Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system supports a feature that changes the brightness of the display automatically. Depending on the environment or content displayed, it may lower or increase brightness on the device.
While that sounds like a useful feature, it comes with its own set of problems. Probably the biggest issue is that it may make unnecessary changes. Another issue that you may encounter is that it may change the brightness too frequently.
It may also react to manual brightness changes, making this a frustrating experience.
Technical information
How Windows 11 manages the automatic changing of brightness depends on the device. Some devices include light sensors that may react to environmental light information.
Launching Windows 11 in a bright room may cause an increase in brightness to counter this. In a darker room, it may tone down the brightness instead.
Microsoft launched Content Adaptive Brightness Control in Windows 11. The feature “provides ideal brightness and contrast levels” according to Microsoft while “saving power and providing longer battery life”.
Not all devices support the feature. The following chapters explain how to find out if it is supported on a Windows 11 device and how to manage it.
Configure brightness settings on Windows 11
Do the following to manage or disable the automatic Brightness feature on Windows 11 devices:
- Open the Start Menu and select Settings. You may also use the shortcut Windows-I to open Settings.
- Go to System > Display.
- Expand the Brightness section at the top.
Here, you find the following options:
- Change the brightness of the display.
- Enable or disable “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes”.
- Change brightness based on content.
The last two options define whether automatic brightness changes are enabled on the system.
Change brightness automatically when lighting changes
This feature is only available on devices that have light sensors. The device analyzes the information of the sensors to adjust the brightness based on the information.
Uncheck the box to turn the feature off.
Change brightness based on content
This feature is available on all devices. Windows analyzes the content displayed to make changes to the brightness and contrast.
Available settings are:
- Off — The feature is disabled. Windows 11 won’t change the brightness based on the content that is viewed automatically.
- Always — The feature is enabled. Windows 11 will change the brightness on battery and when plugged in.
- On Battery Only — The feature is enabled. Windows 11 will change the brightness only on battery power.
Another setting that may cause automatic brightness changes
Windows 11 maintains another setting that may change the brightness on devices automatically. This one lowers the screen brightness only when battery saver is enabled.
Here is how you configure that option (or turn it off):
- Select Start and then Settings to open the Settings app.
- Navigate to System > Power & Battery.
- Expand Battery Saver on the page that opens.
The following options are revealed:
- Battery saver — Enable or disable Battery Saver manually.
- Turn battery saver on automatically at — When Windows 11 will turn the battery saver feature on by itself. Options include Never, Always and a battery value between 10% and 50%.
- Lower screen brightness when using battery saver — may lower the brightness of the screen when battery saver is turned on.
Uncheck the last option to prevent Windows from making changes to the brightness.
Closing Words
If you want to block Windows 11 from making automatic changes to the brightness or contrast, turn off both options.
Uncheck “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes” and set “Change brightness based on content” to off.
The changes take effect immediately. Note that disabling the feature may cause increased power usage.