How to Make Windows Easier on Your Eyes: Adjusting Brightness, Enabling Dark Mode, Night Light, Font Size, and Cursor

Many of us spend hours in front of our computer screens every day, which can take a toll on our eyes. Fortunately, there are several ways to tweak your Windows settings to make the experience easier on your eyes. Here are some tips on how to do just that.

1. Adjust your screen brightness

One of the most important things you can do to reduce eye strain is to adjust the brightness of your screen. If your screen is too bright, it can cause your eyes to become fatigued and lead to headaches. On the other hand, if your screen is too dim, it can make it hard to read text on your screen. To adjust your screen brightness, go to the Settings app and click on "System." From there, click on "Display," and you'll be able to adjust your screen brightness.

Steps to adjust screen brightness in Windows:

1. Click on the "Start" button on the taskbar.
2. Click on the "Settings" icon, which looks like a gear.
3. In the Settings window, click on the "System" icon.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on "Display."
5. Under the "Brightness and color" section, you'll see a slider labeled "Brightness." Use this slider to adjust the brightness of your screen.
6. As you adjust the brightness, your screen will update in real-time to show you how it will look. Once you're happy with the brightness level, you can close the Settings window.

Note: Some laptops also have function keys that can adjust screen brightness. Look for keys that have a sun icon or the letters "Fn" on them. You can use these keys in combination with the "F1-F12" keys to adjust the brightness.

2. Enable dark mode

Many applications now have a "dark mode" option, which can be easier on the eyes than the traditional white background. This is especially helpful if you are working in low light conditions. To enable dark mode on Windows 10, go to the Settings app and click on "Personalization." From there, click on "Colors," and you'll be able to toggle the "Dark" option.

Steps to enable Dark Mode in Windows:

1. Click on the "Start" button on the taskbar.
2. Click on the "Settings" icon, which looks like a gear.
3. In the Settings window, click on the "Personalization" icon.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on "Colors."
5. Scroll down to the "Choose your color" section and select "Dark" from the dropdown menu.
6. Once you select Dark mode, your Windows interface will change to a dark theme.
7. You can also choose to have your default Windows mode set to Dark mode by toggling on "Dark mode" under "Choose your color" section.

Note: Not all applications support Dark mode. While most of the Microsoft applications support this feature, some third-party apps may not.

3. Reduce blue light emissions

Blue light emissions from your screen can disrupt your sleep patterns and cause eye strain. Windows 10 has a built-in "Night Light" feature that can reduce the amount of blue light emitted by your screen. To enable Night Light, go to the Settings app and click on "System." From there, click on "Display," and you'll see the option to turn on Night Light. You can also schedule Night Light to turn on and off automatically based on your location and the time of day.

Steps to enable Night Light in Windows:

1. Click on the "Start" button on the taskbar.
2. Click on the "Settings" icon, which looks like a gear.
3. In the Settings window, click on the "System" icon.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on "Display."
5. Under the "Color" section, you'll see a toggle labeled "Night light." Toggle this on to enable Night Light.
6. By default, Night Light will turn on automatically at sunset and turn off at sunrise. If you want to adjust these times or turn on Night Light right away, click on "Night light settings."
7. In the Night light settings, you can adjust the color temperature and schedule. You can also toggle "Turn off night light" to turn off Night Light when you no longer need it.

Note: Night Light is only available on Windows 10 and later versions.

4. Increase font size

If you find yourself squinting to read text on your screen, increasing the font size can help. You can do this in Windows 10 by going to the Settings app and clicking on "Ease of Access." From there, click on "Display," and you'll be able to adjust the size of text, apps, and other items on your screen.

Steps to increase font size in Windows:

1. Click on the "Start" button on the taskbar.
2. Click on the "Settings" icon, which looks like a gear.
3. In the Settings window, click on the "Ease of Access" icon.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on "Display."
5. Under the "Make text bigger" section, use the slider to increase the font size.
6. As you adjust the font size, your screen will update in real-time to show you how it will look. Once you're happy with the font size, you can close the Settings window.

