# does anyone know how to brighten a laptop display? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310 "2011-12-06T22:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/1 "2011-12-06T22:26:18Z")
…because I can’t find anything in this fercockteh laptop that tells me. It’s an HP 6735b, if that makes any difference. When I unplug it from the wall and it goes on batteries, it gets a tiny bit brighter, but there should be something someplace that allows me to brighten it myself, should there? Damned if I can find it. Nothing under “screen properties” “display” etc. Nada. Who makes a machine like this? Any help, dopers? xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/2 "2011-12-06T22:32:46Z")
My Dell uses the function key Fn and up or down arrows. Fn Up is brighter Fn down is dimmer. I’ve never seen anything in windows that does it. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/3 "2011-12-06T22:40:26Z")
Googling “HP 6735b screen brightness” produces numerous links that look potentially helpful, including [this one](http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=3687779&prodTypeId=321957&objectID=c00380256). ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/4 "2011-12-06T23:31:17Z")
That is such the excellent suggestion. I think my computer must be old, dying, broken, crap, or a combination. All suggestions on the linked page did not work. It’s too cold to go fishing right now, but maybe I can use this little computer as a weight in the spring. Thanks, anyhow. xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/5 "2011-12-07T05:00:10Z")
> [@](#): > > does anyone know how to brighten a laptop display? Flowers and chocolates? ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/6 "2011-12-07T10:31:22Z")
If you have an ATI card, there is a slight chance you had the same weird problem I did. Try this. Right click on the desktop and click on “Catalyst control center.” Click on “Reactivate ATI color controls.” ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/7 "2011-12-07T11:24:42Z")
What version of Windows are you using? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/8 "2011-12-07T12:16:08Z")
Have you checked the screen brightness setting under the Power control panel? It’s likely set at full brightness when on AC power anyway, but it’s worth a look. If full brightness is still too dim, it probably needs a new light. They’re not too difficult to replace on the recent HP’s, but I wouldn’t try it yourself if you don’t have electronics and soldering experience. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-how-to-brighten-a-laptop-display/605310/9 "2011-12-07T15:04:07Z")
My Lenovo has a setting in BIOS where I can select, if I so choose, to have my laptop screen at full brightness when it runs on batteries (it usually dims when on battery to save power.) I realize this is the exact opposite situation from the O.P. but, still, one more spot you can look for a setting – the BIOS. If its old enough to be delegated to fishing sinker, maybe the BIOS setting have gone wonky?