Is MonitorControl free?

Yes. MonitorControl is free and open source under the MIT license. You download it from its GitHub page or install it with Homebrew. MrFixable is a paid app: $19.99 once, with a 14-day free trial, and External Display Brightness is one of its 68 fixes, next to things like window snapping and per-app volume.

Can MrFixable change my monitor's volume or contrast?

No. External Display Brightness only changes brightness. If you want to set a monitor's speaker volume or contrast from your Mac, MonitorControl does both over DDC/CI on monitors that support it. You can keep it for that, but let only one app handle brightness, so two apps don't react to the same keys.

Why doesn't my monitor's real brightness change?

The connection probably doesn't pass DDC/CI. MonitorControl's own notes name the built-in HDMI port of M1 Macs and of the entry-level M2 Mac mini, and some docks and adapters block it too. Both apps then dim the picture in software instead. MonitorControl suggests connecting with USB-C to get the monitor's real brightness.

Does External Display Brightness work on Intel Macs?

Yes, but only by dimming the picture. Changing the monitor's own backlight over DDC/CI needs a Mac with Apple silicon. On an Intel Mac, set the monitor to full brightness with its buttons once, then dim it from MrFixable's menu bar slider or with your keyboard's brightness keys.

Alternatives

MonitorControl alternative for Mac

A MonitorControl alternative for Mac is MrFixable's External Display Brightness. It sets an external monitor's real brightness over DDC/CI, from a slider in the menu bar or your keyboard's brightness keys. MonitorControl is free and open source, and also controls volume and contrast. MrFixable costs $19.99 once and adds 67 other fixes.

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By Mohammed Chaara. Updated October 21, 2026. Facts about MonitorControl come from its own website or App Store page, listed at the end.

What MonitorControl is

MonitorControl is a free, open-source menu bar app (MIT license) that controls external displays' brightness, volume and contrast over DDC/CI. It uses Apple's own protocol for Apple and built-in displays, falls back to software dimming where DDC/CI isn't available, and shows macOS's own on-screen indicator. It can sync all your displays with one slider or shortcut, copy brightness changes from the built-in screen to an external monitor, dim to full black, and use custom keyboard shortcuts. Full functionality needs macOS 11 Big Sur or later. You download it from GitHub or install it with Homebrew.

MonitorControl vs MrFixable

	MonitorControl	MrFixable
Price	Free	$19.99 once (lifetime license) for all 68 fixes, with a 14-day free trial
Open source	Yes, MIT license, on GitHub	No
What it controls	Brightness, volume and contrast	Brightness only
Keyboard	Apple's brightness and media keys, plus custom shortcuts	Brightness keys change the external monitor under the pointer, in 16 steps
Monitors that don't answer DDC/CI	Software dimming, down to full black, and shade control for AirPlay, Sidecar and DisplayLink screens	Software dimming of the picture, which never goes fully black
Apple and built-in displays	Controls them too, and can sync an external monitor to them	Left to macOS: the brightness keys work on them as usual
Several monitors	One slider or shortcut can change them all together	A separate slider for each monitor
Mac and macOS support	Full functionality on macOS 11 Big Sur or later	macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later, tested on macOS 26 Tahoe. The monitor's own brightness needs Apple silicon; Intel Macs get software dimming
Setup	Download from GitHub or install with Homebrew. Accessibility is only needed for Apple's keys	Turn on the fix in MrFixable. Accessibility is only needed for the brightness keys

Where each one is better

MonitorControl is better for

It's free and open source.
It controls a monitor's volume and contrast as well as its brightness.
One slider or shortcut can dim all your displays together, and it can copy brightness changes from your Mac's built-in screen to an external monitor.
Many more options, including custom shortcuts, smooth brightness changes and dimming to full black.
It also dims AirPlay, Sidecar and DisplayLink screens.

MrFixable is better for

It comes with 67 other fixes, such as window snapping, per-app volume and a battery charge limit, for one $19.99 lifetime license.
Nothing to configure: a slider for each monitor, and the brightness keys work on the screen the pointer is on.
After you stop adjusting, MrFixable checks that the monitor took the level you set and sends it again if a command was missed.
Software dimming never goes fully black, and macOS undoes it if MrFixable quits, so you can't be left with a dark screen.

Choose MonitorControl if

People who want a free, open-source display tool, or need volume, contrast, syncing all their displays or dimming to black.

Choose MrFixable if

People who just want to dim external monitors with a slider and their brightness keys, and would use other MrFixable fixes too.

Switching from MonitorControl

Quit MonitorControl, and if it opens at login, remove it in System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions, so two apps don't react to the brightness keys. Then turn on External Display Brightness in MrFixable. It reads each monitor's current brightness and starts from there. For the brightness keys, allow MrFixable in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility.

Questions

Is MonitorControl free?
Yes. MonitorControl is free and open source under the MIT license. You download it from its GitHub page or install it with Homebrew. MrFixable is a paid app: $19.99 once, with a 14-day free trial, and External Display Brightness is one of its 68 fixes, next to things like window snapping and per-app volume.
Can MrFixable change my monitor's volume or contrast?
No. External Display Brightness only changes brightness. If you want to set a monitor's speaker volume or contrast from your Mac, MonitorControl does both over DDC/CI on monitors that support it. You can keep it for that, but let only one app handle brightness, so two apps don't react to the same keys.
Why doesn't my monitor's real brightness change?
The connection probably doesn't pass DDC/CI. MonitorControl's own notes name the built-in HDMI port of M1 Macs and of the entry-level M2 Mac mini, and some docks and adapters block it too. Both apps then dim the picture in software instead. MonitorControl suggests connecting with USB-C to get the monitor's real brightness.
Does External Display Brightness work on Intel Macs?
Yes, but only by dimming the picture. Changing the monitor's own backlight over DDC/CI needs a Mac with Apple silicon. On an Intel Mac, set the monitor to full brightness with its buttons once, then dim it from MrFixable's menu bar slider or with your keyboard's brightness keys.