Brightness controls for compatible displays appear in the Windows notification area, where levels can be changed separately or together. Monitorian also lets you adjust contrast ranges and distinguish screens by name.
Adjust displays from the notification area
Open Monitorian’s notification-area menu to view brightness sliders for monitors it can control. Change one display at a time, or adjust the connected displays in unison when the room lighting changes. The menu can show up to four monitors at once.
Monitorian checks external displays for DDC/CI support, the control standard it uses to read and change monitor settings. A display may be missing if DDC/CI is unsupported or disabled, or if the cable, adapter, dock, or PC connector does not pass the required commands.
Set ranges and identify each screen
Brightness and contrast have separately adjustable ranges for each monitor. On systems with an ambient light sensor, Monitorian can show the sensor-adjusted brightness alongside the configured level.
To make the menu easier to navigate in a multi-display setup, press and hold a monitor’s name until it becomes editable, then give it a distinguishing label. On a precision touchpad, swipe horizontally with two fingers to change brightness.
Use the controls that fit your setup
The main workflow is selecting a display and moving its control, with an option to apply brightness changes across monitors together. Some features, including hot keys and command-line controls for reading or setting brightness and contrast, are available as add-ons in the Microsoft Store edition.
External-monitor control depends on the monitor responding to DDC/CI. Monitorian only shows displays it detects as controllable, so a monitor that does not appear may have a setting or connection issue.
Pros
- Adjust compatible monitors individually or in unison
- Set brightness and contrast ranges for each monitor
- Rename monitor labels to tell displays apart
- Change brightness with a two-finger touchpad swipe
Cons
- External monitors must support DDC/CI and have it enabled
- The menu shows up to four monitors at a time
System requirements: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 · .NET Framework 4.8 · External monitors must have DDC/CI enabled.
Can Monitorian change brightness on more than one monitor?
Yes. Compatible displays can be adjusted individually or in unison.
Why might an external monitor not appear?
It must support DDC/CI and have that setting enabled. The connection through the PC, cable, adapter, or dock also needs to support DDC/CI.
Can I rename monitors in the menu?
Yes. Press and hold a monitor’s displayed name until it becomes editable.
