How to turn off auto-brightness in

Windows laptops and tablets often come with an auto-brightness feature that dims or brightens the screen, depending on surrounding lighting conditions. While this feature is useful, it can also be problematic, leaving you with a screen that's too dark and difficult to view.

If you find this feature frustrating and want to disable it, this article is for you. In this guide, we explain how to disable adaptive brightness in Windows 7, 8 and 10 in a few simple steps.

How to Disable Auto-Brightness in Windows 10

A Windows laptop or tablet uses sensors to detect ambient light levels. The auto-brightness feature works in conjunction with these sensors to monitor changes in surrounding lighting and adjust your screen brightness accordingly.

The easiest way to disable this feature on a Windows 10 computer is through the computer settings. Here's how:

1. Navigate to the “Start” button and click on it.
   
2. Type “Control Panel” and when this option appears, click on it.
   
3. Look for the "Hardware and Sound" option and select it.
   
4. In the menu that opens, click on "Power options".
   
5. In the "Power Options" window, find "Change plan settings" on the right side of the screen. Click on it.
   
6. In the menu that opens, select “Change advanced power settings”.
   
7. Scroll down the window that opens until you see "Display." Click the "More" icon on the left to open the drop-down menu.
   
8. Under "Enable adaptive brightness", click on "Settings" and set it to "Off".
   

The auto-brightness feature is now disabled and you can return to your home screen.

Not all Windows 10 laptops allow turning off auto-brightness. In these cases, you can create a new power plan to keep your screen brightness consistent. Here's how:

1. Click on the "Start" button and go to the "Control Panel".
   
2. Navigate to "Hardware and Sound" and click on it.
   
3. Select “Power Options”.
   
4. In the window that opens, choose "Create a power plan" in the left pane.
   
5. Choose from the three available options: “Balanced (recommended)”, “Energy saving” and High performance. »
   
6. Name your new plan and click “Next”.
   
7. Configure this plan to best suit your needs, and when you're done, click "Create" and close the windows.
   

How to Disable Auto-Brightness in Windows 10 Registry

If you find that disabling auto-brightness through "Settings" doesn't work, you can always try disabling it manually through Registry Editor. Working with the registry can be tricky, and editing it incorrectly can cause serious problems. We suggest that you back up the registry before proceeding.

This method will permanently disable the auto-brightness feature on your Windows 10 device. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Locate the "Windows" key on your keyboard and press it with the "R" key. This opens the "Run command" line.
2. Type “Regedit” and press “Enter”.
   
3. Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareIntelDisplayigfxcuiprofilesmediaBrighten Movie".
   
4. In the right panel, locate “ProcAmpBrightness” and right-click on it. From the context menu, choose "Edit".
   
5. An “Edit Channel” box will open. Under "Data Value", type "0", then click "OK".
   
6. Then search for “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareIntelDisplayigfxcuiprofilesmediaDarken Movie” and search for “ProcAmpBrightness”. Right-click on it and select "Edit".
   
7. In the box that opens, enter "0" under "Data Value", then press "Ok".
   
8. Exit the registry, then restart your Windows computer.
   

How to Disable Auto-Brightness in Windows 7

Only Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise support adaptive brightness. If you have a device with one of these editions of Windows and want to turn off auto-brightness, here's how:

1. Click on the "Start" button and go to the "Control Panel".
2. In your "Control Panel", find "Hardware and Sound" and select it.
3. In the window, choose “Power Options”.
4. Next to the currently active plan on your computer, on the right side, find "Change plan settings" and select it.
5. Choose "Advanced power settings".
6. In the list that appears, find "Display" and expand this option.
7. Scroll down to find the “Enable Adaptive Brightness” option and expand it as well.
8. Next to 'On Battery' and 'Plug In', make sure the setting is set to 'Off'. Close the windows.

How to Disable Auto-Brightness in Windows 8

Disabling auto-brightness on a Windows 8 device is relatively simple. Here's how you do it:

1. Press "Start" and locate "Control Panel", then click on it to open the window.
2. Once in "Control Panel", choose "Hardware and Sound".
3. In the menu that opens, select “Power Options”.
4. Under the currently active power plan, on the right side of the screen, you will see the option "Change plan settings". Click on it.
5. In the "Change plan settings" window that opens, select "Change advanced plan settings".
6. Scroll down to find "Display" and expand it.
7. Expand "Enable adaptive brightness".
8. Two options will appear, "Plugged in" and "On Battery". Make sure that both of these items are set to “Off”. Auto-brightness is now disabled.

Can you adjust auto brightness with Windows 10 Camera?

Although it's in the works, Windows 10 has yet to release a feature to enable or disable adaptive brightness on a webcam or camera. However, you have the option to adjust the brightness and contrast of your webcam. Here's how to adjust these settings:

1. On your keyboard, locate the "Windows" button and the "I" key. Press them together. The “Settings” window will then open.
2. From this window, navigate to “Devices” and click on it.
3. In the left pane, locate the “Camera” option and click on it.
4. In the "Camera Settings" window, you will see a list of all installed cameras. Select the camera you want to adjust.
5. On the next screen, scroll down until you come to the sliders that allow you to adjust both 'Brightness' and 'Contrast'. Move the slider over both options until you're happy with the brightness and contrast you've chosen, then close the window.

Auto-brightness off

Disabling auto-brightness on your Windows device is relatively simple once you know the steps. Stick to the methods in this guide and you'll soon be disabling this feature with ease.

Have you ever disabled auto-brightness on your Windows device? Did you use a method similar to those presented in this guide? Let us know in the comments section below.