Dell laptop brightness control not working?! [SOLVED]
Description of the brightness control problem
If you have a recent Dell laptop and are doing a clean install of Windows 8.1 (and possibly Windows 10), you may encounter an issue where the brightness controls (F11/F12 down/up) do not function properly. Specifically, the buttons pull up the Windows 8 brightness control slider BUT the changes do not take effect 🙁
Solution
Thankfully, the fix was simple. Install the latest Intel HD video drivers! As soon as I installed the latest drivers, the buttons immediately started working (I didn’t even have to reboot).
use dl link then narrow by OS and your GPU/CPU version.
Applies to: Dell Inspiron 11, 3000 series, 2-in-1 (and others)
PS on older laptops, simply installing Dell Quickset was sometimes enough to enable brightness control… with Windows 8 it appears that the latest video card drivers are definitely a necessity as well.
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Thank you so much! Updated, installed and now working perfectly 😀
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your comment. I’m very glad that I was able to help you and that it worked perfectly! Have a great rest of your weekend 👍
Best regards,
-J.D.
I updated my Intel graphics driver via the Dell website. It was recommended that I get the update there instead of from the Intel website since it was a customized driver. My display brightness controls are working again. Thanks for the tip.
Hi Karissa,
Thank you for your comment. I am very glad the new driver from Dell’s website worked for you! 🙂
Would you mind commenting again and let me know which model of Dell laptop you have?
Best regards,
-J.D.
I have the Inspiron 11 3000 series 3147 (the 2-in-1 model) 🙂
Thanks Karissa, have a great week and enjoy your nice laptop!
Thanks Karissa, have a great week!
-J.D.
will it work for inspiron 15???????
Sorry for the late reply, Chetan. If your Inspiron 15 has Intel graphics and the same symptom, this fix is definitely worth trying. Installing the latest Intel HD video driver was the key step in my case.
Thank you so much for your help! This works well
Hi Damicon,
Thank you for your kind comment. I am very glad this driver tip worked for!
Best regards,
-J.D.
I have the Inspiron 15 series 3521 how can i get driver
Hi vimal,
Thank you for your question. Your Inspiron 15 3521 should have Intel HD Graphics 2000, so the appropriate drivers should:
#1 Best choice
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/81502/Intel-HD-Graphics-2000-for-2nd-Generation-Intel-Core-Processors
#2 Second option is first does not work
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/inspiron-15-3521/drivers
Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help!
Best regards,
-J.D.
Please let
i have inspiron 15 3000 series. the brightness is 100% and the F11 key to reduce brightness does not work. the control panel also does not have the option to adjust brightness. your help will be very much appreciated
Sorry for the late reply, Esh. If the brightness option is missing from Control Panel too, that usually means the graphics driver is wrong or incomplete. I would install the proper Dell or Intel HD driver for that exact 3000 series model first.
I am using DELL INSPIRON 15 3000 Series, I Can’t Adjust My Brightness. I Updated My driver But its Not Working.
Sorry for the late reply, Tyson. If updating the driver did not help, I would make sure it is the correct Dell or Intel HD package for that exact Inspiron model rather than a generic video driver. This problem is usually driver related.
I have dell Inspiron 3542 and while downloading intel drivers it said the manufacturer have installed customized drivers. Help me on this. Thanks. 🙂
Sorry for the late reply, Rinkesh. That manufacturer-customized warning is common on Dell laptops. I would use the Dell-provided graphics driver for the 3542 first, because the Intel generic package often refuses or behaves oddly on OEM systems.
I hav dell inspirion 15 3000 series with amd a6 processor ,I cant fix my brightness problem even after watching many solution provided videos , done all the process . IF u can then help me to get out if this .
Bibhor, this particular post was for Intel HD graphics, so it may not map cleanly to your AMD A6 model. I would install the correct Dell or AMD display driver for that exact machine rather than follow the Intel-only fix.
I have dell inspirion 15 3000 series with amd a6 processor ,I cant fix my brightness problem even after watching many solution provided videos , done all the process . IF u can then help me to get out if this .
Bibhor, this particular post was for Intel HD graphics, so it may not map cleanly to your AMD A6 model. I would install the correct Dell or AMD display driver for that exact machine rather than follow the Intel-only fix.
I have the Inspiron 15 series 3521 how to decrease my brightness level, function key doesn’t working and also i have updated the drivers , but could not decrease brightness now what i do ???????..
Mass, if the function key still does nothing after a driver update, I would also install the Dell hotkey or QuickSet software and check for a BIOS update. The video driver is the first piece, but not always the only one.
hi, I have Dell Vostro 15 , 3000 series . recently one of computer repairing center changed my controller of Dell laptop. after repairing I found out that the brightness of my screen is not working. it always adjusts automatically in high brightness and keys are not working. it will be difficult for me to work in such a high brightness. please suggest me solution of this problem. i m waiting
Priyaranjan, since this started right after a hardware repair, I would not rule out a hardware or cable issue. I would reinstall the correct graphics driver first, but if it still stays full bright I would take it back to the repair shop.
I have Dell Inspiron 14 3467 function key f11 and f12 and not working Im using now windows 7 i donw know how to solve.. please help me
Donald, Windows 7 on a 3467 can be trickier because some of those models were really aimed at newer drivers. I would use the exact Dell video and hotkey packages for that machine, because generic drivers often miss the brightness function.
i have dell inspiron 15 3567 and having problem to control the brightness of system.how can i get out of it?
Prashant, the first thing I would do is reinstall the exact Dell graphics driver for the 3567. If that does not restore the brightness control, then I would add the Dell hotkey software and BIOS update to the checklist.
i am using dell inspiron 15 3000 series 3542…it lost its brightness control.when i press brightness control buttons there is no effect.also the ‘sleep’ option on the power options ..please help
Sorry for the late reply, Nkopane. If brightness control and the sleep option both vanished, that points to driver or power management issues more than just the function keys. I would reinstall the chipset, graphics, and power-related drivers for the 3542.