Surface Pro brightness bug

Anonymous
2013-02-19T02:05:17+00:00

The surface pro randomly brightens and dims even when auto brightness and dimming is completely shut off.  I contactedMicrosoft chat support and they said they are aware of the issue but its taking longer than expected.  I just wanted to post here to create more visibility and awareness of this annoying bug.  I hope it gets fixed soon.   Its most noticeable when an app launches or while beginning to watch a video.  From what I've heard it happens with RT too.

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-03-15T17:19:47+00:00

Great news folks! I was able to fix this issue!!!!! :-D

So the issue appears to be the Intel HD 4000 implementing 2 forms of battery saving contrast adapting. But we have no ability to change these settings by default.

So first of all make sure your dynamic brightness is turned off in your PC Settings and/or battery plan. Then...

Go Intel's site and download and then install the latest driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000.

I believe this is the correct link -

EDIT: Oops my link was for the 32 bit driver. This is the one you need -

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail\_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22375&lang=eng&wapkw=intel%C2%AE+hd+graphics+driver+for+windows+7\*+and+windows+8\*+%28exe%29

This should give you access to the Intel Graphics and Media Control panel when you right click and select Graphics Properties from the desktop.

Select ADVANCED MODE

GOTO > MEDIA > IMAGE ENHANCEMENT and disable "Adaptive Contrast Enhancement"

Then GOTO > POWER > Change POWER SOURCE to "On Battery" and make sure "Display Power Saving Technology" is disabled (that is unchecked).

Click APPLY and viola no more dynamic contrast annoyances!

YAY!

Was this answer helpful?

7 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-03-09T20:02:42+00:00

Greetings Gary,

Thank you for letting us know. Can you by chance get a video of it happening as this is something we are looking into.

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments

119 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-19T10:46:16+00:00

    Thanks for the link. I had reset and recovered my device in the past but it did not help. I had also tried all the suggested solutions except the sensor troubleshooter but got no positive result. Now with the troubleshooter, it identified a problem. It says "turn on windows location" and when I clicked the "turn on feature" on the screen, the reply is " an error occurred while launching the program"

    i haven't been able to go beyond this. How else do you turn on the windows location? How can it even be off on a surface pro?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-18T23:25:16+00:00

    Hello Rom247,

    Thank you for reaching out to the Surface community. According to your post, your Surface Pro is displaying some "bright shaky lines". It seems like your Surface Pro screen is not displaying properly which causes that kind of brightness.

    We would like you to try a few troubleshooting tips to address this issue. Please follow all the steps on this link and let us know what's the results are.

    Best regards,

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-11T14:32:00+00:00

    the Screen of my Surface Pro shows like a bad TV. this stared a about a year after i got it. Bright shaky lines showing vertically. ITS SO BAD FOR THE EYE.  i don't know if it is connected to this topic. 

    i don't know what to do about this.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments