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How to reduce brightness below minimum in Windows 10?

Can't dim your screen enough? Fix it now!

Hello! If you spend a lot of time working on a laptop or desktop computer and find yourself constantly adjusting your screen brightness, you've probably encountered a situation where the lowest brightness setting is still too bright. It can be a real eye strain if you're in a dark room, burning the midnight oil, or just trying to save battery life. Unfortunately, Windows 10 It doesn't really offer a way to reduce the brightness below its minimum setting, but don't worry! There are some neat tricks you can try. In this blog, we'll go over different ways to reduce the screen brightness below the default minimum setting on your Windows 10 device.

Why reduce the screen brightness below the minimum?

Before we move on to the solutions, let's talk about why you might want to do this:

  • Working in a dark roomIf you're in a dark environment, bright screens can really damage your eyes. Reducing the brightness to a minimum can help keep eye strain at bay.
  • battery conservation: When you're running on battery power, reducing your screen brightness is one of the best ways to squeeze extra battery life.
  • Reduce exposure to blue light: Reducing the brightness can reduce the blue light from your screen, which is great for your sleep cycle, especially if you work late into the night.

Now that we understand why you might want this feature, let's dive into how to make it happen!

1. Use of third-party software

So, since Windows 10 doesn't allow you to adjust the brightness below the default setting, you can rely on third-party software to help you. These programs typically offer additional controls that allow you to adjust the brightness just the way you want it.

Recommended third-party software:

  • flow
  • That makesf.lux is a favorite among users because it automatically adjusts the screen's color temperature and brightness based on the time of day. It also allows you to set the brightness below the usual minimum.
  • How to use:
  • Download and install flow from the official website: https://justgetflux.com/
  • Once you've installed it, open the app and use the slider to find the perfect brightness. f.lux allows you to go below Windows' minimum brightness.
  • You can also change the settings to adjust the color temperature based on the time of day.
  • Advantages: Super easy to use, customizable and also helps reduce blue light exposure by adjusting the color temperature.
  • Cons: Brightness adjustments are a bit indirect, so you may need to adjust the color temperature to achieve the ideal brightness level.
  • Intensity regulator
  • That makesDimmer is a simple utility that allows you to reduce your screen's brightness to below the minimum. It's perfect for anyone who finds their screen too bright, even on the lowest setting.
  • How to use:
  • Download Dimmer from here.
  • Launch the program and you'll see a simple slider to adjust the screen brightness.
  • Move the slider to the brightness level you prefer, even below the default Windows minimum.

Advantages: Very light and super easy to use.

  • Cons: It doesn't have the cool features you'll find in apps like f.lux.

2. Use your graphics card's control panel

Do you have a dedicated graphics card like NVIDIA or AMD? Awesome! You may be able to adjust the brightness directly from their control panels.

If you have an NVIDIA graphics card:

  • Right click on your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
  • At Show section, click on Adjust desktop color settings.
  • Now you can play with it Bright slider. While it may not let you go below the minimum in Windows, it can still help you tone things down a bit more.

If you have an AMD graphics card:

  • Right click on your desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.
  • Go to Show settings.
  • Adjust the Bright slider until it feels right.
Windows 10
Windows 10

Just a heads up: Depending on your graphics card and monitor, you may be able to adjust the brightness a little higher, but usually not lower than what Windows allows.

3. Change your monitor settings directly

If you're using a desktop PC with an external monitor, most modern monitors have on-screen display (OSD) settings that allow you to adjust the brightness beyond what Windows displays.

  • Find the buttons on your monitorThey are usually on the side or bottom of the screen.
  • Use the monitor's menu system to find the brightness settings.
  • Lower the brightness even below what you can set in Windows.

Advantages: This is a simple method if your monitor allows you to control the brightness more precisely.

Cons: This will not work for laptops or devices with built-in displays.

4. Activate night light or dark mode

This will not actually reduce the glare, but using Night light o Dark mode in Windows 10 is great for reducing eye strain by changing the color temperature and making the screen easier to look at when it's dark.

How to enable night light:

  • Right click on your desktop and go to Screen settings.
  • Scroll down to find Night light settings and turn it on.
  • You can adjust the intensity of the night light to suit your eyes.

How to enable dark mode:

  • Ir a Settings > Personalization. > Bandera.
  • Scroll down and select Dark with Choose your default application mode.

This will not reduce the brightness below the lowest setting, but it will make the display much more comfortable in low-light conditions.

5. Modify power settings

Sometimes, power saving settings can affect screen brightness, especially on laptops running on battery power. While it won't allow you to directly reduce the brightness below its minimum setting, it can help you optimize your power usage somewhat.

  • Go to Settings > System > Power and dream.
  • Bass Screen, select Battery saving mode when you are using the battery.
  • You can also make changes to Advanced power settings by right-clicking on the battery icon and going to Energy options > Change plan settings.

This method can help reduce overall power consumption, which can affect brightness levels.

6. Use keyboard shortcuts to make quick adjustments

If you're looking to tweak your laptop's brightness without digging through menus, check out these handy keyboard shortcuts! They may not let you go below a certain level, but they'll definitely help you make quick changes on the fly. You'll typically find them as Fn + Brightness up/down keys (you know, the ones with the little sun icon).