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If Night light is grayed out in Windows 11, check the display driver first. Microsoft says a gray toggle may mean the driver needs an update, but updating it is not guaranteed to fix every case. Night light is also unavailable with certain drivers, including DisplayLink and Basic Display.
Check whether Night light is unavailable or just looks wrong
Open Settings > System > Display and find the Night light control. If the switch is gray, Windows is not letting you turn the feature on. Microsoft’s Night light instructions identify an outdated display driver as a possible reason for a gray toggle.
If Night light is already on but the screen looks too red, that is a different issue from a disabled switch. On HDR-capable devices, Microsoft says the tint can be too red depending on the Night light strength. Reduce Strength or turn Night light off; see Microsoft’s HDR settings guidance.
Check which display driver Windows is using
Microsoft says Night light is unavailable with certain drivers, including DisplayLink and Basic Display. These are examples, not a complete list of every possible driver compatibility issue. To check the adapter Windows recognizes, right-click Start, choose Device Manager, and expand Display adapters. If the active display adapter uses one of the incompatible drivers Microsoft identifies, the Night light switch may remain unavailable.
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Update the display driver
Microsoft recommends updating the display driver when the Night light toggle is gray. You can use Device Manager or obtain a supported driver from the computer or display-adapter manufacturer. Microsoft’s Windows driver update guidance notes that the manufacturer may provide the latest driver.
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the display adapter and choose Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow any on-screen instructions.
If Windows does not find a newer driver, check the support channel for your PC or display-adapter manufacturer and follow its instructions for the exact model. Avoid third-party driver updater utilities; use a driver source supported by Windows or the manufacturer.
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Try Night light again and set its options
After updating the driver, return to Settings > System > Display and check whether the switch is available. If it is, turn Night light on, then open Night light settings to adjust Strength or set a schedule. Microsoft’s Night light instructions describe two schedule choices:
- Sunset to sunrise: Windows schedules Night light around local sunset and sunrise.
- Set hours: Choose the start and end times yourself.
If the toggle is still grayed out
Microsoft’s guidance identifies driver updating as a possible remedy and names DisplayLink and Basic Display as incompatible examples; it does not promise that an update resolves every gray toggle or explain every device-specific cause. If the supported driver update does not help, contact the PC or adapter manufacturer for guidance on the driver supported by your hardware. Do not edit the registry or reinstall Windows as first-line fixes for this symptom.
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