DisplayBuddyYour brightness keys, on every monitor.
F1 and F2 work the way they do on a MacBook screen. So do the volume keys. Or set your own shortcuts.
The missing monitor controls for Mac
Control your monitor’s brightness from your Mac.
DisplayBuddy puts brightness, volume and contrast for every external display in your menu bar and on your keyboard. No more reaching for the buttons behind your monitor.
One-time purchase. Full refund within 7 days on full-price purchases.
FinderFileEditViewGo
Tue 11:03 PMDisplayBuddySettings
Presets
WorkNight Time
Dell U2723QE
Input SourceTurn Off
LG HDR 4K
Works with displays from
Dell
LG
Samsung
Acer
ASUS
MSI
AOC
HP
INNOCN
BenQ
Xiaomi
Philips
Lenovo
ViewSonic
Apple
Gigabyte
and many more. Check your monitor
Why DisplayBuddy
Your monitors, finally part of your Mac.
macOS can’t adjust most external monitors. DisplayBuddy talks to them directly over DDC, so you get real hardware brightness control. And if your monitor doesn’t support DDC, DisplayBuddy can still dim it.
Works with95%of monitors from the past decade
Probably yours, too.
If it isn’t, you get your money back. Check your monitor
One slider, every display.
Sync locks your screens together, so dimming one dims them all.
Follows your day.
Tie a preset to sunrise, sunset, a time, or a display being plugged in.
One click, whole setup.
Save brightness, volume, input and arrangement, then switch in a click.
- Volume and contrastYour monitor's built-in speakers and picture, on sliders.
- Switch inputsHDMI, USB-C or DisplayPort, without the on-screen menu.
- Resolution and rotationChange either per display, and save them in presets.
- Smart monitors over Wi-FiSamsung Smart Monitors (Tizen) and LG MyView smart monitors (webOS).
- Apple displays tooStudio Display, Pro Display XDR and your MacBook's own screen.
- Siri, Shortcuts and a CLIAutomate any of it, including from AI agents over MCP.
“DisplayBuddy makes brightness controls work in macOS as if you were using an Apple display.”
“If you've got an external display this app is absolutely life-changing.”
Khan WinterDeveloper, 3 displays“It works! Never touching the clunky button to adjust volume again.”
LoganMac user, 2 displays“Immediate buy! Works great with my Dell U2518D.”
Tiago MartinhoMac user, Dell U2518DPricing
Pay once. Keep it forever.
No subscription. Pick the number of Macs you want to use it on.
- Every feature, on every plan
- Free lifetime updates, major versions included
- Full refund within 7 days on full-price purchases
Already a Setapp member? DisplayBuddy is included.
Questions, before you buy.
Will it work with my monitor?
DisplayBuddy talks to your monitor over DDC/CI, which works with 95% of monitors from the past decade, including Dell, LG, BenQ, Acer and Samsung. Samsung and LG smart monitors (M5, M7, M8, M9, ViewFinity S9, LG MyView) are controlled over Wi-Fi instead. You can check your monitor here, and if it doesn’t work you get a full refund within 7 days on full-price purchases.
Can I try it first?
Buy it and try it risk-free: if it isn’t for you, you get a full refund within 7 days on full-price purchases, no questions asked. DisplayBuddy is also on Setapp, which you can try free for 7 days.
Is it a subscription?
No. You pay once and own it, with free lifetime updates including major versions.
Does it work on Apple silicon?
Yes, on M1 through M5 Macs, including Pro, Max and Ultra chips. One exception: the HDMI port on M1 Macs doesn’t pass DDC commands, so connect over USB-C or Thunderbolt there. HDMI on M2 and newer Macs works fine.
Why isn’t it controlling my monitor?
Picture modes like Game, Movie or Reading often lock brightness and contrast, so switch your monitor to Custom. Some monitors also have a DDC/CI setting that needs to be enabled. The troubleshooting guide covers the rest.
How many Macs can I use it on?
The Personal license covers 1 Mac (single user account) you own. Pro covers 2 Macs and Family covers 5.
Can it adjust brightness automatically through the day?
Yes. Schedules change brightness and your other display settings automatically, by time of day.
Can my monitor follow my MacBook’s brightness?
Yes. Sync makes any screen follow the brightness of another, which is especially useful when you want an external monitor to follow the built-in display of your MacBook Pro or Air.
Does it control my MacBook’s own screen too?
Yes. You can brighten or dim your MacBook Air or Pro’s screen from DisplayBuddy alongside your external monitors, and include it in presets you restore with one click.
Why would I need something like this?
I sometimes work at night, and I don’t want two monitors at full blast hurting my eyes in dim light. I use DisplayBuddy to switch my displays to the right brightness without touching the buttons on my monitors at all. A lot of users also change brightness by time of day to reduce eye strain.
How is it different from Dell Display Manager?
DisplayBuddy does everything Dell Display Manager does on a Mac, like controlling the brightness and contrast of your Dell monitor, plus presets, resolution and rotation, and syncing your monitor to your MacBook screen. It also works with monitors from other brands, so it suits a setup where not every monitor is a Dell.
How do I get the latest version?
Click the settings icon in the bottom right of DisplayBuddy and choose “Check for Updates”, or download it here. On older macOS versions (High Sierra, Mojave or Catalina, 10.13 to 10.15), use DisplayBuddy 1.45.
I lost my license key. How do I recover it?
Look for an email from LemonSqueezy or Gumroad with your original key. If you can’t find it, write to [email protected] and we’ll help. To reset or upgrade a license, use the License Manager.
Is there a Windows version?
Yes. DisplayBuddy for Windows is a separate app.