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Guide · Open source

How to use MonitorControl: brightness and volume on external displays

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

MonitorControl is a free, MIT-licensed menu bar app for macOS that lets you change the brightness and volume of an external display from your Mac. It is aimed at people whose non-Apple monitor ignores the Mac's brightness keys. By the end of this guide you will have it installed, set up the permissions it needs, and know how to adjust your displays with sliders, keyboard keys or custom shortcuts.

MonitorControlMonitorControl/MonitorControl · ★ 34.6k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download or install. Get the latest .dmg from the Releases page, or run the Homebrew cask command.
  2. 2Copy to Applications. Drag the MonitorControl app from the .dmg into your Applications folder, then open it.
  3. 3Grant Accessibility access. If you want the Apple keyboard keys to work, add the app under System Settings, Privacy & Security, Accessibility.
  4. 4Use the menu bar sliders. Click the brightness icon in the menu bar and adjust each display.
  5. 5Set shortcuts. Open Settings, go to Keyboard, and add custom shortcuts if you do not want the default media keys.
  6. 6Enable advanced options. Turn on Show advanced settings in Settings to reach the extra customization options.

Check whether MonitorControl fits your setup

MonitorControl works best with modern LCD monitors connected by USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI or VGA, because those can use the DDC/CI protocol to control the monitor's own backlight and volume. Apple and built-in displays use native protocols instead.

Some setups are only partly supported. DDC control does not work over the built-in HDMI port of a 2018 Intel Mac mini, the built-in HDMI port of M1 Macs, or the built-in HDMI port of an entry-level M2 Mac mini. Use USB-C on those machines instead. EIZO displays and DisplayLink docks or dongles get software dimming only.

  • Good fit: external monitor on a supported Mac, and you want keyboard brightness keys to work on it.
  • Good fit: several displays you want to adjust together with one slider or shortcut.
  • Check first: macOS version, because compatibility depends on the app version listed in the README table.

Install MonitorControl on macOS

You can download the latest .dmg from the project's Releases page, or install with Homebrew if you already use it. With the .dmg, copy the MonitorControl app file to your Applications folder.

The Homebrew command from the README is shown below.

  • Download the .dmg from the Releases page, then copy MonitorControl into Applications.
  • Or install with Homebrew using the cask command below.
brew install --cask monitorcontrol

Grant Accessibility access (only if you need Apple keys)

Open MonitorControl by clicking the app. If you want the native Apple keyboard brightness and media keys to control your external display, add the app under Accessibility in System Settings, in Privacy & Security, when prompted.

The README says this step is required only for the native Apple keys. If you only plan to use the menu bar sliders, you can skip it.

  • Path: System Settings » Privacy & Security » Accessibility.
  • Skip this if you only use the sliders in the menu.

Adjust brightness and volume

After launch, MonitorControl appears as a brightness symbol in the macOS menu bar. Open it to use sliders for your displays. You can also use your keyboard: by default the app uses the Apple media keys. When you adjust a display, the native macOS on-screen display appears.

If you have several displays, the app can sync them so that one slider or keyboard shortcut changes all of them.

  • Click the menu bar brightness icon and move the slider for each display.
  • Press the Apple brightness or volume keys to adjust the display by default.
  • Use the sync option to control several displays with a single control.

Set custom keyboard shortcuts and settings

Open Settings from the app menu to change options. Custom shortcuts are under Keyboard in Settings. Many more options exist, but they are hidden by default: turn on Show advanced settings to see them.

The README also notes that the app offers dozens of customization options to tune it to your hardware. Change advanced settings one at a time so you can tell what helped.

  • Open Settings… from the menu.
  • Go to Keyboard to set custom shortcuts.
  • Enable Show advanced settings for additional options.

Troubleshoot common problems

If a display does not respond to hardware control, first check the connection. Built-in HDMI ports on some Macs do not support DDC, so switch to USB-C. If the display is an EIZO or connects through a DisplayLink dock, expect software dimming only.

On recent macOS releases, the Control Center brightness or volume OSD appears, but the percentage value may not show or update on macOS Tahoe. For questions, the README points to the project's Discussions page.

  • Use USB-C instead of a built-in HDMI port on affected Macs.
  • Check that Accessibility access is granted if Apple keys do not work.
  • Ask questions in the project's Discussions.

What people use it for

  • Adjust an external monitor's brightness with the Mac's keyboard brightness keys.
  • Show a native-looking brightness or volume overlay on a non-Apple display.
  • Dim several monitors together with one menu bar slider.
  • Dim a display beyond its hardware minimum using combined hardware and software dimming.

Frequently asked questions

Is MonitorControl free?

Yes. The README describes MonitorControl as completely free and it is released under the MIT licence. The source does not mention any paid tier for this app.

Which monitors does MonitorControl support?

Most modern LCD displays from major manufacturers that support DDC/CI over USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI or VGA. Apple and built-in displays use native protocols, and DisplayLink, AirPlay, Sidecar and other virtual screens use shade control. TVs usually do not support DDC and use software dimming.

How do I install MonitorControl with Homebrew?

Run brew install --cask monitorcontrol in Terminal, as the README shows. You can also download the .dmg from the Releases page and copy the app to Applications.

Why do my keyboard brightness keys not work on my external monitor?

The app needs Accessibility access to use the native Apple brightness and media keys. Add MonitorControl under System Settings, Privacy & Security, Accessibility. If you use a built-in HDMI port on some Macs, DDC control is not supported, so use USB-C instead.

What are the alternatives to MonitorControl?

The README names BetterDisplay for additional features, including XDR/HDR brightness upscaling and support for more Mac models and displays. Lunar is also listed as a comparable project. Choose based on which Mac and display you have.

Does MonitorControl work on old macOS versions?

Compatibility depends on the app version. The README table lists v4.0.0 for Catalina 10.15 with some limitations, v3.1.1 for Mojave 10.14, and v2.1.0 for Sierra 10.12. Full functionality is listed for macOS 11 Big Sur or newer.

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Our verdict

MonitorControl is a good choice if you have a modern external monitor on a supported Mac and want the brightness and volume keys to work on it, at no cost. Skip it if you need XDR/HDR upscaling, need more Mac models or displays, or use an EIZO monitor or DisplayLink dock, where BetterDisplay or Lunar may serve you better.

Install options & downloads