In this article, we will explore various ways to fix screen brightness issues in Ubuntu 18.04. This is a common issue faced by many Ubuntu users, and it can be frustrating when you can’t adjust your screen brightness to your liking. But don’t worry, we have got you covered with several methods you can try to resolve this issue.
To fix screen brightness issues in Ubuntu 18.04, you can try adjusting the brightness using function keys or the xbacklight package. If that doesn’t work, you can modify the GRUB settings or edit the xorg.conf file. If none of these methods work, you can try using the xrandr command. If all else fails, it’s recommended to seek further assistance or consider alternative solutions.
Adjusting Brightness Using Function Keys
The first and most straightforward method to adjust screen brightness is by using the function keys on your keyboard. However, if these keys are not working, you can use the xbacklight package to adjust the brightness. Here’s how:
- Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T)
- Install the
xbacklightpackage by running the command:sudo apt install xbacklight
The sudo command is used to run operations that require root privileges. The apt install command is used to install a new package.
- Increase the brightness by 10% using the command:
xbacklight -inc 10 - Decrease the brightness by 10% using the command:
xbacklight -dec 10
The -inc and -dec parameters are used to increase and decrease the brightness level, respectively.
If the function keys are not working, you can create custom hotkeys for adjusting brightness. For example, you can assign the command xbacklight -inc 10 to the shortcut Shift + F9.
Editing GRUB Settings
If the function keys method doesn’t work, you can try modifying the GRUB settings. GRUB is the bootloader for Linux based systems, and it controls what operating system to load and other startup parameters.
- Open Terminal
- Edit the GRUB configuration file by running the command:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
The nano command opens the Nano text editor, and /etc/default/grub is the path to the GRUB configuration file.
- Add
acpi_backlight=vendorto theGRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULTline, so it looks like:GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor"
The acpi_backlight=vendor parameter tells the system to use the vendor-specific driver for the backlight.
- Save the file and update GRUB by running:
sudo update-grub - Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
Editing xorg.conf file
If the previous methods don’t work, you can try editing the xorg.conf file. This file is used to configure the X.Org Server, which is the foundation for the graphical user interface in Ubuntu.
- Open Terminal
- Edit the
xorg.conffile by running the command:sudo vim /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia.conf
The vim command opens the Vim text editor, and /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia.conf is the path to the Nvidia configuration file.
- Add or modify the following lines in the file:
Section "OutputClass"
Identifier "nvidia"
MatchDriver "nvidia-drm"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "RegistryDwords" "EnableBrightnessControl=1;"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/nvidia/xorg"
EndSectionThe EnableBrightnessControl=1; parameter enables the brightness control for the Nvidia driver.
- Save the file and reboot your system.
Using xrandr Command
If none of the above methods work, you can try using the xrandr command to adjust the screen brightness. The xrandr command is used to set the size, orientation, and reflection of the outputs for a screen.
- Open Terminal
- Run the command:
xrandr
This command will display the information about the screen including the name of the screen (e.g., eDP1).
- To adjust the brightness to a specific value (between 0.3 and 1.0), run the command:
xrandr --output eDP1 --brightness <value>, replacing<value>with the desired brightness level.
The --output parameter specifies the screen, and the --brightness parameter sets the brightness level.
If none of these methods work, it’s possible that there may be a driver issue or compatibility problem with your hardware. In such cases, you may need to seek further assistance or consider alternative solutions. You can refer to the Ubuntu community help or Ask Ubuntu for more help.
We hope this article has been helpful in resolving your screen brightness issues in Ubuntu 18.04. Happy troubleshooting!
There could be several reasons why the function keys are not working to adjust screen brightness. One possibility is that the necessary drivers or packages are not installed. You can try installing the xbacklight package as mentioned in the article and see if that helps. Another possibility is that there may be a conflict with other software or settings on your system. You can try creating custom hotkeys or modifying the GRUB settings as described in the article to overcome this issue.
Yes, you can adjust the screen brightness on a dual-boot system with Ubuntu and Windows. However, keep in mind that the brightness settings in Ubuntu and Windows are independent of each other. So, if you adjust the brightness in one operating system, it will not affect the brightness in the other. You will need to adjust the brightness separately in each operating system according to your preference.
