Night Light Not Working on Windows 11: Troubleshooting Guide

Is your Windows 11 Night Light feature not working? This feature, designed to reduce blue light emitted from your screen for better sleep, can sometimes malfunction. This comprehensive guide provides troubleshooting steps to get it working again.

What is Night Light and Why Use It?

Night Light is a Windows 11 feature that filters blue light, giving your display a warmer, more yellowish tint. Reducing blue light exposure, especially in the evening, can help improve sleep quality by minimizing disruption to your natural circadian rhythm.

Benefits of using Night Light:

  • Improved Sleep: Reduces blue light exposure, promoting better sleep.
  • Reduced Eye Strain: Can ease eye strain, especially when working in low-light environments.
  • Customizable: Allows you to adjust the color temperature and schedule.

Common Reasons Why Night Light Might Not Be Working

Several factors can prevent Night Light from functioning correctly. These include:

  • Outdated Display Drivers: Incompatible or outdated drivers can cause display issues.
  • Conflicting Software: Certain applications can interfere with Night Light.
  • Incorrect Settings: Incorrectly configured Night Light settings.
  • Display Calibration Issues: Problems with display calibration.
  • Graphics Card Issues: Problems with the graphics card or its software.
  • Windows Update Issues: Sometimes recent Windows Updates can introduce unexpected bugs.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Night Light

Here are several troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the Night Light issue:

1. Check Night Light Settings

First, ensure that Night Light is enabled and configured correctly:

  • Go to Settings (Windows key + I).
  • Click on System.
  • Select Display.
  • Toggle the Night light switch to On.
  • Click on the arrow next to the Night light switch to adjust the intensity and schedule.
  • Verify that the Schedule night light is set up correctly or disable the schedule and manually turn it on.

2. Update Display Drivers

Outdated display drivers are a common cause of display issues. Update them to the latest version:

  • Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
  • Expand Display adapters.
  • Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
  • Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the instructions.
  • Restart your computer after the update.

If Windows can’t find a new driver, visit the manufacturer’s website (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to download and install the latest drivers.

3. Restart Your Computer

A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches. Restart your computer and check if Night Light is working.

4. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Windows includes built-in troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix hardware issues:

  • Open Settings (Windows key + I).
  • Click on System.
  • Click on Troubleshoot.
  • Click on Other troubleshooters.
  • Find Hardware and Devices and click Run.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Disable Conflicting Software

Certain programs can interfere with Night Light. Try disabling recently installed or updated applications, especially those related to display settings or graphics.

6. Check Display Calibration

Incorrect display calibration can sometimes cause issues with Night Light:

  • Search for Calibrate display color in the Start menu and open it.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate your display.

7. Temporarily Disable Third-Party Themes

Custom themes can sometimes interfere with system features. Revert to the default Windows theme to see if that resolves the issue:

  • Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.
  • Choose a default Windows theme.

8. Check Group Policy Settings (for advanced users)

In some cases, Group Policy settings can affect Night Light. This is relevant for users on a domain network or those who have manually configured Group Policy settings.

  • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
  • Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Display.
  • Look for settings related to Night Light or color management and ensure they are not disabled or conflicting.

9. Update Windows

Ensure your Windows 11 is up to date. Microsoft often releases updates that include bug fixes and improvements:

  • Go to Settings (Windows key + I).
  • Click on Windows Update.
  • Click Check for updates.
  • Install any available updates and restart your computer.

10. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help identify if a background program is causing the issue.

  • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type msconfig and press Enter.
  • In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
  • Check the box Hide all Microsoft services.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
  • Disable all startup items in Task Manager.
  • Close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window.
  • Restart your computer.

If Night Light works after a clean boot, enable services and startup items one by one to identify the culprit.

11. Reinstall Graphics Drivers

If updating the drivers didn’t work, try completely uninstalling and then reinstalling them:

  • Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
  • Expand Display adapters.
  • Right-click on your graphics card and select Uninstall device.
  • Check the box Attempt to remove the driver for this device (if available).
  • Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver. If not, download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Conclusion

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of Night Light not working on Windows 11. Start with the simpler solutions like checking settings and updating drivers before moving on to more advanced steps like clean boot and reinstalling drivers. Enjoy the benefits of reduced blue light and improved sleep!