In Windows 10, the “hidden” or missing brightness slider is usually located in the Action Center or the Windows Settings app, but it can completely disappear due to driver issues, incorrect settings, or because you are using a desktop PC.
If your slider has gone missing, you can find it or force it back using the methods below. 1. Check the Standard Locations
The Action Center: Click the Square Speech Bubble icon at the far right of your taskbar (or press Windows Key + A). The slider sits at the very bottom. If you only see a few squares, click Expand to reveal the full panel.
Windows Settings: Go to Settings > System > Display. You will see the slider under the Brightness and color heading.
Windows Mobility Center: Press Windows Key + X and select Mobility Center. This built-in dashboard houses a standalone brightness toggle (Note: This is strictly for laptops). 2. Unhide the Slider in the Action Center
If the slider was accidentally removed from your quick panel, you can pin it back: Open the Action Center (Windows Key + A).
Right-click any empty space or tile and select Edit quick actions. Click the + Add button. Choose Brightness from the list and click Done. 3. Fix the Driver Issue (If it’s completely missing)
If the slider is absent from both the Action Center and Settings, Windows has likely disabled your display configuration. You can fix this via the Microsoft Device Manager: Right-click the Start Button and choose Device Manager. Expand the Monitors category.
Right-click your monitor (e.g., Generic PnP Monitor) and select Enable device if it was turned off.
If it is already enabled, right-click it, select Update driver, and click Search automatically for drivers. 4. Restart the Display Enhancement Service A stalled system service can also hide the control panel: Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Find the Display Enhancement Service. Right-click it and choose Properties.
Set the Startup type to Automatic, click Apply, and hit Restart the service. There’s no option to change screen brightness in Windows 10
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