As an experienced OS user, you surely know how crucial screen brightness settings are. In Windows 11, keeping your eyes comfortable isn’t just about productivity, but also long-term health. A screen that’s too bright can quickly tire your eyes, even causing headaches. Fortunately, Windows 11 provides many practical ways to dim the screen, so much so that you might forget you used to only be able to use the physical buttons on a CRT monitor!
This article will guide you through five powerful methods for adjusting the brightness of your Windows 11 display. From the most classic to the modern, you can apply them all to keep your eyes comfortable while looking at the screen.
- Quick Trick via Keyboard Shortcut
This is the most instant and often-relied-upon method, especially for laptop users. Just like in older versions of Windows, this key combination allows you to lower the screen brightness without touching the mouse. Remember the Fn key on your laptop or the F-keys on your desktop? Yup, that’s the key.- Fn + Brightness Icon: On many laptops, you’ll find function keys (usually in the F1-F12 range) that have a sun or plus/minus icon. Press the Fn key simultaneously with the key that has the icon.
- Fn + Left/Right Arrow: Some laptop manufacturers use the Fn key in combination with the left or right arrow keys to adjust brightness.
- Fn + F1/F2 (or F5/F6/F11): Another variation is Fn + F1 or F2, or on some laptop models, it could be F5, F6, or even F11 equipped with brightness icons. Just try the ones that work on your laptop.
This method is quick and efficient, suitable for those who multitask and need an instant response.
- Traditional Trick: Physical Buttons on External Monitor
For you desktop users with an external monitor, this is the most classic and often forgotten method. Most monitors are equipped with physical buttons to access the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu, which contains screen brightness settings.Just look for a button labeled – (minus), a dimmed sun icon, or access the monitor menu, then look for the ‘Brightness’ or ‘Picture’ option. Press the button to reduce the screen light to the desired level. This method is independent of Windows, so it’s effective if there are software problems. - Modern Trick: Via Settings App (Win + i)
This is the official path most often used in Windows 11 for various settings. Through Settings, you have full control over the display, including brightness. The steps are simple:- Press the Windows Key + i simultaneously to open the Settings app.
- In the left sidebar, select “System”.
- Then, click on the “Display” option.
- In the “Brightness & color” section, you will see the “Brightness” slider. Slide the slider to the left to dim your Windows 11 screen.
This method provides precise control and direct visualization of brightness changes.
- Old but Powerful Trick: Windows Mobility Center (Win + X)
Remember the Mobility Center feature from the Vista or Windows 7 era? This feature is still present in Windows 11 and is very useful, especially on laptops. Access is easy:- Press the Windows Key + X simultaneously. This will open the “Quick Link” or “Power User Menu”.
- From the list that appears, select “Mobility Center”.
- In the Mobility Center window, you’ll find several settings, including a slider for “Display brightness”. Slide the slider to the left to reduce the screen brightness.
Mobility Center also usually displays battery status, volume, and wireless settings, making it a multifunctional quick dashboard.
- Super Quick Trick: Via Action Center (Win + A)
Action Center, also known as the Quick Settings Panel in Windows 11, is the center for notifications and modern quick settings. This is perhaps the second fastest way after the keyboard shortcut to adjust the screen brightness of Windows 11.- Press the Windows Key + A simultaneously. This will open the Quick Settings panel.
- In the panel, you will immediately see the Brightness slider marked with a sun icon. Slide the slider to the left to lower the screen light.
Action Center is also where you can activate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and much more, making it very practical for quick access.
Conclusion: Comfortable Eyes, Safe Productivity
Well, easy, right? With these various options, you can adjust the brightness of your Windows 11 screen to your liking and make your eyes more comfortable while working or relaxing. No more glare like seeing the Blue Screen of Death, hehe.
Understanding and utilizing basic features like this is part of being a smart and efficient computer user. Hopefully, this guide from repiw.com is useful for your eye comfort and productivity!