How to check if your PC has a light sensor on Windows 10

If you're not sure whether your PC has a light sensor, use these steps to figure out.

Checking if light sensor is available on your Windows 10 PC
Checking if light sensor is available on your Windows 10 PC

An ambient light sensor is a tiny piece of hardware that has been around for years, and it allows Windows 10 to dynamically adjust the brightness of your display according to the light around you for a more consisting viewable experience. 

While nowadays light sensors are pretty much ubiquitous, no every device has one. If you’re not sure if your laptop, tablet, or desktop has a light sensor, there are multiple ways you can check on Windows 10.

In this guide, you’ll learn two quick ways to see if your computer includes a light sensor using the Windows 10 Settings app and Device Manager.

How to check light sensor using Settings

You can quickly check if your computer includes a light sensor using the Settings app:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click on Display.

  4. Under “Brightness and color,” if you can check the Change brightness automatically when lighting changes option, then a light sensor is available on your device.

    Display settings with option to adjust brightness automatically
    Display settings with option to adjust brightness automatically

How to check light sensor using Device Manager

Alternatively, you can use Device Manager to see if your device includes an ambient light sensor:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Device Manager, and click the top result to open the experience.

  3. Expand the Sensors category. If you see an item that sounds like “Light Sensor,” then your device includes a light sensor.

    Device Manager with Light Sensor
    Device Manager with Light Sensor

If you don’t see the Sensors category, click on View, and click the Show hidden devices option. If you still can’t see the category, then your computer doesn’t include such sensor.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.