To enable Night Light on a Windows laptop, press Windows key + I, open System > Display, and turn on Night light. Windows will shift the display toward warmer colors. You can then open the Night light settings to adjust the Strength, schedule it from sunset to sunrise or during custom hours, and turn it on or off quickly from Windows Quick Settings.
Last updated: September 11, 2026 — workflow checked against current Microsoft Support guidance for Windows Night light.
Quick Answer
To enable Night Light on a Windows laptop, press Windows key + I, go to System > Display, and turn on Night light. Select the Night light setting to change the Strength or turn on Schedule night light for sunset-to-sunrise or custom hours.
Key Takeaways
- The main path is Settings > System > Display > Night light.
- Use the Strength slider if the screen looks too orange or not warm enough.
- You can schedule Night light for sunset to sunrise or choose your own on/off hours.
- If Night light is grayed out or missing, check the display driver; Microsoft notes that some DisplayLink and Basic Display configurations do not support the feature.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 1 to 3 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Windows laptop, touchpad or mouse, keyboard shortcut optional |
| Cost | Free built-in Windows setting |
How Do You Open Night Light Settings on a Windows Laptop?
The fastest way to open Windows Settings is to press Windows key + I. This shortcut takes you directly to the Settings app without searching through the Start menu.
You can also open Start, type “Settings” into the search box, and select the Settings app from the results.
Once Settings opens, choose System, then select Display. Night light appears in the display controls, where you can turn it on and open its additional settings.
Note: These steps are for Windows laptops. A Chromebook or MacBook uses a different feature and menu path.
How Do You Enable Night Light on Windows 11?
Night light changes the display from a cooler blue-white appearance to warmer colors. On Windows 11, you can turn it on directly from the Display page.
Follow these steps:
- Open Display settings: Press Windows key + I, choose System, then select Display.
- Turn on Night light: Find the Night light control and switch it on. The display should immediately shift toward warmer colors.
- Open Night light settings: Select the Night light setting if you want to adjust its Strength or configure an automatic schedule.
You do not need to restart the laptop after enabling Night light. The color change should take effect as soon as the setting is switched on.
If the screen becomes warmer as soon as you enable Night light, the feature is working. If nothing changes or the control is unavailable, use the troubleshooting section below.
How Do You Adjust Night Light Strength and Schedule?
Open Settings > System > Display > Night light to control how strong the effect looks and when Windows activates it.
Use the Strength slider to change the intensity. Moving it toward a stronger setting makes the screen look warmer, while reducing the Strength keeps the display closer to its normal color.
To automate the feature, turn on Schedule night light. Windows lets you choose Sunset to sunrise or Set hours and enter your own turn-on and turn-off times.
If sunset-to-sunrise scheduling is unavailable or does not match your local time, use Set hours and check the Windows location settings used by location-aware features.
A strong setting can noticeably change whites, blues, skin tones, photos, and videos. Reduce the Strength or turn Night light off temporarily when accurate colors matter.
Pro Tip: If the display looks too orange, lower the Night light Strength instead of disabling the feature completely. A lower setting keeps some warmth while preserving more natural-looking colors.
Can You Turn Night Light On From Quick Settings?
Yes. Press Windows key + A to open Quick Settings. You can also open the Quick Settings area from the network, sound, or battery controls on the right side of the taskbar.
If the Night light control appears, select it to turn Night light on or off without opening the full Settings app. On current Windows layouts, you may need to scroll through the available Quick Settings controls to locate it.
If Night light does not appear there, use Settings > System > Display instead.
When Should You Use Night Light?
Night light is useful when a cool, bright-looking display feels uncomfortable in a dim room. It can be convenient during evening browsing, writing, studying, reading, or streaming because it changes the display toward warmer colors.
Turn it off temporarily when color accuracy matters. Photo editing, video color work, graphic design, and shopping for color-sensitive products are easier to judge with the display’s normal color settings.
Warning: Night light changes how colors appear on your display. Turn it off before doing color-sensitive work.
Why Is Night Light Grayed Out or Not Working?
If Night light does not work, start at Settings > System > Display and check whether the Night light control is available and switched on.
Microsoft notes that Night light is not available with some display drivers, including DisplayLink and Basic Display. Microsoft also recommends updating the display driver if the Night light toggle is grayed out. See Microsoft’s Night light guidance.
| Problem | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Night light toggle is grayed out | Update or reinstall the correct graphics/display driver for your laptop, then restart Windows. |
| Night light is missing | Check the active display driver. Some DisplayLink and Basic Display configurations do not support Night light. |
| Screen looks excessively red with HDR | Lower the Night light Strength or turn Night light off temporarily. Microsoft documents this behavior on some HDR-capable displays. |
| Night light turns on at the wrong time | Open Night light settings and check the schedule. Try Set hours if sunset-to-sunrise scheduling is not behaving as expected. |
If the setting is available but the display does not change, restart the laptop and test again. Then check Windows Update and your laptop manufacturer’s support software for the correct graphics driver.
If you use an external monitor, test Night light on the laptop’s built-in display first. External-display behavior can depend on the active graphics and display-driver configuration.
On an HDR-capable display, Night light can sometimes produce an unusually red appearance. Microsoft recommends reducing the Strength or turning Night light off if this occurs. See Microsoft’s HDR settings guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule the Night Light to turn on automatically?
Yes. Go to Settings > System > Display > Night light, turn on Schedule night light, and choose either Sunset to sunrise or Set hours for your own on/off times.
Does Night Light affect battery life on my laptop?
Night light is not primarily a battery-saving feature. Use it to change the display toward warmer colors. If battery life is your goal, lowering display brightness and using Windows power-saving settings are more relevant controls.
Is Night Light available on all laptop models?
No. Most modern Windows laptops can use Night light, but Microsoft notes that it is not available with certain display drivers, including DisplayLink and Basic Display. A missing or grayed-out option can also indicate a display-driver problem.
Can I adjust the intensity of the Night Light?
Yes. Open Settings > System > Display > Night light and move the Strength slider. A higher Strength produces a warmer-looking display, while a lower setting keeps colors closer to normal.
What are the benefits of using a Night Light feature?
Night light changes the screen toward warmer colors and reduces the intensity of cooler blue tones. This can make a bright display feel less harsh when you use the laptop in a dark or dim room.
Why does my screen look orange after turning on Night Light?
Night light intentionally shifts the display toward warmer colors, so white areas may look yellow or orange. Lower the Strength if the effect is too strong. On some HDR-capable displays, Night light can also create a stronger red tint.
Can I turn Night Light off quickly?
Yes. Press Windows key + A to open Quick Settings and select the Night light control if it is available. You can also return to Settings > System > Display and switch Night light off.
Why is Night Light grayed out or not working?
A grayed-out Night light control can indicate a display-driver problem. Update or reinstall the correct graphics driver for your laptop and restart Windows. Microsoft also notes that Night light is unavailable with some DisplayLink and Basic Display driver configurations.
Conclusion
To enable Night light on a Windows laptop, open Settings > System > Display and switch on Night light. Then open the Night light settings if you want to adjust the Strength or set an automatic schedule.
For everyday evening use, choose a Strength that looks comfortable without making colors excessively orange. Turn Night light off temporarily for color-sensitive work. If the setting is missing or grayed out, check the graphics driver first, especially if the system uses DisplayLink or a Basic Display driver.
