Brightness slider not working (unable to increase or decrease brightness on laptop screen)

[Lom83]

Since Monday, I've been unable to adjust the brightness on my laptop screen via the F2 and F3 buttons - the correct brightness slider appears visually on screen but pressing the buttons no longer makes the slider move up or down. I can move it via my mouse cursor, by clicking and dragging but if I do that, the actual brightness of my screen doesn't change at all.

Its an HP Pavilion 15-p249sa. I've looked up the issue elsewhere online and read a number of potential fixes which haven't worked, including adjusting the brightness via 'brightness' within the 'settings' section of the charm bar (I think thats what its called?). I've tried adjusting the power plan, enabling adaptive brightness via the power settings as mentioned by someone else with the same issue on a Microsoft support forum but that didn't fix it. I'm at the stage where it seems other people are told to uninstall drivers relating to the graphics card/graphics and I'm cautious about trying that, as I wouldn't want the screen to go blank before any replacement were to be installed. I'm not greatly confident with hardware changes but I wondered if there are any somewhat easy/easy-ish potential fixes I could at all try?.

Oh and also I checked for Windows updates installed. I couldn't remember noticing a recent update, say in the last few days which could have directly triggered the loss of the brightness function but it was suggested I look up the last updates just in case, so I did and it says 9 updates failed to install on January 9th and before then, the last successful update was a cumulative security update successfully installed on December 20th.

I use a wi-fi network to go online. I've tried restarting my laptop, doing a full shut down and leaving it hours, then starting it up again and its still an issue obviously. I've also tried unplugging it from the mains and running it on battery and that doesn't make a difference either. Other than taking the battery out, which surely I shouldn't have to do(?) I'm at a loss as to what else to try.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks.

[KrazyToad · Accepted solution]

@Lom83

Welcome to HP Support Community

I suggest you download and run the HP Support Assistant from this Link: https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/hpsupport.html?jumpid=va_r602_us/en/any/psg/p...

HPSA will automatically search for all the latest drivers for your Notebook

1. Click My devices in the top menu, and then click Updates in the My PC or My notebook pane.

   

2. Click Check for updates and messages to scan for new updates.

   

3. Review the list of updates. Updates with a yellow information icon are recommended. Updates with a blue information icon are optional.

4. Click the update name for a description, version number, and file size.

5. Select the box next to any updates you want to install, and then click Download and install.

Also ensure Windows is up to date.

Select the Start  button, and then go to Settings  > Update & security  > Windows Update , and select Check for updates. If Windows Update says your device is up to date, you have all the updates that are currently available

Keep me posted how it goes

Thank you and have a wonderful day 😊

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" on this Post and it will also help other community members with similar issue.

[Lom83]

Hi KrazyToad, Thanks for your help - I managed to fix it via uninstalling the monitor driver and doing a full restart. I got a hold of someone in the HP social media team who helped with it. Sorry I didn't get around to deleting this topic but I'll keep the info. in case the issue comes back and I'm looking for other potential fixes.

Thanks again for replying.

[Jeet_singh]

@Lom83,

It looks like you were interacting with @KrazyToad, but he is out for the day & I'll be glad to help you out, 
I'm the Jeet_Singh & I'm at your service. 

I'm glad you got this issue sorted out.

Do visit our HP Forums and drop us a message anytime you need help

Thank you 😀