MonitorControl for MAC
Free, open-source app that controls external display brightness and volume from your Mac's keyboard and menu bar.
MonitorControl Overview
MonitorControl is a free, open-source app that lets you control the brightness and volume of an external display from your Mac, just as you would on an Apple display. Use the brightness and volume keys on your Apple keyboard, your own keyboard shortcuts or sliders in the menu bar, and MonitorControl shows the familiar macOS on-screen indicator. It is made by the MonitorControl team and released under the MIT license.
Most modern monitors accept commands over DDC through USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI or VGA, which MonitorControl uses to change their real backlight, contrast and volume. Apple and built-in displays are controlled with Apple's own methods, TVs without DDC are dimmed in software, and AirPlay, Sidecar and DisplayLink screens get a dimming overlay. MonitorControl 4.4.0 runs on macOS 10.15 Catalina and later, with full features on macOS 11 Big Sur or newer.
Key Features
MonitorControl lives in the menu bar and blends in with macOS.
- Brightness, volume and contrast: control your external display from the Mac.
- Apple keyboard keys: use the standard brightness and volume keys, or set custom shortcuts.
- Native on-screen display: shows the macOS brightness and volume indicator.
- Several methods: DDC for external displays, Apple's own protocol for Apple displays, software dimming and an overlay for virtual screens.
- Smooth transitions: brightness changes gradually.
- Beyond the minimum: hardware and software dimming combined, down to full black.
- Sync displays: follow the built-in display's ambient light sensor, or control all screens with one slider.
- Many settings: dozens of options, with more under Show advanced settings.
What’s New in Version 4.4.0
MonitorControl 4.4.0 is a maintenance update for macOS 27 Golden Gate and macOS 26 Tahoe.
- Restored the traditional on-screen display on macOS 26 and macOS 27
- Fixed Settings opening every time the macOS 27 Siri app was used
- Fixed recording custom keyboard shortcuts on macOS 27
- Various minor bug fixes
MonitorControl FAQ
Is MonitorControl free?
Yes. MonitorControl is completely free and open source, released under the MIT license.
How does MonitorControl change my monitor's brightness?
Most modern monitors accept commands over DDC/CI. MonitorControl uses it to change the monitor's real backlight, contrast and volume. For displays without DDC, it dims the picture in software.
Can I use my Apple keyboard's brightness keys with MonitorControl?
Yes. Allow MonitorControl under Accessibility in System Settings, Privacy & Security, and the standard brightness and volume keys control your external display. You can also set custom shortcuts.
Which macOS version does MonitorControl need?
MonitorControl 4 runs on macOS 10.15 Catalina and later, with full features on macOS 11 Big Sur or newer. For macOS 27 Golden Gate, use version 4.4.0 or newer. Older versions exist for Mojave and Sierra.
Does MonitorControl work with TVs, AirPlay and Sidecar?
TVs usually do not support DDC, so MonitorControl dims them in software. AirPlay, Sidecar and DisplayLink screens are dimmed with an overlay.
Why is my monitor not responding to MonitorControl?
The monitor may not support DDC/CI, it may be turned off in the monitor's own menu, or the connection (some adapters and docks) may not pass DDC commands through. In those cases MonitorControl can still dim the picture in software.
Can MonitorControl sync brightness across displays?
Yes. It can copy brightness changes from the built-in or Apple display, including ambient light sensor changes, to external displays, and you can control all screens with one slider.
Does MonitorControl work on macOS 26 Tahoe?
Yes. Version 4.4.0 restored the traditional on-screen display on macOS 26 and 27. On Tahoe, the Control Center indicator may not show the percentage value.
What is the difference between MonitorControl and BetterDisplay?
MonitorControl is free and focused on brightness and volume. Its developers suggest BetterDisplay, a separate app with a free version and a paid Pro version, for extra features such as XDR and HDR brightness.
Where does the MonitorControl download on monitorcontrol.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to MonitorControl's official GitHub page at https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl, where the releases are published. monitorcontrol.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
Similar Apps
AmphetamineAmphetamine keeps your Mac awake. Start a session from the menu bar and your Mac won't go to sleep, indefinitely, for a set time, until a set time, while a file downloads or while a particular app is running. You can choose whether the display may sleep, whether the screen saver may start and whether the Mac stays awake with its lid closed. Amphetamine is made by William Gustafson and is completely free: no ads, no in-app purchases and no Pro version.System Utilities
BetterDisplayBetterDisplay gives you control over your Mac's displays from the menu bar. It can make external monitors fully scalable with sharp HiDPI resolutions, adjust brightness, volume and input on monitors that support DDC, create virtual screens, and disconnect or reconnect displays without unplugging a cable. Some of these are Pro features. BetterDisplay is developed by waydabber at Kodeon Software.System Utilities
WhatCableUSB-C cables all look alike, but a charge-only USB 2.0 cable and a 240 W, 40 Gbps Thunderbolt cable are very different. WhatCable is a small menu bar app that tells you, in plain English, what each USB-C cable plugged into your Mac can actually do. For every port it shows a clear headline, such as Thunderbolt, display connected or charge-only cable, plus the cable's speed and power rating, the charger's power profiles and the connected device. When your Mac charges slowly, a banner points to the bottleneck, for example a cable rated below the charger.System Utilities- AlDenteAlDente lets you set a charge limit for your MacBook's battery. Instead of always charging to 100%, your MacBook stops at the level you choose, for example 80%, which can help the battery keep its capacity for longer when the Mac is plugged in most of the time. AlDente runs in the menu bar and works with most Apple Silicon and Intel MacBooks. It is made by AppHouseKitchen.System Utilities
DantroleneDantrolene is a menu bar app that stops your Mac's screen from locking while you are on your home Wi-Fi. You choose the home network once from the menu bar; in automatic mode the Mac stays unlocked there, and as soon as you join any other network, normal locking returns. The display still dims and goes dark after your usual idle time, and a touch of the mouse or keyboard brings it back without a password. Dantrolene steps aside when Zoom, a presentation or another app keeps the display awake.System Utilities
FS PDF CompressorFS PDF Compressor, where FS stands for Fast & Simple, is a free, open-source app that makes PDF files smaller without uploading them anywhere. Drag one PDF, several PDFs or a whole folder onto its window and it compresses them on your Mac with Ghostscript, which is included in the app, so there is nothing else to install. It uses balanced compression by default, with two optional quality profiles, and it replaces the original only when the result is actually smaller. A Keep original mode makes a separate compressed copy instead and remembers your choice.System Utilities
FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.