Adjust brightness through your operating system settings

The fastest way to brighten your screen is through your computer's built-in brightness controls. On Windows, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "brightness". Click "Brightness and color" in the results. You'll see a slider labeled "Brightness" — drag it to the right to increase brightness. The change happens when ready.

On Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select "System Settings", then click "Displays". You'll see a "Brightness" slider in the main panel. Drag it to the right. If you have an external monitor connected, the settings panel will show separate brightness controls for each display.

Both systems also let you adjust brightness using keyboard shortcuts. On Windows laptops, look for brightness keys on your keyboard — usually marked with a sun symbol. Press the key with the upward-pointing sun to increase brightness. On Mac laptops, use F1 (decrease) and F2 (increase) to adjust brightness without opening Settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows brightness controls are in Settings under "Brightness and color", while Mac controls are in System Settings under "Displays".
  • Most laptops have dedicated brightness keys on the keyboard that work when ready without opening any menus.
  • If your monitor has physical buttons, you can adjust brightness directly on the monitor itself, which overrides software settings.
  • Enabling Night Light or Night Shift reduces blue light but makes the screen appear warmer and slightly dimmer, so turn it off if you want maximum brightness.
  • If brightness controls are grayed out or not working, updating your graphics driver often fixes the problem.

Use your monitor's physical brightness buttons

External monitors and some laptop screens have physical buttons or dials on the front or bottom edge. Look for buttons labeled with a sun symbol or brightness icon. Press the button marked with an upward-pointing sun or plus sign to increase brightness. This method works independently of your operating system and is often faster than using software controls.

The buttons may be touch-sensitive or mechanical. If your monitor has a menu button, you can also press it to open an on-screen display menu, then navigate to "Brightness" using arrow buttons and adjust it from there. Check your monitor's manual if you're unsure which button does what — different manufacturers place controls in different locations.

Turn off Night Light or Night Shift if it's reducing brightness

Windows includes a feature called Night Light that reduces blue light in the evening to reduce eye strain. Mac has an equivalent called Night Shift. Both features make your screen appear warmer (more orange or yellow) and slightly dimmer. If you've turned on either feature, it may be why your screen looks darker than expected.

On Windows, open Settings, go to "Brightness and color", and toggle "Night Light" off. On Mac, open System Settings, click "Displays", then turn off "Night Shift". Your screen will when ready appear brighter and cooler in color temperature. You can turn these features back on during evening hours if you prefer.

Check if power-saving mode is limiting brightness

Windows has a Battery Saver mode (on laptops) and a general Power Saver setting that can cap brightness to extend battery life. If you're on a laptop and Battery Saver is on, it may prevent you from raising brightness above a certain level. Open Settings, go to "System" then "Battery", and toggle "Battery Saver" off. Your brightness slider will then have full range.

On Mac, check if Low Power Mode is enabled. Open System Settings, click "General", then "About", and look for a Low Power Mode toggle. Turning it off restores full brightness control. These modes are useful for extending battery life on the go, but they do limit how bright your screen can get.

Update your graphics driver if brightness controls aren't working

If your brightness slider is grayed out, missing, or not responding when you adjust it, your graphics driver may be outdated or corrupted. On Windows, right-click the Start button, select "Device Manager", then expand "Display adapters". Right-click your graphics card (usually Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD) and select "Update driver". Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and let Windows find and install the latest version.

After the update completes, restart your computer. Your brightness controls should work again. On Mac, brightness controls rarely fail due to driver issues, but restarting your computer fixes most display problems. If brightness still doesn't work after a restart, try resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) by shutting down, then holding Shift + Control + Option + Power for 10 seconds.

Increase contrast and text size if brightness alone isn't enough

Sometimes a screen that's technically bright still feels hard to read. Increasing contrast can make text and images pop without making the screen brighter. On Windows, open Settings, go to "Accessibility" then "Display", and adjust the "Contrast" slider. On Mac, open System Settings, click "Accessibility", select "Display", and toggle on "Increase contrast".

You can also enlarge text and icons. On Windows, go to Settings > "Accessibility" > "Display" and adjust the "Text size" slider. On Mac, open System Settings > "Accessibility" > "Display" and increase "Text size". These changes make content easier to read without straining your eyes, which is especially useful if you're working in bright daylight or have vision difficulties.

Position your screen away from glare and reflections

A screen that looks dim may actually be bright enough — glare and reflections from windows or overhead lights can wash out the image. Move your monitor so it faces away from direct sunlight or bright light sources. If that's not possible, adjust the angle of your screen or use a monitor hood or anti-glare filter to reduce reflections.

Cleaning your screen also helps. Dust and fingerprints reduce brightness and clarity. Use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with water to gently wipe the screen. Avoid harsh chemicals or paper towels, which can scratch the surface. A clean screen often looks noticeably brighter than a dusty one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my brightness slider not working even though I moved it?

Your graphics driver may be outdated or your monitor may not support software brightness control. Try updating your graphics driver through Device Manager (Windows) or restarting your computer (Mac). If the slider still doesn't work, use your monitor's physical buttons instead, or check whether Battery Saver or Low Power Mode is limiting brightness.

Can I make my screen brighter than the maximum setting?

No — the maximum brightness setting is the limit your hardware can produce. If that's still not bright enough, try increasing contrast, enlarging text, or reducing glare by repositioning your monitor away from windows and overhead lights. You can also try an external monitor, which may have higher maximum brightness than a laptop screen.

Does making my screen brighter use more battery?

Yes, a brighter screen uses more power. On a laptop, running at maximum brightness drains the battery faster than running at medium brightness. If battery life is a concern, find a brightness level that's comfortable for your eyes but not at the absolute maximum. Night Light and Battery Saver modes help extend battery life by reducing brightness.

What's the difference between brightness and contrast?

Brightness controls how light or dark the entire screen appears. Contrast controls the difference between light and dark areas — higher contrast makes text and images sharper and easier to read. You can adjust both independently. If your screen looks washed out even at high brightness, increasing contrast often helps more than increasing brightness further.

Why does my screen look dimmer after I restart my computer?

Your brightness setting may have reset to a default level, or Night Light may have turned back on. Check your brightness slider and Night Light toggle in Settings. You can also check whether your monitor's physical buttons were accidentally pressed during the restart, which would lower brightness at the hardware level.