Brightness on screen still changing, despite adaptive brightness being disabled (Windows 11, full list of hardware in body)

Resolving Screen Brightness Fluctuations on Windows 11 Despite Disabled Adaptive Brightness

Introduction

Many Windows 11 users encounter unexpected fluctuations in screen brightness, which can be distracting and impact the overall user experience. This issue persists even when native adaptive brightness settings are disabled, leading to confusion and frustration. In this article, we explore a specific case of such an occurrence, analyze possible causes, and offer troubleshooting steps to help users achieve a stable display brightness.

Case Overview

The user reports that their screen brightness fluctuates when displaying predominantly dark visuals, such as black backgrounds with white text. Notably, they have confirmed the following:

HDR is turned off.
Adaptive brightness is disabled across all relevant settings, including Windows display settings, Nvidia Control Panel, and monitor-specific configurations.
The issue occurs in various media and gaming applications.
Dark mode applications like Reddit and Discord remain unaffected.
The behavior was not observed on a previous PC configuration with the same GPU and storage devices.
The problem is observed on a system with the following hardware:
Monitor: Samsung Odyssey G5 (2560×1440, curved, 165Hz)
Operating System: Windows 11 (latest updates as of August 2025)
Motherboard: ASUS Prime H370M Plus
CPU: Intel Core i3-8100
RAM: 16GB DDR4 (4GB x 4 sticks) of mixed brands at 2400MHz
GPU: MSI RTX 4060 OC (dual fan)
Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB SSD and Hitachi Ultrastar 8TB HDD

Troubleshooting and Considerations

Given the details, several potential causes and troubleshooting steps can be considered:

Checking Windows Power & Display Settings
Ensure that “Display Brightness Automatically Adjusted” or any similar options in Windows Settings > System > Power & Battery are disabled.
Look under Settings > System > Display > Brightness & color for any adaptive brightness options.
Investigating GPU Driver and Software Settings
Update GPU drivers to the latest version from Nvidia to rule out driver-related anomalies.
Verify Nvidia Control Panel settings for any automatic brightness or gamma adjustments.
Consider resetting Nvidia control panel preferences.
Monitoring Monitor Settings
Double-check monitor OSD (On-Screen Display) menus for any brightness or contrast settings that might cause automatic