Arch Linux

mokuren

Member

Registered: 2025-02-23

Posts: 12

[SOLVED] Lost brightness controls on laptop after removing xorg.conf

Relevant specs -

Computer Model: Acer Predator Helios 300
OS: Arch Linux x86_64
Kernel: Linux 7.1.6-arch1-1
Shell: bash 5.3.15
Display (None-1): 1920x1080, 60 Hz
DE: Cinnamon 6.6.9
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10750H (12) @ 5.00 GHz
GPU 1: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile [Discrete]
GPU 2: Intel UHD Graphics [Integrated]
Memory: 2.53 GiB / 23.29 GiB (11%)

Hello everyone,

I recently had a shutdown that lead to my computer's desktop environment not functioning properly. After some trial an error, deleting my xorg.conf file and a 20-nvidia-xorg.conf file I had fixed the issue. Everything is running fine now, except I've completely lost control of my brightness settings. I have scoured the internet and the wiki trying to figure out the source of my problems, but to no avail.

Addressing the wiki pages on backlights, I have no files under /sys/class/backlight. I have no modules running that would indicate anything controlling a backlight after checking the output of lsmod. I cannot control the brightness even if I install a program like brightnessctl or light. The values change, but nothing happens to the screen. I've tried adding several of the listed kernel parameters (not all at once) like acpi_backlight=video, acpi_backlight=vendor, and acpi_backlight=native. I've tried checking nvidia-settings just to make sure, but there's nothing there involving brightness, as I believe the brightness is controlled by the iGPU.

I use xorg, obviously by the title, so I have also tried editing my brightness through xrandr and xbacklight, xbacklight returns empty (NOT the "No outputs have backlight property" error) and I can use the xrandr --brightness flag, it returns no errors but also changes nothing brightness wise.

I wish I could give context on what was in the xorg.conf file, to be honest I don't entirely remember what was in it and accidentally deleted my backup of it.

I am at a complete loss on where to even begin for this, so any help is appreciated.

Thank you for your time

EDIT: I've also tried downgrading my kernel, just in case it was a coincidence, and no luck there.

Last edited by mokuren (2026-08-09 04:11:36)

mokuren

Member

Registered: 2025-02-23

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Lost brightness controls on laptop after removing xorg.conf

Well, here's my SOLVED of shame...

Using my head, I remembered the purpose of having configured my xorg.conf file was to set it up so my computer only ran off of my dedicated GPU. I will have to set that up again, but in the meantime, in configuring the xorg file in the past I had blacklisted my i915 modules. If somehow anyone happens to have this, very unique problem, I undid that and now I have brightness!!! Blacklisting things is under /etc/modprobe.d, files will be there if you've done this in the past. I'm quite forgetful so, it's a wonder I managed to put this one together.