Can I dim the brightness automatically?

QAs I get older and the nights get darker I find my eyes struggle with my screen’s brightness level. Adjusting it involves faffing around with an on-screen menu that I find clunky. I wouldn’t mind that but, the next day, I then have to adjust the brightness back up to deal with the daytime light levels. I’m wondering if there’s any way to automatically control the brightness? Can Windows do this? Martin Burton

AWindows 10 does include an option to adjust brightness automatically, based on the ambient light level, but its use (and appearance in the Settings screen) depends on whether your screen has a built-in light sensor. These tend to be found mostly on laptops and, as it sounds like you’re using an external monitor, it’s unlikely to be available.

Still, it doesn’t hurt to check so, first, click Start followed by the Settings cog. Now click System followed by Display, and then – if there’s the option under ‘Change brightness automatically when lighting changes’ – slide the switch below to the On position.

Chances are, though, that your monitor will be unable to respond automatically to light changes. But Windows 10 has another feature that will make your screen easier on your eyes as the sun goes down – and that’s ‘Night light’. It adjusts the screen’s colour ‘temperature’, reducing the ‘colder’ blue hues believed to cause eye-strain while increasing ‘warmer’ orangey-red colours. It can also be set to run to a schedule.

From the Display page mentioned above, flip the ‘Night light’ switch to On (see screenshot above right). If you’re happy with the pre-set schedule, which is based on local sunset and sunrise times, that’s all you need to do. If you want to set your own schedule, click ‘Night light settings’, make sure the ‘Schedule night light’ switch is set to On (see screenshot above left). Then, below this, select ‘Set hours’ and set the ‘Turn on’ and ‘Turn off’ times. Finally, notice the ‘Colour temperature at night’ slide near the top: experiment with this to find a colour profile that’s comfortable for you.