Surface Laptop 3, 13.5" brightness stuck on 2-3

Question

I have a new Surface Laptop 3. 13.5" base model. All updated now to 1909.

If I press F6/7 brightness overlay shows I can change from level 1-2. I can't set to 0 or 3+. However these 2 settings don't change the real brightness.

I can use the slider in the settings and move all the way from 0-100%. However this doesn't change the real brightness.

I've tried the help settings like adaptive brightness on/off, and nothing helps.

I've seen this Missing display / toggle for adaptive brightness in windows update 1809

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/missing-display-toggle-for-adaptive-brightness-in/bf9d3952-1caa-4112-a239-3e8335bd2c45?page=5

Mine is missing too. I tried the cmd fix, it doesn't change the behavior.

I've been in stores, and found that most Surface Laptop 3 are like this, tho some have working brightness. The store clerk said they have demo software, so it may be locked.

Answer 1

well I ran it, it crashed on the malicious tool def updates

then when I reinstalled the screen was so bright it almost burned my eyes

so somehow it unlocked. I'll test it to see if it stays working but it didn't even start running...

Answer 2

Hello Flamdermal529,

Thank you for reaching out Microsoft Community. We really appreciate all the efforts that you did just to possibly resolve the issue.

I would like to verify if you have perform the Media creation tool ? because it really helps us reload the default driver from the Surface device without affecting personal files and applications.

Please keep us posted.

Regards,

Jonas_T

Answer 3

I had the same problem with the 15" AMD Laptop 3. It only occurred upon getting out of hibernation mode. It would show the display driver not functioning in device manager. I wasted 4 hours with tech support doing all sorts of silly diagnostic tests. Nothing helped. I returned the device.

Come on Microsoft, this is your laptop with your own OS, get it together.

Answer 4

Hello Flamdermal529,

Thank you for reaching our to Microsoft Surface Community.

Have you tried to Run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit on you Surface Book 2?

If not, please try to run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit using this Link .

If that wont work you can also try to run the Media Creation Tool. Just hit Download Tool Now and choose Upgrade This PC to Windows 10.

And if those steps still wont work, We can go ahead and delete the Surface DTX in the device manager and before you restart the Surface Bookwe need to download the Driver Package , Make sure to choose the Msi file that has the same Windows OS build that you have.

You can also search Winverto your windows search bar to check your Windows OS build.

If all those steps wont work, Then you need to do a USB Recovery Drive.

Here's the Link on how to create a USB Recovery Drive .

After downloading the Recovery Image make to apply these steps below.

1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.
3. When the Microsoft or Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
4. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
5. Select Troubleshoot , and then select Recover from a drive . If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the screen.
6. Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.

The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you’re recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you’re keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files. 7. Select Recover.

Surface restarts and displays the Surface logo while the reset process continues. This can take several minutes. 8. If prompted, select Repartition the drives.

Please let us know if this works. 

Kind Regards,

Jonas_T