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How to Reduce Eye Strain: Adjust Screen Brightness



One effective way to reduce eye strain is by lowering the brightness of your computer screen. Adjusting your screen brightness to a comfortable level can significantly enhance your viewing experience and protect your eyes. You can easily change the brightness settings through your computer’s operating system, and in this article, we’ll provide quick instructions for Windows, Mac, and Chrome systems. Let’s dive in and learn how to adjust your screen brightness for improved comfort and clarity while reading!

The benefits of lowering the brightness level of your computer screen:

  • Reduces eye strain and the symptoms of headache and fatigue
  • Lowers the level of blue light emitted
  • Can reduce glare and make items on the screen easier to see and read
  • Saves battery power

Microsoft: Adjust screen brightness on a Windows computer

Windows Laptop Monitor

  1. On a Windows laptop, press the Network icon on the right side of the taskbar.
  2. Adjust the Brightness slider to your preferred brightness.
View of the screen brightness slider in the operating setting of a Windows computer.
Screen brightness slider on a Windows computer

External Monitor

Use the buttons with sunshine icons on an external monitor to adjust the screen brightness.

For further information, read the Microsoft Support article: Change screen brightness in Windows.

Apple: Adjust screen brightness in macOS

  1. Click the Apple icon in the top left of your computer screen.
  2. Select the System Preferences (or System Settings)
  3. Double click Displays
  4. Adjust the slider next to the word Brightness

OR

Use the brightness keys on your keyboard. The decrease brightness key has a small sunshine icon and the increase brightness key has a large sunshine icon.

macOS User Guide: Change your Mac display’s brightness.

View of the screen brightness slider in the operating system settings of a Mac computer.
Screen brightness slider on a Mac computer

Google: Adjust the screen brightness in Chrome OS

  • Use the screen brightness keys on the top row of the keyboard (above the number 6 and 7).
  • Or click on the clock and adjust the screen brightness slider.
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Additional tools for seeing text more clearly

There are 5 more ways to reduce eye strain and increase the visibility of online content.

  1. Increase spacing between words, lines, or letters
  2. Personalize font type and size
  3. High contrast theme, dark mode, or different background color
  4. Zoom tool
  5. Magnification tools

Resource

My Computer My Way – Vision – This resource by AbilityNet provides step-by-step instructions for accessing accessibility features that help you see websites and applications more clearly. Use the operating system drop down to find directions for your specific device.

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