Laptop Screen Too Dim? 5 Settings to Check Before Repair

Windows has several settings that dim the screen on their own: content-based brightness, automatic brightness, and energy saver. Turn those off and set the slider to full. If the screen is still dim, plug in an external monitor to check whether the laptop's own screen is at fault.

Check it now with the white screen test

Fixes to try (easiest first)

Turn the brightness up
Use the brightness keys (Fn plus the brightness key, often F6 or F7), and check the Windows brightness slider isn't at its minimum. [2]
Turn off content-based brightness
Settings > System > Display > Brightness. Set 'Change brightness based on content' to Off. [1]
Turn off automatic brightness
In the same Brightness section, switch off 'Change brightness automatically when lighting changes'. [1]
Check energy saver
Settings > System > Power & battery > Energy saver. Look for 'Lower screen brightness when using energy saver' and switch it off if you want full brightness. [3]
Update the display driver
If the brightness slider doesn't appear or doesn't work, Microsoft suggests updating the display driver. [1]
Test with an external monitor
Windows + P > Duplicate. If the external monitor looks normal and the laptop screen stays dim, the laptop screen may have a hardware problem. [2]

Is it worth fixing?

Option	Price
PartsReplacement screen. Part only on iFixit, labor extra. Price depends on your model.	$34.99–$1,385.99 [4]

The settings checks cost nothing, so do them first. If the screen is still dim with every auto-dimming setting off and the brightness at full, the screen hardware is the likely problem. Check your warranty before paying for a repair.

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Sources

Last checked: October 21, 2026