How to Change Screen Brightness

Adjust the brightness of your computer or phone screen to make it easier on your eyes and save battery life.

Steps

  1. 1

    Look for brightness keys

    on your laptop keyboard. They often look like a sun icon on the top row function keys.

  2. 2

    Press the sun key

    to increase or decrease brightness. You may need to hold the Fn key at the same time.

  3. 3

    Open the action center

    on Windows by clicking the speech bubble icon in the taskbar. Drag the brightness slider left or right.

  4. 4

    On a Mac

    open Control Center from the menu bar and click the brightness icon to adjust the slider.

  5. 5

    On a phone

    swipe down from the top of the screen to open quick settings and drag the brightness slider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does lowering brightness save battery?Show
Yes, a dimmer screen uses less power and can significantly extend your battery life on laptops and phones.
Why does my screen brightness keep changing?Show
Your device likely has auto brightness turned on. It adjusts based on light sensors built into the screen.
Can I set different brightness for battery and plugged in?Show
Yes, on Windows you can set separate brightness levels for battery mode and when the laptop is plugged in.
What is the best brightness for reading?Show
A brightness level around 50 to 70 percent works well indoors. Adjust lower in dark rooms to reduce eye strain.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated .