Legion 5: no backlight control in Discrete graphics mode

Graphics / Linux Linux
11

If you’re using Debian or similar OS, here is how to do it. Note that these instructions only apply in the following conditions:

  • You have the laptop in Discrete mode in the BIOS
  • You’re using the Debian packaged nvidia drivers, not the nvidia downloaded ones (which is the way to go if you’re using Debian or similar distros)

On to the instructions.

  1. Purge all configuration and driver packages:
apt --purge remove nvidia*

  1. Reboot into a clean environment with no nvidia stuff

  2. Install the driver version you desire (at the time of writing /experimental will install 455.45.01):

sudo apt install libegl-nvidia0/experimental libgl1-nvidia-glvnd-glx/experimental libglx-nvidia0/experimental libnvidia-eglcore/experimental libnvidia-glcore/experimental libnvidia-ml1/experimental nvidia-alternative/experimental nvidia-driver/experimental nvidia-driver-bin/experimental nvidia-driver-libs/experimental nvidia-egl-common/experimental nvidia-egl-icd/experimental nvidia-kernel-dkms/experimental nvidia-kernel-support/experimental nvidia-modprobe/experimental nvidia-vdpau-driver/experimental xserver-xorg-video-nvidia/experimental libgles-nvidia1/experimental libgles-nvidia2/experimental nvidia-vulkan-icd/experimental libnvidia-cfg1/experimental libcuda1/experimental libnvcuvid1/experimental libnvidia-encode1/experimental nvidia-opencl-icd/experimental nvidia-smi/experimental  libnvidia-cbl/experimental libnvidia-rtcore/experimental nvidia-cuda-mps/experimental libnvidia-ptxjitcompiler1/experimental libnvidia-compiler/experimental libnvidia-glvkspirv/experimental nvidia-settings
  1. Add the brightness control configuration to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/21-nvidia-brightness.conf 
Section "OutputClass"
    Identifier "nvidia"
    MatchDriver "nvidia-drm"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "RegistryDwords" "EnableBrightnessControl=1"
EndSection
  1. Reboot again and it should all be working!
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