Desktop Lighter for Windows

Used Desktop Lighter for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffApril 17, 2020

Desktop Lighter offers users a way to quickly and easily adjust how brilliant their screen appears. The only concern is whether the majority of users will find a need for it.

This freeware program hides itself in the tray until you decide your computer needs an adjustment. Clicking on the program's icon brings up a simple purple and pink screen. So simple, in fact, the only variable on this control is a slider that moves up and down. As you click and drag this bar, a small window pops up to tell the user what percentage the display's brightness is at. Users need only to let go of the mouse button to maintain a selected level of brightness. There are a few added features to this easy-to-use program. One is a hot-keys option that allows you to adjust the settings with the keyboard; another is a way to make the display larger.

Desktop Lighter is a fantastic option for those looking to quickly adjust their screen. This tray icon saves users the hassle of searching through their computer's control panel to make the adjustment, especially if they find themselves making constant changes. If you aren't one of these people, though, you may not need this application. We recommend this download to anyone who needs to adjust display brightness.

What’s new in version 1.4

Version 1.4 features: Remember Last Settings option; Large Brightness Fader option; Various small improvements and bug fixes.

Desktop Lighter for Windows

Used Desktop Lighter for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: October 30, 2008

Latest update: April 17, 2020

Version: 1.4

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows XP
Windows 10
Windows Vista

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 201,743

Downloads Last Week: 16

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.1/5

23 User Votes

it is average small and good software
Mustafa BayMarch 5, 2016
Pros
it replaces windows bright control panel
Cons
Also As I say It is not bad but not perfect ,so good and no virus programme
Summary
<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Mar 5, 2016<p/>good and average
Very useful! TY author! You save my eyes!
FreeWebberOctober 27, 2015
Pros
Very quick control
Cons
Not found yet!
Summary
ACTS AS A TROJAN VIRUS PLEASE READ
BrandenSisler17May 24, 2015
Pros
NONE AT ALL
Cons
This program was confirmed by my security as a Trojan because of the behavior detection also when i continued t download it Windows 10 Tech Preview's Security blocked the program.
Summary
Please don't use this program im begging you.
Does the job, but at a cost
longtalkerFebruary 23, 2015
Pros
Does reduce monitor brightness, BUT SEE BELOW
Cons
as many other reviews say, this shitty app messes up your GFX colours. Everything looks like in WIndows 98 now, even with the app turned off.
Summary
What an imbecile of a developer to put out such an app, and what an inept editor at CNET to allow it on their website. I should have read the reviews before installing. No idea how to change my colours back to normal, as Nvidia settings show all is ok.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Feb 23, 2015<p/>UPDATE: the only way to undo the harm that this idiotic app does is to use the Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Display\CalibrateColor option in Windows 7. Good luck fixing your computer, and SHAME SHAME SHAME to CNET and to this developer.
Use only if you know how to reset your colors
lethalmudOctober 18, 2013
Pros
Convenient I can tell by turning the screen towards the wall that the glare is a bit less
Cons
Like others said, it changes the colors, may or may not be easy to reverse
Summary
The negative reviews are kinda right, but it *does* take off some of the glare at night. Anyway, in my case, it seems like I'm able to get everything back to normal under "Graphics Properties" but ymmv. If your fn key brightness shortcut works then you don't have any reason to bother with this
Permanently modifies your gamma - impossible to restore
life359January 6, 2013
Pros
Hotkeys (only reason I tried it)
Cons
Permanently modifies your gamma settings Shutting down, restarting, or uninstall does not revert changes
Summary
I signed up for a CNET account JUST to warn others before using this program. It permanently modifies your gamma and the changes cannot be easily reversed. I *think* I reverted them by using the NVIDIA control panel to modify the colour settings (changed from "Other applications control colour settings" to "Use NVIDIA settings"). It's ridiculous that the coders of this software didn't code it to revert the changes when the program is stopped or at least revert when you restart or uninstall the program. DO NOT USE THIS GARBAGE APPLICATION. There are many other alternatives that do not PERMANENTLY modify your settings.
Doesn't work
WristbandloverNovember 8, 2012
Pros
Can't think of any
Cons
Slide bar made no difference on my laptop
Summary
Don't bother
Ruins your color settings. Disgusting.
JohnNathanShopperOctober 5, 2012
Pros
None. There is nothing good about a program that irrevocably changes your color settings.
Cons
This widget changes the color settings on the computer--and I think it does it permanently.
Summary
If you haven't figured it out yet, Desktop Lighter changes the gamma, not the brightness. The brightness remains completely unchanged. That's false advertising. That wouldn't be such a bad thing, if it didn't change the settings in a way that's irreversible to factory settings, and in a way that seems invisible to the regular graphics settings of Windows and the graphics card. I don't know if I'll be able to get the laptop to look normal again.
changes are not revertible
un1QuEUsernameJuly 29, 2012
Pros
Changes screen colour (lightens colours to give you more WHITE on the screen)
Cons
changes are not revertible: even uninstalling does not set back your colour to the original settings. Also, the hint of a user here - to set the brightness back to 70% - does NOT revert to the former "normal" Clour setting. When you Use this tool, you will get washed out colours you will NOT get rid of by closing or uninstalling this tool
Summary
do NOT install or use.
Default is 70%
ValionisNovember 13, 2011
Pros
May be right for some people.
Cons
This program isn't really brightening the pc, it just changes screen colors. Adds white or black color. The worst thing is - after you change the screen "brightness" with this program, that is, distort the colors, you can't set them back to default if you don't know what the settings were when you installed the program, even after uninstall or computer restart. Default "brightness""of this program is 70%.
Summary
Distorts screen colors.

Developer’s Description

Adjust the brightness of your computer screen.

Desktop Lighter allows you to adjust the brightness of your screen easily and quickly. It can change the brightness level by application window trackbar slider or by keyboard command hotkeys. So you can work with office documents, browse internet pages, watch movies, or play games and it is a good idea to set the proper brightness value before. You could well do it with this program. Keep your eyes in optimum condition.

Version 1.4 features: Remember Last Settings option; Large Brightness Fader option; Various small improvements and bug fixes.