_d2000 Top Answerer It sounds like your computer's display drivers aren't installed correctly. You can visit the manufacturer's website, or contact their support, to download the latest drivers for your computer. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 42 Helpful 28 Question I'm using a PC that does not have an option for brightness in settings. What do I do? R2_d2000 Top Answerer It sounds like you are using a computer with an independent monitor. Try to use the button on the monitor to change the brightness. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 148 Helpful 136 Some computers also have a button on the keyboard that you can use to adjust the screen brightness. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 6 For more computer monitor tips, check out how to clean a monitor/LCD screen and fix a stuck pixel on an LCD monitor . Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 5 If the slider does not change the screen brightness, the cause may be that your computer does not have the correct display drivers installed. You can check the manufacturer's website to download the display drivers for your computer. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 5 You Might Also Like Expert Interview Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about computers and technology, check out our in-depth interview with Luigi Oppido . ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026946/windows-10-change-screen-brightness About This Article 1. Click the Windows Start menu. 2. Click the Gear icon. 3. Click System . 4. Use the slider bar to adjust screen brightness. Did this summary help you? Yes No Send fan mail to authors Is this article up to date? Quizzes & Games You Might Also Like Trending Articles Trending Articles Take the Quiz. Face the Truth. 🔥 Are You More… 🤔 Featured Videos Hot Takes Only 🔥 Your Daily Dose of Fun 🎉 Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Do Not Sell or Share My Info Not Selling Info wikiHow Tech Help Pro: Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve