The first sunny days tempt us to open up our laptops outdoors. With the right settings, you can see your screen crystal clear even in the sun.
March has only just begun, yet the first sun-drenched spring days are already giving us spring fever. We feel the need to enjoy the sun and temporarily move our workspace outdoors.
However, this often comes with one specific frustration: your laptop screen is barely readable in the sunlight. With the tips below, you can fully enjoy the sun while continuing to work efficiently on your laptop.
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Brightness
Want your screen to outshine the sun? First, turn the brightness up to the maximum level. To do this, go to Start > System > Display and click on Brightness. Move the slider to maximum brightness. Below this function, you will also find Change brightness automatically when lighting changes; toggle the switch to “off” so your brightness doesn’t go haywire in the bright light.
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Contrast
A second important setting for adjusting your screen in sunlight is contrast. You can adjust this via Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes. To switch to high contrast immediately, you can use the following shortcut: Alt + Shift + Print Screen. A pop-up will appear asking: “Do you want to turn on High Contrast?”. When you want to turn the feature off again, you can use the shortcut once more. High contrast makes the text much clearer against the background.
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Dark Mode
Many people are fans of dark mode. This is not only easier on the eyes but also helps improve visibility in bright sunlight. So, for your outdoor office, be sure to switch from light to dark mode for a sharper image. This can be done via Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode and selecting Dark.
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Battery saver mode
When all the above features are enabled, you will notice that your laptop battery drains faster. If you don’t have an outdoor power outlet, you can turn on battery saver mode via Settings > Battery. This way, you can enjoy the sun just a little bit longer.
Physical adjustments
Furthermore, you can make a few simple physical adjustments for a better experience. For instance, sitting in the shade, wearing sunglasses, or placing a sun hood over your laptop can help. Additionally, the type of laptop screen plays an important role. Matte screens are inherently less sensitive to light reflection compared to glossy screens.
Finally, make sure not to leave your laptop in direct sunlight for too long to prevent overheating, especially when it is plugged in. You can read about how to keep your laptop cool during hot days in this article.