How to Reduce External Monitor Brightness in Ubuntu 21.04 [ Solved ]

Prior to Ubuntu 21.04 update, we could easily reduce the brightness of an external monitor using commands like xrandr or using the brightness-controller app. However, the new Ubuntu 21.04 switched to Wayland, resulting in xrandr and brightness-controller app non-functional.

I did some research on how to reduce external brightness in Wayland and the many ‘solutions’ and suggestions online seem not to work on my laptop. The brightness of my monitor even at its lowest setting is a bit too bright for my eyes. So I had to find a way.

Just Disable Wayland and switch back to Xorg. This lazy fix is for people who jusy want an easy and quick way to get back the functionality and not tinker with a lot of commands to make it work with wayland. Just follow the below commands.

How to disable Wayland in Ubuntu 21.04

  • Open a Terminal ( Ctrl + Alt + T )
  • Enter this command sudo gedit /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
  • Find the line #WaylandEnable=false in the configuration file
  • Remove the # from the above line – it should now read WaylandEnable=false.
  • Save the file
  • Reboot your system

After the reboot, your Ubuntu 21.04 will reboot with Xorg. The Xrandr command and brightness-controller app will now work as it used to be on earlier Ubuntu versions.

If you haven’t tried xrandr or brightness controller app yet, check here to know more on how to use those to reduce external monitor brightness.

external brightness ubuntu

Do you really need to buy a 4K monitor for work?

If you have never used a 4K monitor or a QHD monitor, you would be very much confused to go with which monitor from which brand. There are many 4K, QHD, and Full HD monitors out there made by brands like Benq, Lenovo, Dell, MSI, Acer, LG, Samsung, etc at varying prices. Most of the 4K Monitors are priced above Rs 30000 in India. You can also find some Benq 4K monitors as well as Lenovo and Philips 4K monitors selling in India for under Rs 30,000 online.

Do you really need a 4K monitor?
If you have been straining your eyes staring into your 14-inch or 13-inch laptop, it is recommended you invest in an external monitor. This not only gives you a better viewing experience, but you also get to use a Dual monitor setup by extending the screen. This really helps if you switch between different tabs when you are working from home.

Do you need a 4K Monitor for this purpose? The quick answer is No. A good Full HD monitor like Dell P Series P2419H ( the current bestseller on Amazon.in ) is more than enough for your work needs. Oftentimes 4K is overkill for the tasks you do on a daily basis.

However, if you really want to buy a 4K monitor, and have plenty of money keep in mind of these tips when choosing a 4K Monitor.

Do not buy a 27 inch or 24 inches 4K monitor. In these sizes, at Full 4K resolution, the icons and texts look very small and are often impossible to read and work properly. If you are on Windows, it will automatically scale it around 150% for you to get a better look at the icons and text. So this scaling result in the display looks like you are using a Full HD monitor. You won’t be getting the extra real estate you were expecting to get from a 4K monitor. So if you are buying a 4K monitor, to get the full use of the resolution, get a 32 inch one. If you have never used a big monitor, you would need some getting used to the large area your eyes have to wander.

If you are buying a 27 inch Monitor, I would recommend you get a QHD resolution monitor. If you are buying a 24 inch or 22 inch Monitor, get a Full HD one. These are the best sizes for these respective resolutions in my opinion. A 27 inch Full HD monitor would look a bit pixelated. So it’s better to go for a 24 inch if you going for a Full HD monitor.

Do not buy a VA Panel 4K Monitor. I recently used a VA Panel 4K monitor which was selling for under Rs 30K in India online. The viewing angles were not that good and the colors get washed out towards the edges. VA Panels are cheaper, but if you want a better visual experience, pay more and get a good IPS monitor.

Best selling 4K Monitors in India ( April 2021 )
LG Ultrafine 27UL850 27 Inch 4K (3840 x 2160) – Price: Rs 43,280
LG 27 inch 4K-UHD 27UL550 ( Price: Rs 30,999 )
Benq EL2870U VA Panel ( Price: Rs 22,990 )
Samsung 28 inch LU28R550UQWXXL ( Rs 27,999 )
Acer Nitro VG280K 28 inch UHD 3840 X 2160 ( Rs 24,999 )
Acer Predator 27-inch 4K UHD XB273K ( Rs 47,500 )

Check out all the Best Selling Computer Monitors on Amazon.in here.

4K Monitor buying guide