Many Windows 11 users rely on the ambient light sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness. This feature helps save battery life and provides a comfortable viewing experience in different lighting conditions.
Sometimes, the ambient light sensor may stop working, causing the screen brightness to remain fixed or behave unpredictably. This can be frustrating, especially if you expect your device to adapt to changing environments.
Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to fix the ambient light sensor on Windows 11. These solutions range from basic checks to more advanced troubleshooting.
In this article, we will guide you through each step in detail, so you can get your sensor working again with ease.
Quick Note: Before You Start
- Check Device Compatibility: Not all Windows 11 devices have an ambient light sensor. Verify if your laptop or tablet supports this feature by checking the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Keep Windows Updated: Make sure your system is running the latest Windows updates, as Microsoft often releases fixes for hardware-related issues.
- Restart Your Device: Sometimes a simple reboot can resolve temporary glitches affecting sensors.
- Ensure Proper Lighting: The sensor needs light to detect ambient conditions, so make sure your environment isn’t too dark when testing.
Step 1: Enable Adaptive Brightness in Windows Settings
The first and simplest step is to check if adaptive brightness is enabled in your system settings. Adaptive brightness allows Windows to automatically adjust screen brightness based on ambient light detected by the sensor.
- Click on the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon).
- Navigate to System > Display.
- Look for the option called “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes” or “Adaptive brightness”.
- Toggle this option ON if it is off.
Why this step matters: If adaptive brightness is disabled, Windows will not use the ambient light sensor to adjust brightness automatically.
Step 2: Check and Update Display Drivers
Display drivers help your operating system communicate with your screen and its related hardware. Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause the ambient light sensor to malfunction.
- Press Windows + X and choose Device Manager.
- Expand the Monitors or Sensors section.
- Right-click on your display adapter or ambient light sensor device and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows find the latest driver.
- Follow the prompts to install any updates, then restart your computer.
Alternative method: Visit your device manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest drivers manually, especially if Windows cannot find updates automatically.
Step 3: Enable Sensor Permissions
Windows requires permission to use location and sensor data for adaptive brightness. If these permissions are disabled, the ambient light sensor may not function correctly.
- Open Settings from the Start menu.
- Go to Privacy & security > Sensors.
- Ensure that the toggle for Allow apps to access your sensors is turned ON.
- Also, confirm that Location services are enabled by going to Privacy & security > Location.
Why this step is important: Without proper permissions, Windows cannot access sensor data, disabling automatic brightness adjustments.
Step 4: Run the Windows Troubleshooter
Windows 11 has built-in troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix common hardware problems.
- Open Settings and navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
- Click Run next to it and follow the on-screen instructions.
After the troubleshooter completes, check if the ambient light sensor is working again.
Step 5: Adjust Power Settings
Power management features might disable the ambient light sensor to save battery, which can cause it to stop working.
- Open Control Panel (type it in the search bar).
- Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
- Next to your active power plan, click on Change plan settings.
- Click on Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Display and then Enable adaptive brightness.
- Set both On battery and Plugged in options to On.
- Click Apply and then OK.
Why this matters: If adaptive brightness is disabled in power settings, Windows may not adjust brightness automatically even if the sensor is working.
Step 6: Reset Display Settings
If the sensor still does not work, resetting display settings to default can sometimes help.
- Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
- Scroll down and click Advanced display settings.
- Click on Display adapter properties for your monitor.
- In the new window, go to the Color Management tab and click Color Management…
- Under the Devices tab, click Profiles and remove any custom profiles if present.
- Restart your computer after making changes.
Advanced Options: BIOS and Firmware Updates
If none of the above methods work, it may be worth checking your device’s BIOS or firmware settings. Sometimes, the ambient light sensor can be disabled at this level.
- Restart your device and enter BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing F2, Del, or Esc during startup).
- Look for settings related to sensors, ambient light, or adaptive brightness.
- Make sure these settings are enabled.
- If available, update BIOS/UEFI firmware from the manufacturer’s website.
Note: BIOS updates should be done carefully, following official instructions, as incorrect updates can cause serious issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How do I know if my device has an ambient light sensor?
You can check the device specifications on the manufacturer’s website or look in Device Manager under the Sensors category. If no sensor is listed, your device may not have one.
Q2: Can I manually adjust screen brightness if the sensor is not working?
Yes, you can always adjust brightness manually through Settings > System > Display or via the brightness slider in the Action Center.
Q3: Will updating Windows fix sensor issues?
Sometimes, yes. Microsoft regularly releases updates that improve hardware compatibility and fix bugs, so keeping your system updated is important.
Q4: Why does my screen brightness keep changing even when I don’t want it to?
This could be due to adaptive brightness being enabled. You can disable it in display settings if you prefer manual control.
Q5: Can third-party software interfere with the ambient light sensor?
Yes, certain display or power management apps could override or conflict with Windows’ brightness controls. Try disabling or uninstalling such software to test.
When Nothing Works
If all the above steps fail to fix your ambient light sensor, consider the following options:
- Contact Manufacturer Support: Your device’s manufacturer can provide specific guidance or repairs if the sensor hardware is faulty.
- Use Windows Support: Visit the official Microsoft Support website for additional troubleshooting tools and help.
- Reset or Reinstall Windows: As a last resort, resetting Windows or performing a clean installation may resolve deep system issues, but back up your data first.
Conclusion
The ambient light sensor is a helpful feature for improving your Windows 11 experience by adjusting screen brightness automatically. When it stops working, it can often be fixed with simple steps like enabling adaptive brightness, updating drivers, and checking permissions.
By following the step-by-step solutions outlined here, you can identify and resolve most common sensor problems. Remember to start with basic checks and move to more advanced troubleshooting as needed.
If you still face issues, don’t hesitate to seek professional support or use official resources to ensure your device functions as intended.