Brightness drivers missing lenovo Flex 5i ideapad laptop

Brightness Doesn't change on my laptop

brightness keys not working

ls /sys/class/backlight/

the above command give nothing

the directory is empty

installed zorin lite os yesterday. any help is appreciated

system hardware info:

cmd:sudo lshw
output:

akhil-ideapad-flex-5-14itl05
description: Convertible
product: 82HS (LENOVO_MT_82HS_BU_idea_FM_IdeaPad Flex 5 14ITL05)
vendor: LENOVO
version: IdeaPad Flex 5 14ITL05
serial: R9118ZPL
width: 64 bits
capabilities: smbios-3.2 dmi-3.2 smp vsyscall32
configuration: administrator_password=disabled boot=normal chassis=convertible family=IdeaPad Flex 5 14ITL05 frontpanel_password=disabled keyboard_password=disabled power-on_password=disabled sku=LENOVO_MT_82HS_BU_idea_FM_IdeaPad Flex 5 14ITL05 uuid=09A14234-2A5C-EB11-926A-683E261ACBDC
*-core
description: Motherboard
product: LNVNB161216
vendor: LENOVO
physical id: 0
version: SDK0Q55722 WIN
serial: R9118ZPL
slot: Part Component
*-memory
description: System Memory
physical id: 0
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 8GiB
*-bank:0
description: SODIMM DDR4 Synchronous 3200 MHz (0.3 ns)
product: M471A5244CB0-CWE
vendor: Samsung
physical id: 0
serial: 00000000
slot: Controller0-ChannelA
size: 4GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 3200MHz (0.3ns)
*-bank:1
description: [empty]
physical id: 1
slot: Controller0-ChannelB-DIMM0
*-bank:2
description: [empty]
physical id: 2
slot: Controller0-ChannelC-DIMM0
*-bank:3
description: [empty]
physical id: 3
slot: Controller0-ChannelD-DIMM0
*-bank:4
description: SODIMM DDR4 Synchronous 3200 MHz (0.3 ns)
product: M471A5244CB0-CWE
vendor: Samsung
physical id: 4
serial: 00000000
slot: Controller1-ChannelA
size: 4GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 3200MHz (0.3ns)
*-bank:5
description: [empty]
physical id: 5
slot: Controller1-ChannelB-DIMM0
*-bank:6
description: [empty]
physical id: 6
slot: Controller1-ChannelC-DIMM0
*-bank:7
description: [empty]
physical id: 7
slot: Controller1-ChannelD-DIMM0
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 10
slot: L1 Cache
size: 192KiB
capacity: 192KiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back data
configuration: level=1
*-cache:1
description: L1 cache
physical id: 11
slot: L1 Cache
size: 128KiB
capacity: 128KiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back instruction
configuration: level=1
*-cache:2
description: L2 cache
physical id: 12
slot: L2 Cache
size: 5MiB
capacity: 5MiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
configuration: level=2
*-cache:3
description: L3 cache
physical id: 13
slot: L3 Cache
size: 8MiB
capacity: 8MiB
capabilities: synchronous internal write-back unified
configuration: level=3
*-cpu
description: CPU
product: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 14
bus info: cpu@0
version: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz
serial: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
slot: U3E1
size: 3121MHz
capacity: 4200MHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 100MHz
capabilities: x86-64 fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx pdpe1gb rdtscp constant_tsc art arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc cpuid aperfmperf tsc_known_freq pni pclmulqdq dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 sdbg fma cx16 xtpr pdcm pcid sse4_1 sse4_2 x2apic movbe popcnt tsc_deadline_timer aes xsave avx f16c rdrand lahf_lm abm 3dnowprefetch cpuid_fault epb cat_l2 invpcid_single cdp_l2 ssbd ibrs ibpb stibp ibrs_enhanced tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid ept_ad fsgsbase tsc_adjust bmi1 avx2 smep bmi2 erms invpcid rdt_a avx512f avx512dq rdseed adx smap avx512ifma clflushopt clwb intel_pt avx512cd sha_ni avx512bw avx512vl xsaveopt xsavec xgetbv1 xsaves dtherm ida arat pln pts hwp hwp_notify hwp_act_window hwp_epp hwp_pkg_req avx512vbmi umip pku ospke avx512_vbmi2 gfni vaes vpclmulqdq avx512_vnni avx512_bitalg avx512_vpopcntdq rdpid movdiri movdir64b avx512_vp2intersect md_clear flush_l1d arch_capabilities cpufreq
configuration: cores=4 enabledcores=4 threads=8
*-firmware
description: BIOS
vendor: LENOVO
physical id: 15
version: FXCN21WW
date: 12/04/2020
size: 128KiB
capacity: 15MiB
capabilities: pci upgrade shadowing cdboot bootselect edd int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video pc98 acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification netboot
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-display UNCLAIMED
description: VGA compatible controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pciexpress msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff iomemory:400-3ff memory:6000000000-6000ffffff memory:4000000000-400fffffff ioport:3000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff memory:4010000000-4016ffffff memory:4020000000-40ffffffff
*-generic UNCLAIMED
description: Signal processing controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 4
bus info: pci@0000:00:04.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: msi pm cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff memory:6001100000-600111ffff
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 6
