Brightness keys no longer working

Good to hear Liam, thanks for the update.

After trying everything you suggested, I remembered the method I used to solve the issue the first time it occurred. I downloaded a tool called G Helper, which included an option to disable function lock. With function lock disabled, the brightness keys now work fine.

Hi Liam,

This is Jess, an Independent Advisor. When the brightness keys and slider start misbehaving—often after toggling adaptive brightness or installing updates—it typically points to a problem with drivers, power settings, or system services.

Here are step by step fix I can recommend

1. Verify Adaptive Brightness is Fully Disabled

Sometimes the system still applies adaptive brightness despite toggling it off. Here's how to ensure it's disabled:

  - Go to: Settings → System → Display

  - Scroll down and click "Brightness" (or expand it).

  - Disable:

      "Change brightness automatically when lighting changes"

      "Help improve battery by optimizing screen brightness"

  - Also open Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings → 

         Change advanced power settings

       Under Display → Enable adaptive brightness → Turn off for both battery and 

         plugged in.

2. Reinstall/Update Display Drivers

Brightness control is often tied directly to your display or GPU drivers. Corruption here causes key malfunctions.

     - Reinstall Display Drivers (Intel/NVIDIA)

         \* Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager)

         \* Expand Display adapters

         \* Right-click Intel UHD Graphics → Uninstall device (check Delete the 

                 driver software)

         \*Do the same for NVIDIA GeForce RTX..., if listed.

         \* Restart your PC.

Windows will reinstall the default drivers automatically. After reboot:

Go to the ASUS support page for FX507VU (or your exact model)

Download and install the latest Intel and NVIDIA drivers manually.

⚠️️ Windows Update drivers are often outdated or buggy. Always prefer ASUS or Intel/NVIDIA versions.

3. Reinstall ASUS Hotkey Drivers

Your brightness keys rely on these.

    - Go to ASUS Support (FX507VU)

    - Download/install:  ASUS System Control Interface V3/V4 (If listed) ATK 

                                   Package

    - Restart your laptop

4. Step 4: Check Windows Services

Sometimes, background services related to ASUS or display handling are disabled.

Press Win + R → type services.msc

Look for:

• ASUS Optimization Service
• ASUS Software Manager
• Display Enhancement Service
• Make sure they’re all set to Automatic and are Running.

Step 5: Restore Function Key Behavior

Some ASUS laptops allow toggling whether function keys behave as "media keys" or not.

• Restart your laptop and enter BIOS (F2 during boot) Look for: Hotkey Mode / Function Key Behavior
• Set it to Enabled or Media Key First
• Save and exit.

Alternatively, ASUS Armoury Crate or MyASUS may allow this option as well.

Optional: Run Hardware Troubleshooter

Run in Terminal as admin:

msdt.exe /id DeviceDiagnostic

or open Control Panel → Troubleshooting → Hardware and Devices

Final Note:

Since you mentioned this recurs over time, it’s likely:

ASUS drivers are auto-updating through Windows and breaking

Armoury Crate updates are glitchy

Intel/NVIDIA updates are not playing nice with ASUS hotkey services

You can pause driver updates in Windows to avoid this cycle:

Run gpedit.msc (for Pro editions)

Navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Do not include drivers with Windows Updates

Enable that.