Maybe your text looks faded, or daylight turns your display into a mirror. I have been there too; squinting through a dim screen just to read a document or to locate my cursor alone, confusing system menus, searching for a simple solution.
After exploring every setting, shortcut, and button, I’ve put together a practical, easy-to-follow guide on how to make your PC screen brighter. Whether you're using Windows, macOS, or an external monitor. Let’s adjust that brightness and restore your focus on your workflow.
How to Increase Brightness for Windows PC:
If you are using a laptop or a PC, with windows installed, it is relatively easier to change your brightness settings. Here is what I usually do:
Option 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Most Keyboards of PCs and laptops have brightness function keys which is a “sun” icon (☀️) on the F keys (the key bars on the keyboard top).
Step 1: Press Hold the Fn key + tap the brightness up key (The sun icon) which is normally the F9 key but it may vary.
Step 2: While Pressing the FN key, keep tapping the brightness key until your desired brightness level.
Option 2: Through Windows Settings
Normally the Brightness is lowered from the operating system settings for optimal display. To change this:
Step 1: Click the Search button and search for “Change Brightness level”
Step 2: Click open the “Change Brightness level”.
Step 3: Click the Brightness slider and drag it to select the brightness levels for the built -in display.
Note that If the slider is not there, it might be a driver issue; This typically happens when your PC does not detect the display drivers, especially after a system update or fresh installation of the operating system.
In many cases, Windows installs a generic display driver that lacks brightness controls. Without the proper driver, the system cannot adjust brightness because it does not fully recognize your monitor’s capabilities. Head over to the FAQs for the solution
You might also run into this issue if you're using a desktop with an external monitor, the brightness control then shifts to the monitor’s physical buttons rather than Windows' settings.
How to Increase Brightness for Mac:
MACs are slightly different from Windows as the adjustment panels vary. For starters, the Brightness can be adjusted via Keyboard and System preferences, let's discuss both options:
1. By Keyboard Shortcuts
Most Macbooks and some desktop keyboards allow you to adjust brightness using function keys, usually the same as the window keys marked as a ‘Sun’ or ‘light bulb’ icon. Simply hold down the Fn key and press the appropriate brightness key (often F1–F12, depending on your device). It’s the fastest way to brighten your screen without diving into settings.
Step 1: First locate the Sun Icon indicating brightness control keys F1 (decrease brightness) and F2 (increase brightness),
Step 2: Press hold the Fn key and tap the F2 key enough times to reach the desired brightness levels..
Tip: If I use an external keyboard, I ensure that it supports macOS controls for brightness adjustment.
2. By System Preference
The System Preferences method offers more additional customization options. For this,
Step 1: Go to System Preferences by Clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner and
Step 2: Open Displays option in the preferences window.
Step 3: Find and adjust the Brightness Slider to your preference.
Tip: On MacBooks, enable the Automatically adjust brightness feature to let the system manage brightness based on surrounding light.
3. By Using the Menu Bar or Touch Bar
If you are using a touch Bar on Mac, look for the brightness slider which normally is displayed as a sun icon.
Step 1: Through the Menu Bar, Click the Display icon.
Step 2: Adjust the brightness using the slider. In the Macbook Pro,
Step 3: The brightness controls are integrated into the Touch Bar, which offers a quick slider adjustment for brightness.
Tip: Customize the Touch Bar through System Preferences > Keyboard > Customize Control Strip to ensure quick access.
4. Utilizing Night Shift for Enhanced Comfort
Night Shift reduces blue light and makes the screen more yellow-orange in hue. In order to toggle night shift mode:
Step 1: Go to System Preferences and access Displays
Step 2: Click on the Night Shift tab
Step 3: Adjust the Color Temperature as per the warmth of your liking.
Tip: Combine Night Shift with manual brightness adjustments to find the optimal balance.
5. Ambient Light Sensor
MacBooks and Apple displays often come with ambient light sensors that adjust brightness automatically. This feature can be disabled or enabled by following these steps:
Step 1: Access the System Preferences
Step 2: Click open Displays
Step 3: Check the box for Automatic Brightness adjustment.
Tip: Turn this feature off in fluctuating lighting conditions if you prefer manual control.
How to Increase brightness using the Monitor Buttons
At times I would be busy changing the brightness levels in the operating system, while the brightness would in fact be set low in the monitor screen settings. It is much easier to change that, if you can easily locate the monitor buttons. Once the buttons are found:
Step 1: Access the Menu and search for Brightness Settings.
Step 2: The Volume up and down buttons on the monitor can be used to scroll or toggle brightness levels.
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FAQs
1. Why is my brightness control missing?
If brightness settings are unavailable, fix it by updating your graphics driver via Device Manager or by downloading the latest driver directly from your GPU or laptop manufacturer (e.g., Intel, AMD, NVIDIA). Once installed, restart your PC and the slider should return. This works for most PCs and Laptops alike.
2. Can I increase brightness beyond the system limit?
Some third-party apps, like flux or monitor calibration tools can help adjust brightness beyond default settings; however, your hardware-screen capacity determines the maximum brightness levels.
Bottom Line
In this guide, in the easiest way possible, I walked you through how to make your PC screen brighter on Windows, Mac, and even external monitors. This article is your guide to adjusting brightness using system settings, keyboard shortcuts, or monitor buttons for a rather comfortable viewing experience. I also shared practical troubleshooting tips for when brightness options go missing.
For an even better digital workview and workflow, I highly recommend WPS Office Specifically because of its AI-powered tools like smart spell check, resume writing, PDF analysis, and intelligent writing assistance.
