Windows 11 users will get a useful feature that is gentle on their eyes
(photo: CC0 Public Domain)

Microsoft is testing adaptive screen brightness technology for laptops and desktops based on Windows 11. The new feature is already available in one of the preliminary versions of the operating system that is distributed under the Insider Preview program.

Adaptive screen brightness control technology has been used in tablets and smartphones for a long time. It automatically adjusts the brightness level of the display depending on the environment, thus reducing the strain on the user’s eyes and saving the battery. This feature works based on sensors that read the ambient light level.

Now, Microsoft is also testing adaptive screen brightness technology as part of the Windows 11 operating system, PC World claims. At the same time, it is sensor-free and will work on both laptops and desktops.

The technology for adaptive brightness of the screen, which in Windows 11 is called Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC), will focus not on the illumination of the space around the user, but on the content displayed on the screen. For example, when you start File Explorer in dark mode on a white background in the same browser, the function will automatically reduce the screen backlight by several levels, thus saving not only the laptop battery, but also the user’s eyes.

In earlier versions of Windows 11, CABC technology was only available on laptops and was only activated when the computer was running on battery power. Starting with Windows 11 Build 23424, the CABC feature is available for both laptops connected to a constant power source and desktop computers. In the second case, it will work even when the monitor is not equipped with an ambient light sensor.

Obviously, the feature needs some improvements, which is why Microsoft didn’t implement it right away in Windows 11. Windows Insiders can find this feature in the Settings menu under System – Display. They can turn the feature on or off, and choose to start it automatically on the laptop only when running on battery.