Top 8 Fixes for the Windows 10 Brightness Slider Not Working Issue
Windows 10 has a myriad of recurring problems that do not seem to disappear. Night Light, whoever? But while most are slightly boring and easy to solve, some are downright terrible. And one of those specific cases is the Windows 10 brightness slider, which often does not work. Slide it to the left or right and nothing happens on your laptop. It's infuriating.
It is possible that the Windows 10 brightness slider does not work for several reasons. Often it's just a random bug or a problem that you can solve quite quickly. Or, it could be a problematic display driver giving you grief. Be that as it may, let's review these eight steps in resolving the problems that can definitively solve this problem.
1. Update Windows 10
The first thing to do before doing anything is to look for new Windows 10 updates. If the brightness slider does not work due to known issues with the operating system, especially after an update Microsoft is required to resolve them immediately.
Type Windows Update in the Start menu, and then press Enter to search for new Windows updates. If updates are available, install them and restart the computer.
2. Restart the display adapter
Sometimes your computer's graphics adapter may go astray and prevent the brightness slider from working properly. Disabling and then turning on the graphics card on your computer can solve the problem.
Step 1: Start by opening the Device Manager. To do this, right-click the Start icon, and then click Device Manager.
S2nd step: Expand Graphics Cards in Device Manager. Then, right-click your graphics card, and then click Disable Device.
SStep 3: In the confirmation dialog box that appears, click Yes. Your screen may turn off, but it will turn back on after a few seconds.
SStep 4: Once again, right-click the graphics card, and then click Enable device to reactivate it.
If available, repeat the same for all additional adapters (dedicated or integrated) listed under the Graphics Cards section. Finally, try the brightness slider – it should work.
3. Update display driver
Obsolete display drivers are another reason why the brightness slider no longer works. While Windows 10 usually installs and manages the appropriate drivers for your graphics card, it is advisable to check.
Step 1: Open the device manager. Expand Graphics Cards, and then right-click your graphics card. In the menu that appears, click Update Driver.
S2nd step: Click Automatically search for updated driver software.
Windows 10 will then check for updates. If new updates are found, it will install them automatically. Repeat this procedure for any additional adapters listed in.
4. Reinstall the display driver
Still having problems with the brightness slider? Then, it's time to reinstall the drivers for your graphics card. This should support corrupt files or badly cached driver data.
Step 1: Open the Device Manager, and then expand Graphics Cards. Then, right-click your graphics card, and then click Uninstall a device.
S2nd step: Restart your computer. Windows 10 will automatically reinstall drivers when rebooting.
If it does not, return to Device Manager, click Action on the menu bar, and then click Scan for Hardware Changes. This should force Windows 10 to reinstall the drivers.
Check if the brightness slider is working. Otherwise, go to the next patch.
5. Update the drivers manually
Windows 10 may not automatically provide new drivers for your graphics card. If the brightness slider still does not work after the update or reinstallation, it is a good idea to manually download and install the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer's website. Use the links below to get the latest GPU / Display drivers from Intel, NVIDIA or AMD sites.
Point: To find the make and model of your graphics card, type "msinfo32" in the Start menu and press Enter. In the System Information window, expand Components, and then click View.
You can also use the hardware detection utilities provided by Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD to automatically download and install the latest updates.
6. Start troubleshooting the power
Improperly configured power settings also help to prevent the brightness slider from working properly. To verify if this is the case, consider using the troubleshooting tool built into Windows 10.
Start by typing troubleshoot settings in the Start menu. Click Open, and then scroll through the Troubleshooting window until you meet the power. Click it, and then click Run the Troubleshooter.
Follow the rest of the instructions on the screen, and you should have problems with the power management settings that are fixed at the end.
7. Enable Generic Monitor Drivers
Sometimes, some third-party programs may install replacement drivers for your primary display device. This can lead to conflicts with the basic features of Windows 10, such as the brightness slider. Therefore, returning to the default driver can help solve this problem.
To check if this is the case, go to Device Manager, and then expand Monitors. Right-click Generic PnP Monitor. If an option labeled Enable Device is listed in the pop-up menu, click it.
Then, exit Device Manager, and then restart your computer. Check if the brightness slider works without problems.
8. Use the Microsoft Basic graphics card
If the above fixes do not work, one last item can help you restore normal brightness slider operation. You must start using the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, a generic driver that typically resolves compatibility issues related to the graphics card.
However, using this generic driver will restrict some features associated with your graphics card. You will likely experience performance issues and you may not be able to upgrade to higher resolutions. Keep this in mind.
Step 1: Open the Device Manager, and then expand Graphics Cards. Right-click your graphics card, and then click Update Driver.
S2nd step: Click Browse My Computer for the driver software.
SStep 3: Click on the option entitled Let me choose from a list of drivers available on the workstation to continue.
SStep 4: Select the Microsoft Basic graphics card, and then click Next.
Windows 10 will now start using the Microsoft base graphics card instead of the map-specific display drivers. You should find the brightness slider working without problems afterwards. This also proves that the problem lies with other display drivers. You must update or reinstall them correctly.
Note: Since using the Microsoft base graphics card will restrict the use of your graphics card, be on the lookout for new Windows updates, which could offer a permanent solution to the problem.
Shine brighter
So, did you manage to run the brightness slider on your computer? I hope you have corrected it immediately without going through any patches. Restarting your graphics card can really help correct this problem.
Not being able to use the brightness slider to control a display that is too bright or too dark can be terrible. While Microsoft is working to resolve this problem for good, remember to return to the above solution whenever you encounter this problem.
Then: Using safe mode in Windows 10 often gives better results when troubleshooting problems. Learn how to start your PC in Safe Mode easily.