Note: Increasing the font size may cause some text to appear outside of windows or dialogue boxes. This is because the larger text takes up more space, so you may need to adjust the size or position of windows to accommodate it.

5. Use a larger cursor

If you have trouble locating your cursor on your screen, you can increase its size. To do this, go to the Settings app and click on "Ease of Access." From there, click on "Cursor & pointer," and you'll be able to adjust the size of your cursor.

Steps to use a larger cursor in Windows:

1. Click on the "Start" button on the taskbar.
2. Click on the "Settings" icon, which looks like a gear.
3. In the Settings window, click on the "Ease of Access" icon.
4. In the left-hand sidebar, click on "Cursor & pointer."
5. Under the "Change pointer size and color" section, use the slider to increase the cursor size.
6. As you adjust the cursor size, you'll see a preview of how it will look. Once you're happy with the cursor size, you can close the Settings window.

Note: Increasing the cursor size may make it easier to locate on your screen, but it can also make it harder to click on small objects or buttons. If you're having trouble with accuracy, you may want to try a smaller cursor instead.

6. Use a blue light filter software

If you don't want to use the built-in Night Light feature in Windows 10, you can use a third-party blue light filter software. These programs adjust the color temperature of your screen, reducing blue light emissions and making it easier on your eyes. Some popular blue light filter programs include f.lux, Iris, and Redshift.

7. Position your monitor correctly

The position of your monitor can also affect eye strain. Make sure your monitor is at eye level, and adjust its distance from your eyes so that you're not straining to see text or images. Also, make sure your monitor is free from glare, as this can cause eye fatigue.

8. Take breaks

No matter how many tweaks you make to your Windows settings, staring at a screen for hours on end can still cause eye strain. To reduce eye fatigue, take frequent breaks. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. This will give your eyes a chance to rest and recover.

9. Use proper lighting

Proper lighting is important when it comes to reducing eye strain. Make sure your workspace is well-lit, and avoid working in a room that is too bright or too dim. Also, make sure that there is no glare or reflections on your screen, as this can cause eye fatigue.

10. Visit an eye doctor regularly

Finally, it's important to visit an eye doctor regularly to make sure your eyes are healthy. If you are experiencing eye strain or other vision problems, your eye doctor can recommend the best course of action. They can also help you determine if any tweaks to your Windows settings are necessary to reduce eye strain.

Conclusion

There are several ways to tweak your Windows settings to reduce eye strain, including adjusting screen brightness, enabling dark mode, reducing blue light emissions, increasing font size, and using a larger cursor. Other factors, such as proper lighting and regular eye exams, are also important. By taking steps to reduce eye strain, you can make your computing experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

Related Links for Adjusting Windows Settings for Better Accessibility:

Microsoft's official guide on how to adjust screen brightness in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-screen-brightness-in-windows-3f67a2f2-5c65-ceca-778b-5858fc007041#:~:text=an%20external%20monitor.-,To%20change%20the%20brightness%20on%20an%20external%20monitor%2C%20use%20the,slider%20to%20adjust%20the%20brightness.

Microsoft's official guide on how to enable Dark mode in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-colors-in-windows-d26ef4d6-819a-581c-1581-493cfcc005fe#:~:text=in%20Dark%20mode-,Select%20Start%20%3E%20Settings,Select%20Personalization%20%3E%20Colors.&text=In%20the%20list%20for%20Choose%20your%20mode%2C%20select%20Dark.

Microsoft's official guide on how to enable Night Light in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/set-your-display-for-night-time-in-windows-18fe903a-e0a1-8326-4c68-fd23d7aaf136

Microsoft's official guide on how to increase font size in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-the-size-of-text-in-windows-1d5830c3-eee3-8eaa-836b-abcc37d99b9a#:~:text=To%20change%20your%20display%20in,down%20menu%20next%20to%20Scale.

Microsoft's official guide on how to use a larger cursor in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/make-the-mouse-easier-to-use-73c2eeb0-a261-3da0-4480-b560df531df7#:~:text=button%2C%20click%20Control%20Panel%2C%20click,make%20it%20easier%20to%20see.