bus info: pci@0000:00:06.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:122 memory:50500000-505fffff
*-storage
description: Non-Volatile memory controller
product: Micron Technology Inc
vendor: Micron Technology Inc
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
version: 03
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: storage pm msi pciexpress msix nvm_express bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=nvme latency=0
resources: irq:16 memory:50500000-50503fff
*-nvme0
description: NVMe device
product: Micron MTFDHBA512QFD
physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/nvme0
version: 0002P6LN
serial: 20422AF18515
configuration: nqn=nqn.2016-08.com.micron:nvme:nvm-subsystem-sn-20422AF18515 state=live
*-namespace
description: NVMe namespace
physical id: 1
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1
size: 476GiB (512GB)
capabilities: gpt-1.00 partitioned partitioned:gpt
configuration: guid=23b0ce18-920d-4c04-a75f-1159ca3e336b logicalsectorsize=512 sectorsize=512
*-volume:0 UNCLAIMED
description: Windows FAT volume
vendor: MSDOS5.0
physical id: 1
version: FAT32
serial: 762f-09f2
size: 255MiB
capacity: 259MiB
capabilities: boot fat initialized
configuration: FATs=2 filesystem=fat label=SYSTEM_DRV name=EFI system partition
*-volume:1
description: reserved partition
vendor: Windows
physical id: 2
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p2
serial: fcaaab76-5093-4e94-955e-218c44617b85
capacity: 15MiB
capabilities: nofs
configuration: name=Microsoft reserved partition
*-volume:2
description: Windows NTFS volume
vendor: Windows
physical id: 3
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p3
version: 3.1
serial: dc6b47b9-de17-b140-b9d2-f67bed47638f
size: 76GiB
capacity: 76GiB
capabilities: ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2021-01-22 03:33:05 filesystem=ntfs label=Windows-SSD name=Basic data partition state=clean
*-volume:3
description: data partition
vendor: Windows
physical id: 4
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p4
serial: 4f916eae-887d-4fe8-a976-3fb375670df3
capacity: 97GiB
configuration: name=Basic data partition
*-volume:4
description: Windows NTFS volume
vendor: Windows
physical id: 5
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p5
version: 3.1
serial: 84876c93-856d-8b49-9766-8b00d8c7880b
size: 97GiB
capacity: 97GiB
capabilities: ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2021-03-23 13:56:35 filesystem=ntfs label=tox-win modified_by_chkdsk=true mounted_on_nt4=true name=Basic data partition resize_log_file=true state=dirty upgrade_on_mount=true
*-volume:5
description: EXT4 volume
vendor: Linux
physical id: 6
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p6
version: 1.0
serial: e5101e74-d95d-4213-ab6b-6bede97f97ad
size: 97GiB
capabilities: journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink 64bit extents ext4 ext2 initialized
configuration: created=2021-03-23 15:48:58 filesystem=ext4 label=rootMX19 lastmountpoint=/ modified=2021-05-09 15:59:46 mounted=2021-05-09 10:29:48 name=Basic data partition state=clean
*-volume:6
description: Windows NTFS volume
vendor: Windows
physical id: 7
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p7
version: 3.1
serial: 56d3ca3d-c944-3546-82d1-b365748e1a64
size: 973MiB
capacity: 999MiB
capabilities: boot precious readonly hidden nomount ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2021-01-22 03:33:07 filesystem=ntfs label=WINRE_DRV modified_by_chkdsk=true mounted_on_nt4=true name=Basic data partition resize_log_file=true state=dirty upgrade_on_mount=true
*-volume:7
description: Windows FAT volume
vendor: mkfs.fat
physical id: 8
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p8
version: FAT32
serial: 686a-8425
size: 972MiB
capacity: 976MiB
capabilities: boot fat initialized
configuration: FATs=2 filesystem=fat
*-volume:8
description: EXT4 volume
vendor: Linux
physical id: 9
logical name: /dev/nvme0n1p9
version: 1.0
serial: 2867cc53-3ab5-481d-879a-3b51979a9523
size: 104GiB
capabilities: journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink recover 64bit extents ext4 ext2 initialized
configuration: created=2021-05-07 18:15:58 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/ modified=2021-05-09 17:22:40 mounted=2021-05-09 17:22:40 state=clean
*-usb:0
description: USB controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: d
bus info: pci@0000:00:0d.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi xhci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=xhci_hcd latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff irq:124 memory:6001140000-600114ffff
*-usbhost:0
product: xHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 5.4.0-72-generic xhci-hcd
physical id: 0
bus info: usb@1
logical name: usb1
version: 5.04
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: driver=hub slots=1 speed=480Mbit/s
*-usbhost:1
product: xHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 5.4.0-72-generic xhci-hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@2
logical name: usb2
version: 5.04
capabilities: usb-3.10
configuration: driver=hub slots=4 speed=10000Mbit/s
*-communication:0
description: Serial controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 12
bus info: pci@0000:00:12.0
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm 8250 bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=intel_ish_ipc latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff irq:16 memory:6001130000-600113ffff
*-usb:1
description: USB controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 14
bus info: pci@0000:00:14.0
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi xhci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=xhci_hcd latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff irq:125 memory:6001120000-600112ffff
*-usbhost:0
product: xHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 5.4.0-72-generic xhci-hcd
physical id: 0
bus info: usb@3
logical name: usb3
version: 5.04
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: driver=hub slots=12 speed=480Mbit/s
*-usb:0 UNCLAIMED
description: Generic USB device
product: POCO X2
vendor: Xiaomi
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@3:1
version: 4.14
serial: e7cb0a56
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s
*-usb:1
description: Mouse
product: USB Optical Mouse
vendor: Logitech
physical id: 2
bus info: usb@3:2
version: 72.00
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: driver=usbhid maxpower=100mA speed=2Mbit/s
*-usb:2
description: Video
product: Integrated Camera
vendor: SunplusIT Inc
physical id: 5
bus info: usb@3:5
version: 56.14
capabilities: usb-2.01
configuration: driver=uvcvideo maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s
*-usb:3 UNCLAIMED
description: Generic USB device
vendor: Synaptics, Inc.
physical id: 8
bus info: usb@3:8
version: 0.00
serial: 2102a1061436
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: maxpower=100mA speed=12Mbit/s
*-usb:4
description: Bluetooth wireless interface
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: a
bus info: usb@3:a
version: 0.02
capabilities: bluetooth usb-2.00
configuration: driver=btusb maxpower=100mA speed=12Mbit/s
*-usbhost:1
product: xHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 5.4.0-72-generic xhci-hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@4
logical name: usb4
version: 5.04
capabilities: usb-3.10
configuration: driver=hub slots=4 speed=10000Mbit/s
*-memory UNCLAIMED
description: RAM memory
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 14.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:14.2
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz (30.3ns)
capabilities: pm cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff iomemory:600-5ff memory:6001158000-600115bfff memory:6001160000-6001160fff
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 14.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:14.3
logical name: wlp0s20f3
version: 20
serial: 68:3e:26:1a:cb:d8
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwlwifi driverversion=5.4.0-72-generic firmware=48.13675109.0 ip=192.168.0.106 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
resources: iomemory:600-5ff irq:16 memory:6001154000-6001157fff
*-serial:0
description: Serial bus controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 15
bus info: pci@0000:00:15.0
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=intel-lpss latency=0
resources: irq:27 memory:600115f000-600115ffff
*-serial:1
description: Serial bus controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 15.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:15.1
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=intel-lpss latency=0
resources: irq:40 memory:600115e000-600115efff
*-communication:1
description: Communication controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 16
bus info: pci@0000:00:16.0
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=mei_me latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff irq:136 memory:600115d000-600115dfff
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
version: 20
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:123 memory:50400000-504fffff
*-generic
description: SD Host controller
product: SD/MMC Card Reader Controller
vendor: O2 Micro, Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=sdhci-pci latency=0
resources: irq:126 memory:50401000-50401fff memory:50400000-504007ff
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
version: 20
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master
configuration: latency=0
*-multimedia
description: Multimedia audio controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=64
resources: iomemory:600-5ff iomemory:600-5ff irq:149 memory:6001150000-6001153fff memory:6001000000-60010fffff
*-serial:2 UNCLAIMED
description: SMBus
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.4
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.4
version: 20
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0
resources: iomemory:600-5ff memory:600115c000-600115c0ff ioport:efa0(size=32)
*-serial:3 UNCLAIMED
description: Serial bus controller
product: Intel Corporation
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.5
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.5
version: 20
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:50600000-50600fff
*-battery
product: Smart Battery
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1
version: 2008
serial: 1.0
slot: Rear

Can you please run in terminal:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/handle-brightness-keys --create -t bool -s true

and see if that resolves?

If not:

sudo find /sys/ -type f -iname 'brightness'

You should get an output that looks similar to mine does here: /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.3/0000:03:00.0/leds/ath9k-phy0/max_brightness

You can create a symlink to /sys/class/backlight with the ln -s command:

sudo ln -s /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.3/0000:03:00.0/leds/ath9k-phy0/max_brightness /sys/class/backlight

the first command given doesn't help:

I have executed the command you have requested and the output is as follows:
cmd:
sudo find /sys/ -type f -iname 'brightness'

output:

/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::numlock/brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::capslock/brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::scrolllock/brightness
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.0/0000:02:00.0/leds/mmc0::/brightness
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.3/leds/phy0-led/brightness

also i have created the symlink too :slight_smile:

sudo ln -s /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.3/leds/phy0-led/brightness
/sys/class/backlight

Note:
cd /sys/class/backlight

the above directory is empty but in my other laptop which has zorin installed has the intel_backlight directory

but here it is missing, is there any repo package that i need to install?

The backlight is handled by acpi events, controlled by scripts in the /etc/acpi folder. There is a how to in the tutorials & guides section of the forum to create the script and assign the funtion keys. It is here:

You will not need to do this when the official release of Zorin 16 comes out. It will have to be a clean install, though, unless you wait till the end of the year for the upgrade version to release (estimated release).

You might try adding the parameter vendor to grub

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" to
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor"

Reboot and test.

Some say that they need to install xbacklight. This is not something I have ever needed to do, so I am not very familiar with it...

sudo apt install xbacklight

1 Like

I have tried both solutions already and they didn't seem to work,
so i reverted everything back and opened a ticket here, however i have downloaded the OS again and i will reinstall and let you know of the status again.

1 Like

installed the os freshly still no brightness control

NAME="Zorin OS"
VERSION="15.3"
ID=zorin
ID_LIKE=ubuntu
PRETTY_NAME="Zorin OS 15.3"
VERSION_ID="15"
HOME_URL="https://www.zorinos.com"
SUPPORT_URL="https://www.zorinos.com/help"
BUG_REPORT_URL="Bugs : Zorin OS"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.zorinos.com/legal/privacy"
VERSION_CODENAME=bionic
UBUNTU_CODENAME=bionic

command:
sudo find /sys/ -type f -iname 'brightness'
output:
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::numlock/brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::numlock/max_brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::capslock/brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::capslock/max_brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::scrolllock/brightness
/sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input2/input2::scrolllock/max_brightness
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.0/0000:02:00.0/leds/mmc0::/brightness
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.0/0000:02:00.0/leds/mmc0::/max_brightness
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.3/leds/phy0-led/brightness
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.3/leds/phy0-led/max_brightness
/sys/module/video/parameters/hw_changes_brightness
/sys/module/video/parameters/brightness_switch_enabled
/sys/module/i915/parameters/invert_brightness

note:
/sys/class/backlight
is empty

Here is a guide suggesting that it has the needed tips (In my experience, it's usually fifty/ fifty... )

A Redditor asked and here are some responses:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/9sdjqr/brightness_control_problems_in_ubuntu_1804_lts/
Including setting up xbacklight and:

sudo apt-get update

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall