Adjust Contrast on Xubuntu

A washed-out screen on Xubuntu is usually caused by incorrect color settings or a driver issue. Here’s how you can adjust contrast and color levels:

Quick Fix: Use xrandr to adjust contrast/brightness/gamma

You can use xrandr to tweak display settings. First, open a terminal and run:

xrandr

This lists your connected displays. Look for something like eDP-1 , HDMI-1 , etc.

Then try adjusting gamma and brightness:

Example (adjusting gamma and brightness):

xrandr --output eDP-1 --brightness 0.9 --gamma 1.0:0.9:0.9

• --brightness : Default is 1.0. Try values like 0.9 or 1.1.
• --gamma R:G:B : Adjust these to tweak contrast. Lower G/B can reduce the washed-out look.

You can test different combinations live—no need to reboot.

More Persistent Fix: Use .xprofile or autostart script

To apply this fix at boot:

1. Edit your .xprofile in your home directory:

nano ~/.xprofile

1. Add your xrandr command, e.g.:

xrandr --output eDP-1 --brightness 0.9 --gamma 1.0:0.9:0.9

1. Save and reboot.

If still not fixed: Check GPU drivers

If you’re on Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA, ensure you're using the correct drivers:

• For NVIDIA , use nvidia-settings and make sure the proprietary driver is installed ( Software & Updates > Additional Drivers ).
• For Intel/AMD , Xubuntu generally uses xf86-video-intel or modesetting .

Optional: Install GUI tools

You can also try:

sudo apt install arandr

arandr is a GUI for xrandr that makes it easier to configure.