Screen brightness stuck at max after updating to Windows 10 version 1803 (build 17134 / April 2018 Update)

Anonymous
2018-04-30T22:07:35+00:00

Hi

I just updated the Windows 10 Home installation on my laptop to build 17134 and now I can't adjust the screen brightness. It's stuck at the highest brightness setting and while the brightness slider moves up and down it doesn't change anything. I tried deleting the display and graphic drivers and reinstall them but it didn't solve my problem. My laptop is an old lady so it no longer receives driver updates. Any suggestions?

Specs: https://support.hp.com/ee-en/document/c02286076

HP Envy 14-1090eo

2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-450M

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 1GB DDR3 (Switchable)

8GB (2x4GB) Samsung PC3-12800 DDR3

Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB

Display drivers:

- 1. Primary: Intel® HD Graphics (Core i5)

Report Date: 4/30/2018

Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 23:53:55

Driver Version: 8.15.10.2900

Operating System: (6.2.9200)

Default Language: English (United States)

DirectX* Version: 10.1

Physical Memory: 7989 MB

Minimum Graphics Memory: 32 MB

Maximum Graphics Memory: 973 MB

Graphics Memory in Use: 115 MB

Processor: Intel64 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 5

Processor Speed: 2394 MHz

Vendor ID: 8086

Device ID:  0046

Device Revision: 02

**- 2. Secondary:**ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650

Radeon Settings Version - 2016.0226.1531.27895

Driver Packaging Version - 15.301.1901-160226a-299900E

Provider - Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

2D Driver Version - 8.1.1.1533

Direct3D® Version - 9.14.10.1171

OpenGL® Version - 6.14.10.13417

OpenCL™ Version - 2.0.4.0

AMD Mantle Version - 9.1.10.99

AMD Mantle API Version - Not Available

AMD Audio Driver Version - 10.0.0.3

Update May 25, 2018:

This solution from Ferdz Amp with a minor tweak solved my problem.

For those still encountering this issue, I recommend that you follow these steps and see if the issue persists:

  1. In Windows start search box, type in regedit and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following key:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/Class/ 4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 /0000
  3. Double-click the item of FeatureTestControl, set the hexadecimal value to "fb20", and click OK.
  4. Reboot your computer to reflect the changes.

Registry Disclaimer: The steps mentioned here includes system registry modification. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow the steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Article ID 322756.

Let me know how it goes.

The written location for FeatureTestControl was different on my system. The location is:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001

Please be aware that after doing this edit, selecting the lowest level of brightness will turn off your screen. This also means that if you are running on battery (laptop) and you select the power mode "Best battery life" or Windows automatically switches to "Best battery life" upon unplugging the charger, your screen will be turned OFF! This is not a major concern since you can just turn up the brightness to the next lowest level via the FN+F3 (key combo might differ on other laptop brands) keyboard control shortcut and the screen will be turned back ON.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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
2018-05-25T09:31:54+00:00

Hi

I just updated the Windows 10 Home installation on my laptop to build 17134 and now I can't adjust the screen brightness. It's stuck at the highest brightness setting and while the brightness slider moves up and down it doesn't change anything. I tried deleting the display and graphic drivers and reinstall them but it didn't solve my problem. My laptop is an old lady so it no longer receives driver updates. Any suggestions?

Specs: https://support.hp.com/ee-en/document/c02286076

HP Envy 14-1090eo

2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-450M

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 1GB DDR3 (Switchable)

8GB (2x4GB) Samsung PC3-12800 DDR3

Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB

Display drivers:

- 1. Primary: Intel® HD Graphics (Core i5)

Report Date: 4/30/2018

Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 23:53:55

Driver Version: 8.15.10.2900

Operating System: (6.2.9200)

Default Language: English (United States)

DirectX* Version: 10.1

Physical Memory: 7989 MB

Minimum Graphics Memory: 32 MB

Maximum Graphics Memory: 973 MB

Graphics Memory in Use: 115 MB

Processor: Intel64 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 5

Processor Speed: 2394 MHz

Vendor ID: 8086

Device ID:  0046

Device Revision: 02

**- 2. Secondary:**ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650

Radeon Settings Version - 2016.0226.1531.27895

Driver Packaging Version - 15.301.1901-160226a-299900E

Provider - Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

2D Driver Version - 8.1.1.1533

Direct3D® Version - 9.14.10.1171

OpenGL® Version - 6.14.10.13417

OpenCL™ Version - 2.0.4.0

AMD Mantle Version - 9.1.10.99

AMD Mantle API Version - Not Available

AMD Audio Driver Version - 10.0.0.3

Moved from ( Windows / Windows 10 / Windows update, recovery, & backup )

did new cumulative update fixed brightness issue?

