Surface Pro brightness bug

Anonymous

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.

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

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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!

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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.

0 comments

119 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-02-20T03:37:47+00:00

Ok, I can confirm after much testing that this does not occur for me. BUT I do recall this happening at one point when I first started using it. I thought nothing of it and went about doing various things on the Surface Pro. The controller for the ambient light sensor is the HID Sensor Collection under Sensors in device manager.

One thing I did do when I received the Surface Pro was install the latest chipset package from Intel. I notice upon looking at the chipset driver events and the HID Sensor Collection driver events in device manager that they both have an event for an update that occurred at the same time: when I installed the latest chipset package. Maybe give that a try? I have it hosted here:

Surface Pro Drivers

You can also try the sensors diagnostic tool mentioned in this Intel blog post. It will list all the sensors on your device. I ran it and detected when I ran my hand in front of the Surface Pro screen. Pretty neat tool:

http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2012/07/26/detecting-ultrabook-sensors
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2013-02-20T03:59:51+00:00

I installed those chipset drivers but it still happens, mostly when brightness is at like 40% or lower is when its most noticeable. thanks for trying tho.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2013-02-20T14:30:03+00:00

So, at this point, you are manually altering the brightness level to 40% and the brightness is dimming and/or brightening randomly when moving between apps and possibly adjusting for dynamic contrast or possibly by detecting environmental changes despite the Auto-Brightness being turned off?

Does that occur at any manual brightness setting from the Charms menu?
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments