Your Surface adjusts the screen brightness and contrast based on the content displayed. For example, if you open something that's mostly black, then you switch to something that's mostly white, the brightness and contrast may adapt. This is normal. This Content adaptive brightness and contrast feature provides optimal brightness and contrast levels, while saving power and providing longer battery life. You can adjust this option if you want it to behave differently—but if you do, your device won't run as long on battery power.
To temporarily disable this feature, just connect your Surface to the power supply.
Your Surface can also adjust the screen brightness automatically based on the ambient light of the room you’re using it in. For more info, see Change display brightness and color in Windows.
To turn off adaptive brightness and contrast on Surface devices on Windows 11
Select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Display.
In Display settings, select Brightness, and then for Change brightness based on content, select Off.
Note
- Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025
- Microsoft is no longer providing free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
- Learn more
Your Surface adjusts the screen brightness and contrast based on the content displayed. For example, if you open something that's mostly black, then you switch to something that's mostly white, the brightness and contrast may adapt. This is normal. This Content adaptive brightness and contrast feature provides optimal brightness and contrast levels, while saving power and providing longer battery life. You can adjust this option if you want it to behave differently—but if you do, your device won't run as long on battery power.
To temporarily disable this feature, just connect your Surface to the power supply.
Your Surface can also adjust the screen brightness automatically based on the ambient light of the room you’re using it in. For more info, see Change screen brightness in Windows.
Adjust this feature and retain the settings
You'll need to know what processor is used in your device to complete the following steps.
Note
You can check which processor your device has if you're not sure.
In the Surface app, expand Device information, select View More, and look at the value next to Processor.
Devices with an Intel processor
Use these steps for Surface Go models, Surface Laptop 2 or newer, any Surface Laptop Go model, Surface Pro 6 or newer, Surface Book 3, or any Surface Laptop Studio model.
To adjust adaptive brightness and contrast, and retain the settings (if you have a Surface device with an Intel processor):
Open the Intel Graphics Command Center app, available from Microsoft Store.
Select System from the left menu, then select Power from the top menu.
First try sliding the Power Efficiency setting to the left to improve the graphics quality, while still saving some battery life.
If you're still seeing screen brightness changes you don't want, move the Display Power Savings setting to Off.
Note
To maximize battery life, we recommend keeping this feature enabled and setting power efficiency to level 6 for Surface Go, Surface Laptop 3, Surface Laptop Go, Surface Laptop Go 2, and Surface Pro 7—and to level 4 for other devices.
Devices with an AMD processor
Use these steps for Surface Laptop 3 15" or Surface Laptop 4.
To adjust adaptive brightness and contrast, and retain the settings (if you have a Surface device with an AMD processor):
Select the battery icon on the Windows taskbar.
Move the slider to the Best performance setting.
Note
To maximize battery life, use the Recommended setting while on battery power.
