How to Adjust Screen Brightness on an ASUS Laptop

On an ASUS laptop, use the two keys marked with sun icons to lower or raise the built-in display brightness. Depending on the model and Function Lock setting, press the key by itself or hold Fn with it. You can also adjust brightness through Windows Quick Settings or Settings > System > Display.

Adjusting screen brightness on an ASUS laptop

Use the ASUS brightness hotkeys

ASUS keyboard layouts are not identical. Older models commonly use Fn + F5 to dim the display and Fn + F6 to brighten it. Some current layouts put those functions on other F-keys, such as F4 and F5. Follow the small and large sun icons printed on your own keyboard or check the model's user manual.

ASUS laptop function keys for decreasing and increasing screen brightness

If the hotkey works without Fn, Function Lock is giving the top row its media/system behavior.
If it performs an app's F-key command, hold Fn while pressing the brightness key.
On supported models, Fn + Esc switches Function Lock. Look for a lock or Fn indicator and confirm in the manual.

Do not confuse display brightness with keyboard-backlight brightness; they use different icons. TipsMake's laptop Fn-key reference explains other common symbols.

Use the Windows brightness slider

Windows Quick Settings

Press Windows + A or select the network, volume, or battery area on the taskbar. Drag the brightness slider left or right. This is usually the fastest software method in Windows 11.

Display settings

Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
Select the built-in display if Windows shows more than one screen.
Expand Brightness if necessary and move the slider.
On supported ASUS laptops, review the options for brightness based on ambient light or displayed content.

Current Windows versions use these controls. The Power Options screens below are retained for readers using an older Windows installation.

Use Windows Mobility Center

Press Windows + R, enter mblctr, and press Enter. Move the slider under Display brightness.

Opening Windows Mobility Center on an ASUS laptop

Display brightness slider in Windows Mobility Center

Some older versions show Mobility Center after pressing Windows + X, but that menu varies. Running mblctr directly is more consistent. If Mobility Center is unavailable, use Quick Settings or Display settings instead.

Change brightness for battery and AC power on older Windows versions

Older ASUS laptops may expose separate brightness settings for battery power and the charger. Open the battery menu or Control Panel > Power Options:

Opening older Windows brightness controls from the battery menu

Select Change plan settings for the active power plan.

Changing the active Windows power plan settings

Move the On battery and Plugged in sliders, then save the changes.

Separate brightness settings for battery and plugged-in power

Windows 11 may instead reduce brightness when Energy Saver is active. If the display changes after connecting the charger, review Settings > System > Power & battery along with any MyASUS or Armoury Crate profile.

Fix ASUS brightness controls that do not work

Symptom	What to do
The Windows slider works but the ASUS keys do not	Check Fn/Function Lock, install Windows updates, and reinstall the ASUS System Control Interface or Keyboard Hotkeys component listed for the exact model.
Neither the keys nor the slider change brightness	Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver, then restart. Install the supported graphics and chipset drivers for the model.
The brightness slider is missing	Confirm the built-in display is selected. In Device Manager, inspect Display adapters and Monitors for disabled devices or errors.
The screen changes brightness by itself	Under Display > Brightness, review automatic and content-adaptive brightness. Also check Energy Saver and ASUS display profiles.
An external monitor stays unchanged	Use the monitor's physical controls. Windows may not offer a brightness slider for an external display unless the monitor and software support DDC/CI.
Brightness behaves differently in a GPU mode	Update the graphics drivers and Armoury Crate components supported by the model. Test the standard/hybrid graphics mode before changing firmware settings.

Download drivers only from ASUS, Windows Update, or the GPU vendor as appropriate; generic driver-updater tools are unnecessary. Identify the complete model number before installing a hotkey package. TipsMake's Windows laptop brightness guide covers additional controls.

When the issue may be hardware

If the panel flickers, has dark bands, stays dim before Windows loads, or reacts when the lid moves, changing a setting may not solve it. Test at several brightness levels, remove docks and external displays, and follow TipsMake's laptop screen testing checklist. Back up important data before arranging a hardware repair.