Open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Scroll down and turn on Auto-Brightness. The screen brightness is now automatically adjusted to the surrounding light conditions.
Auto-Brightness / Adaptive Brightness
Automatically adjusts screen brightness based on ambient lighting.
What does this setting do?
Auto-brightness detects surrounding light and adjusts the screen brightness automatically. This reduces sudden brightness changes, prevents glare and provides a more comfortable viewing experience. Depending on the device, the feature name and availability may vary.
Instructions for different systems
Open Settings > Display. Turn on Adaptive brightness. The system automatically adjusts screen brightness based on ambient light and gradually learns your preferred adjustments.
Note: On some devices, this option may be called Automatic brightness or be located slightly differently in the menu.
Windows supports auto-brightness only on devices with a built-in ambient light sensor (e.g., many laptops and tablets). Open Settings > System > Display. Enable “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes”. Note: If this option is not shown, your device does not support auto-brightness.
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Often mentioned in relation to the following conditions:
- Photosensitivity – Sensitivity to bright light, screen glare, or high-contrast elements.
- Age-related Vision Changes – Reduced sharpness, color distinction and tolerance for small text.
- Autism (mild) – Mild autism-spectrum traits with sensory sensitivities to light, sound, motion or complex interfaces.
- Anxiety Disorder – Heightened sensitivity to sudden changes, alerts, flashing content or notifications.
- PTSD – Potential triggers from flashing elements, loud sounds or sudden changes in the interface.
- Chronic Fatigue – Persistent physical and mental exhaustion with limited energy availability. Attention, processing speed, and resilience are often reduced over extended periods.
- Migraine – A neurological condition associated with increased sensitivity to light, motion, sound, and visual stimuli. Digital interfaces can quickly become overwhelming …
Commonly used for the following difficulties:
Light Sensitivity
Users with light sensitivity experience discomfort or visual strain when screens are too bright or high-contrast. Adjustments such as reducing brightness, using dark mode, or …
Screen Glare Sensitivity
Users with glare sensitivity struggle with reflections or bright hotspots on screens. Lowering brightness, increasing contrast, or using dark mode can reduce strain.
Sensitivity to Sudden Visual Changes
Rapid changes on the screen can feel startling or overwhelming. Slowing transitions and reducing motion improves stability.
Other settings frequently used together
Relation to WCAG guidelines
For setting to be effective, a website or app often must be technically implemented in such a way that it respects operating system and browser settings.
Developers and designers should follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The following WCAG criteria are particularly relevant for this setting:
1.4.31.4.11