How to Turn On or Off Adaptive Brightness in Windows 11?

4+ Unique methods to Turn On or Off Adaptive Brightness in Windows 11 PC!

Arjun Das November 29, 2024Last Updated: November 27, 2024

0 20 4 minutes read

Adaptive brightness is a useful feature in Windows 11 that adjusts the screen brightness automatically based on ambient light conditions. This helps improve visibility and conserve battery life, especially on laptops. However, some users may find it inconvenient and prefer to control brightness manually. This tutorial explains how to enable or disable adaptive brightness in Windows 11 using multiple methods.

Adaptive brightness uses your device’s ambient light sensor to adjust the screen brightness automatically. When the sensor detects low light, the brightness decreases to reduce eye strain. Conversely, it increases brightness in well-lit environments. This feature is especially beneficial for laptops and tablets but may not always suit your preferences.

Method 1: Using the Settings App

The Settings app provides a straightforward way to manage adaptive brightness. Follow these steps:

Open Settings by pressing Winkey + I on your keyboard.

Navigate to System from the left menu.
Click on Display in the right pane.

Choose Display option from System Settings

Scroll down to the Brightness & color section.

Click the Drop Down Arrow to display the brightness options

If your device supports adaptive brightness, you’ll see an option called “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes.”

Check in the checkbox to enable adaptive brightness

Check the box to enable adaptive brightness or uncheck it to disable the feature.

This method is simple and works for most modern devices that have an ambient light sensor.

Method 2: Using PowerShell

For users comfortable with command-line tools, PowerShell provides a quick way to adjust adaptive brightness settings:

Open PowerShell as Administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).

To enable adaptive brightness, type:
- powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO ADAPTBRIGHT 1 ; powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO ADAPTBRIGHT 1

To disable adaptive brightness, type:
- powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO ADAPTBRIGHT 0 ; powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO ADAPTBRIGHT 0

;: Runs the second command regardless of the success or failure of the first command.
Restart your computer for the changes to apply.

This method is fast and suitable for users who prefer scripting solutions.

Method 3: Using Group Policy Editor

Note: The Group Policy Editor is available only in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

You can use the Group Policy Editor to manage adaptive brightness settings for all users:

Open the Run dialog by pressing Winkey + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Navigate to:
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Video and Display Settings

Locate the setting “Turn off the adaptive brightness” and double-click it.
Choose Enabled to disable adaptive brightness or Disabled to enable it.

Enable Adaptive Brightness from GP editor

Click Apply and OK to save your changes.

This method is ideal for administrators managing multiple devices.

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Method 4: Using Batch Files:

You can enable or disable this via batch files, all you need to do is to create a batch files from notepad.

Open Notepad file and do the following steps.

To Enable Adaptive Brightness while Charging (Plugged in):

powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 1 powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
Copy the above code, paste in the notepad file.
Save as the code file as Turn_ON_Adaptive_brightness_on_Charging.bat
Run the file to enable adaptive brightness while charging!
Restarting your device is optional.

To Disable Adaptive Brightness while Charging (Plugged in):

powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 0 powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
Copy the above code, paste in the notepad file.
Save as the code file as Turn_OFF_Adaptive_brightness_on_Charging.bat
Run the file to disable adaptive brightness while charging!
Restarting your device is optional.

To Enable Adaptive Brightness on Battery:

powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 1 powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
Copy the above code, paste in the notepad file.
Save as the code file as Turn_ON_Adaptive_brightness_on_Battery.bat
Run the file to enable adaptive brightness while on battery!
Restarting your device is optional.

To Disable Adaptive Brightness on Battery:

powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 FBD9AA66-9553-4097-BA44-ED6E9D65EAB8 0 powercfg -SetActive SCHEME_CURRENT
Copy the above code, paste in the notepad file.
Save as the code file as Turn_OFF_Adaptive_brightness_on_Battery.bat
Run the file to disable adaptive brightness while on battery!
Restarting your device is optional.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer to let your device adjust brightness automatically or prefer manual control, these methods allow you to enable or disable adaptive brightness in Windows 11. By exploring options like the Settings app, Control Panel, or advanced tools like Registry Editor and PowerShell, you can tailor your display settings to suit your needs.

Frequently ASked Questions:

How do I know if my device supports adaptive brightness?

Look for the Change brightness automatically when lighting changes option in Settings or check for an ambient light sensor in your device specifications.