Can't adjust screen brightness on Surface Pro 4. Not with the keyboard or with action center.

Anonymous
2017-05-08T08:50:00+00:00

I am having a problem with adjusting the screen brightness on my Surface Pro 4.

(It happened a few days after the new Windows 10 Creators update)

I can't change with neither the keyboard using "FN+Del" or "FN+Backspace", nor with using the Action center or Battery icon.

What I have done and observed:

  • The adjust screen brightness button is NOT greyed out (see picture)
  • When I try to change screen brightness with the keyboard I get the blue bar (as with volume controls) showing I am changing the brightness, but visually it has not changed. (see picture)
  • I've tried to update my Display Adapter using Device Manager.
  • I've tried to change my Display Adapter by "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer" from Intel HD Graphics 520 to Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
  • I've tried to turn off "Adjust my screen brightness automatically".
  • I've tried to update my screen monitor drivers in Device Manager.
  • I tried to change my Screen Monitor with "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer" from Surface Display to Generic PnP-Monitor .
    • This worked to change my screen brightness the moment I changed the driver. However, it only changes to which setting I had changed to with action center or the keyboard. The keyboard and action center still doesn't work after changing the driver. Meaning I have to go to Device Manager and change my Screen monitor driver every time I want to change the brightness of my screen, as it only changes the moment I change driver.

Please help me! 

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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.

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Anonymous
2017-06-13T14:41:24+00:00

Hi there folks!

I had the exact same issue occur with my own Surface Pro 4 this week.

What triggered the issue was that I closed my Surface Pro without the Keyboard attatched, then it later went to Hybernate mode by it self (as it's supposed to)

Then I attached the Keyboard meanwhile it was in Hybernate and after woke it up.

Then the problem was there.. It left me thinking that I would think through what I had done and try to reverse what I already did.

The fix for me was simply to detatch the keyboard, then rebooting the computer without the keyboard, then suddenly it was fixed!

I was able to attatch the keyboard yet again and it still worked like a charm!

Once again in a more structrured manner:

  1. Make sure the surface is On and at the desktop or such alike.
  2. Detatch the keyboard.
  3. Use the touch screen in order to carry out a reboot.
  4. when at the desktop yet again, I personally swiped the screen from the right to bring out the notification center. To then use the touch screen to change the brightness.
  5. I attatched the keyboard and made sure that the problem didn't still persist. (which I was successful in) 

PS: Might be that there was some other thing that triggered your problem, however this was the story of my problem and how I fixed it.

Hope this helps any of you guys.

Cheers,

Adrian.

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Anonymous
2017-05-10T04:38:50+00:00

Going back to the steps given above, Have you already come upon on the gamma adjustment screen? In this screen, you can adjust the brightness of your monitor by moving the slider up or down.

Let us know if this works on your computer.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-31T02:03:13+00:00

    Hi Robert,

    For us to assist you, can you confirm the following information:

    • Have you tried the suggestions from other Community members?
    • Have you tried to check for and install the latest update?
    • What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far to resolve the issue?

    Regards.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-30T17:59:02+00:00

    Hello Sorin,

    This is not how it should be. Let's sort this out. To be able to understand the issue better, let us know more details by answering the following questions below:

    • Is this the first time you have encountered this issue?

    • Can you tell us if your device is already in Windows 10 Creators Update (with update version 1703)?

    • What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far?

    • Can you confirm if the device has the latest firmware update installed?

    Let us know so we can help you further.

    Com on. please..... almos 70 reply's, MS you are really doing something really wrong here. No-one is able to ajust brightness anymore on a SP4, FIX IT and don't bother us with standard replies and stupid suggestions. MS has just screwed things up **again**, man we can't use our 1000$ - 2000$ equipment anymore right now, I am sitting with sunglasses staring at a lighthouse.....

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-30T17:34:35+00:00

    Never Ever Shall I get a Microsoft piece of hardware again in my life. This Surface Pro has been nothing but trouble, how on earth are they able to make such a mess. Really, I am stunned.

    Now this again. I am looking into the sun right now, this brightness is just too much and I cant for the life of me turn it down, whatever I try.

    I am sereously thinking about smashing it against the wall right now and I promise myself to never again buy a MS piece of hardware.

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