For a built-in screen, adjust brightness from Settings > System > Display or the taskbar’s quick settings. To change how text and interface colors stand out, use Contrast themes in Windows 11 or High contrast in Windows 10. External monitors often require their own physical controls because Windows may not show a brightness slider for them.
Adjust brightness on a built-in Windows screen
In Windows 11 or Windows 10, open Settings > System > Display and move the Brightness slider. You can also use the brightness slider in the taskbar’s quick settings. On some earlier Windows 10 versions, the control may be in Display settings rather than Action Center.
If more than one display is connected, first select the screen you want to change in Display settings. The slider adjusts screen luminance; it does not change the colors Windows uses for text, links, and backgrounds.
Why is there no brightness slider?
Windows may not provide a brightness slider for an external monitor. Use the monitor’s physical buttons or on-screen menu to adjust its brightness and contrast. The absence of a Windows slider does not by itself mean the display is faulty.
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If the screen is built into a laptop or other supported PC and its slider is missing or has no effect, check that the display driver is installed and working. For a multi-monitor setup, confirm that the intended display is selected in Settings > System > Display.
Change contrast for clearer Windows text and interface colors
Contrast themes change the colors used by Windows interface elements; they do not increase or decrease the screen’s physical brightness.
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Windows 11
- Open Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes.
- Choose a theme, then select Apply.
- To customize it, select Edit and adjust colors such as text, background, and hyperlinks.
Windows 10
Open Settings > Ease of Access > High contrast and turn on the mode. You can also toggle it with Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen. The setting changes color contrast in Windows and many apps.
For Microsoft’s instructions on both versions, see Change color contrast in Windows. Microsoft also explains color and contrast options for Microsoft 365 in Use color and contrast for accessibility in Microsoft 365.
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Stop brightness from changing automatically
Windows has two distinct brightness-related behaviors, and the options shown depend on the device.
Ambient-light adjustment
On a supported PC, open Settings > System > Display, expand Brightness, and turn off the option to adjust brightness automatically when lighting changes. You can still set brightness manually. This control is hardware-dependent and may not appear on every PC.
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Content-adaptive brightness and contrast
Some Windows 11 PCs can automatically adjust brightness and contrast based on content on the built-in screen. In Settings > System > Display > Brightness, set the content-adaptive option to Off, Always, or On Battery Only, depending on the choices available on your device. Turning the feature off may reduce battery life. A steady setting may be preferable if content changes are distracting or consistent color appearance matters.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Adjust Night light or calibrate display color
Night light warms the screen’s colors; it is not a brightness or contrast-theme control. Open Settings > System > Display > Night light to enable it, adjust its strength, and choose a sunset-to-sunrise schedule or custom hours.
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If the Night light control is unavailable or grayed out, the display driver may need updating. Some drivers, including DisplayLink and Basic Display, do not support the feature. Microsoft’s Windows display guidance includes these details at Change display brightness and color in Windows.
To use Windows’ color calibration workflow, search Settings for calibrate display color and follow the instructions. The workflow does not establish that separate calibration hardware is required.
Balance brightness for an HDR display
On a supported HDR display, open Settings > System > Display > HDR to find controls for SDR and HDR content brightness. Their effect depends on the display, and built-in and external panels can behave differently.
On built-in HDR displays, raising overall screen brightness can make contrast appear weaker by lifting dark pixels. Lowering it can make contrast appear stronger while hiding detail in dark scenes. Adjust gradually and check both bright and dark content rather than judging from one image. See Microsoft’s HDR settings in Windows guidance.
Windows 10 support status
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft’s cited display and contrast instructions still cover Windows 10, but its support status is different from Windows 11. For Windows 10-specific brightness and color guidance, see Change display brightness and color in Windows.
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