No KB4100403 (OS Build 17134.81) didn't solve it. But this solution from Ferdz Amp with a minor tweak did.

For those still encountering this issue, I recommend that you follow these steps and see if the issue persists:

  1. In Windows start search box, type in regedit and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following key:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/Class/ 4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 /0000
  3. Double-click the item of FeatureTestControl, set the hexadecimal value to "fb20", and click OK.
  4. Reboot your computer to reflect the changes.

Registry Disclaimer: The steps mentioned here includes system registry modification. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow the steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Article ID 322756.

Let me know how it goes.

The written location for FeatureTestControl was different on my system and is located in:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001

Please be aware that after doing this edit selecting the lowest level of brightness will turn off your screen. This also means that if you are running on battery (laptop) and you select the power mode "Best battery life" or Windows automatically switches to "Best battery life" upon unplugging the charger, your screen will be turned OFF! This is not a major concern since you can just turn up the brightness to the next lowest level via the FN+F3 (key combo might differ on other laptop brands) keyboard control shortcut and the screen will be turned back ON.

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78 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-05-24T04:31:11+00:00

    **http://leshcatlabs.net/**  i wszystko jasne.

    Dodatkowo, proszę sprawdzić czy Pana model nie jest już na liście rozwiązanych problemów.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qBer\_p2xJVnYqG7T\_GjYZf7CcdKo6SEwrMvApXkF\_7g/pub

    Powodzenia. Bye C

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-24T04:27:06+00:00

    Nie wiem. Wiem jedno od debiutu Windy 10 walczę razem ze swoim "staruszkiem hp" by mógł pracować na najnowszej wersji Windows 10. Jestem dyplomowanym MCSA, MCSE Microsoftu, ale nie podoba mi się polityka prowadzona przez korporacje by na siłę zmuszać ludzi do zakupu coraz to nowszego sprzętu. Od samego początku HP, Intel a na końcu Microsoft (zależny od dostawców sprzętu)  nie wspierają mojego "staruszka" HP. Radzę sobie jak umiem.

    Tacy "grzebacze" jak ja postanowili sami sobie pomóc i  "odświeżyli" oryginalne  driver-y AMD, Intel, Microsoft by prawidłowo pracowały z najnowszą wersją Windows 10. Mój "lapek" jest tego przykładem. Obawiam się jednak, że coraz więcej ludzi będzie miało problem ze swoimi maszynami. Dlatego podaje link, gdzie możecie się Państwo wszystkiego dowiedzieć 

    **http://leshcatlabs.net/** .

    Dodatkowo, proszę sprawdzić czy Pana model nie jest już na liście rozwiązanych problemów.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qBer\_p2xJVnYqG7T\_GjYZf7CcdKo6SEwrMvApXkF\_7g/pub

    Powodzenia. Bye C

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-05-23T22:28:16+00:00

    Run ASAP Microsoft !!! Go quickly to work, fix Your mistake !!!

    Infolinia i pomoc techniczna Microsoft Polska to jakaś kpina... usłyszałem że "wersja v1803 jest zbyt wymagająca dla mojego sprzętu" laski z telemarketingu mają wiecej profesjonalizmu...

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-05-23T22:21:24+00:00

    After a few days of work I finally found a solution for my laptop

    HP Pavilion dv6-3120ew 1st Gen Intel HD Graphics).

    Be careful about registry !!! Make backup of them before !!!!

    You have two choices:

    1. You may disable Intel Display Power Saving 

    **https://mikebattistablog.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/disable-intel-dpst-on-sp4/**. 

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\000x] (x=0/1/2) "FeatureTestControl"=dword:00009240

    1. or set a proper value (depends on model of your notebook - see bellow ) of FeatureTestControl registry key of your notebook.

    On my machine I have to tune this one 

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0002] "FeatureTestControl"=dword:f810(I changed it to f942 )

    (in an article is .........Class{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}*0000*......)

    Curiosity my old value FeatureTestControl=f810 (from Windows Fall Creators Update) doesn't work

    I had to change it to **FeatureTestControl=**f942.

    What did you change in your kernel, Microsoft ? Is it a bug ? Quod erat demonstrandum !!!

    Good luck. Bye C

    Additional readings:

    Bellow a list of proper value for many notebooks

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qBer\_p2xJVnYqG7T\_GjYZf7CcdKo6SEwrMvApXkF\_7g/pub

    If you want to examine your previous setting make a copy windows.old\system32\config\system file and load it in regedit (load hive). Remember after finishing a task - unload added hive.

    A to zadziała na Intel GM 4 ?

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