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How to Resolve 'Cannot Adjust Brightness on Laptop Screen'

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How to Fix When You Can't Adjust Brightness on Your Laptop Screen

Trouble with your laptop screen brightness can be like trying to use your laptop in a cave or being blinded by an artificial sun. If your screen is stuck at one brightness level, don't panic! You're not doomed to squint or wear sunglasses indoors forever. Whether you're unable to make your screen brighter or dim it down, we've got some simple fixes that should help get things back to normal.

1. Check the Hardware

First things first, make sure this isn't a hardware issue. If you're using a function key (often labelled as Fn) combined with another key to adjust brightness, double-check that these keys aren’t physically stuck or damaged. Also, ensure your laptop is fully charged or plugged in; some laptops limit certain functionalities to conserve battery.

2. Restart Your Laptop

This seems too simple to be true but believe me, restarting your computer can work miracles. It's the age-old tech advice for a reason. A quick reboot can reset your system settings and might just resolve your screen brightness issue without further fuss.

3. Update Your Display Driver

The display driver is the piece of software that lets your operating system and hardware communicate, specifically for your screen. If it's outdated or corrupted, it could be causing your brightness adjustment problems.

  • Right-click the Start button and select ‘Device Manager’.
  • Find ‘Display adapters’ and expand the section.
  • Right-click on your display device and select ‘Update driver’.
  • Choose ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ and follow the instructions.

If an update was available and installed, check if you can adjust the brightness now.

4. Roll Back the Display Driver

If updating doesn't help or if the issue started right after an update, you might need to roll back to the previous version of the driver.

  • In the Device Manager (accessible the same way as before), find your display device under ‘Display adapters’.
  • Right-click and select ‘Properties’, then go to the ‘Driver’ tab.
  • Click on ‘Roll Back Driver’ if the option is available. Follow any on-screen instructions then restart your laptop.

5. Adjust Power Settings

Your laptop's power settings can affect screen brightness, especially if you're in battery saving mode. Adjust these settings by:

  • Typing ‘Control Panel’ in the search bar, opening it, and selecting ‘Hardware and Sound’.
  • Choose ‘Power Options’.
  • Next to your selected power plan, click ‘Change plan settings’.
  • Click on ‘Change advanced power settings’.
  • Scroll down to ‘Display’ and expand it, then adjust the brightness settings as needed.

6. Enable Adaptive Brightness

Some laptops come with a feature called ‘Adaptive Brightness’, which automatically adjusts your screen brightness based on your surroundings. If it's not working correctly, turning it off and on again could help.

  • Still in the ‘Power Options’ menu, find ‘Display’ and expand the ‘Enable adaptive brightness’ setting.
  • Set it to ‘Off’, then press ‘Apply’. Switch it back to ‘On’ if you prefer using this feature, then press ‘Apply’ again.

7. Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes the issue could be with the operating system itself. Microsoft frequently releases updates to fix bugs and improve functionality.

  • Go to Settings (you can find this by pressing the Windows key + I).
  • Select ‘Update & Security’, then ‘Windows Update’.
  • Click ‘Check for updates’. Install any available updates.

8. Use Third-Party Software

If none of the above solutions work, consider using third-party software to adjust your screen brightness. However, be cautious and only download software from reputable sources to avoid malware.

In conclusion, if your laptop's brightness is giving you grief, there's usually a simple solution. Start with the basics like checking hardware and power settings, then move on to driver and system updates. With a bit of patience and maybe a restart or two, you should be able to get back to comfortably using your laptop in any lighting condition. If all else fails, remember that professional help is just a tech support call away. Have patience, and you'll likely find a solution that brings back your screen to its optimal brightness.