Tired of Tapping Your Monitor? Use These Apps to Adjust or Control Desktop Monitor Brightness Effortlessly

Geeky Hacks

Are you constantly tapping your monitor to adjust brightness? In this video, we’ll show you some easy-to-use apps that let you control your screen brightness smoothly—no buttons, no hassle. Perfect for multi-monitor setups and eye strain relief!  • Twinkle Tray- https://github.com/xanderfrangos/twinkle-tray • Monitorian- https://github.com/emoacht/Monitorian • Pangobright- https://pangobright.com/  • Dimmer- https://www.nelsonpires.com/software/dimmer • F.Lux- https://justgetflux.com/ • Nvidia Control Panel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUPuZ9FfWpo&t=7s

Transcript

00:00Tired of manually adjusting your monitor's brightness?

00:03Struggling with those tiny buttons that feel impossible to press?

00:07Well, you're in luck.

00:08In this video, I'll introduce you to six amazing apps that let you adjust your monitor brightness effortlessly, right from your screen.

00:16Whether you're using a desktop, a multi-monitor setup, or even a laptop, these apps will make your life much easier.

00:23So, let's dive in.

00:25First on our list is Twinkle Tray.

00:27Twinkle Tray is a lightweight and free app designed to help you control the brightness of multiple monitors directly from your system tray.

00:35It works with most modern displays that support brightness adjustments through DDC-CI, display data channel slash command interface, making it incredibly versatile.

00:45If you're someone who uses two or more monitors, this app will allow you to control each monitor's brightness individually,

00:53making it easier to set the perfect lighting for your workspace or gaming setup.

00:58Whether you're editing, gaming, or working, Twinkle Tray ensures your screen brightness is exactly where you want it, without having to adjust it manually every time.

01:08Before we dive into using Twinkle Tray, let's first download and install it.

01:12You have two options.

01:14You can get it from the Microsoft Store for easy installation, or you can download it from GitHub if you prefer a standalone version.

01:20The easiest way to get Twinkle Tray is through the Microsoft Store.

01:25Here's how you can install it in just a few clicks.

01:28Click on the Start menu, and type Microsoft Store.

01:33Open the Microsoft Store app.

01:39In the search bar at the top, type Twinkle Tray, and press Enter.

01:45Click on the Twinkle Tray app from the search results.

01:51Click Get, or install if you've downloaded it before.

01:55Wait a few moments for the installation to complete.

02:03Once installed, Twinkle Tray will be available in your Start menu and System Tray.

02:08And that's it!

02:09Twinkle Tray is now installed through the Microsoft Store, and updates will be handled automatically.

02:16For those who like to download software straight from the source, you can grab Twinkle Tray from GitHub.

02:21I've put the link in the description for easy access.

02:24Just click on it and follow these steps.

02:27Scroll down and find the latest release under the Releases section.

02:35Scroll down and click on the TwinkleTrayInstaller.exe file to download it.

02:39Once the file is downloaded, locate it in your Downloads folder.

02:51And double-click it.

02:53Within seconds, Twinkle Tray will be installed.

02:57Now that you have Twinkle Tray installed, let's explore how to use it to adjust your monitor brightness effortlessly.

03:04Once Twinkle Tray is installed, you'll notice its icon in the System Tray.

03:07Click on it, and the app's interface will pop up.

03:11You'll see a list of all the connected monitors.

03:14Each monitor will have its own brightness slider.

03:17To adjust the brightness of a monitor, simply move the slider left or right.

03:22The changes will take effect instantly, so you can see the adjustments in real-time.

03:28A cool trick is that you don't even need to open the app.

03:31Just hover your mouse over the icon and scroll up or down, and it will adjust your monitor's brightness instantly.

03:40As you can see, each monitor's brightness can be customized independently.

03:44If you're working with a multi-monitor setup, this is especially useful since it gives you control over each display.

03:51But what if you want to control the brightness of both monitors at the same time?

03:56Well, you can easily link them together.

03:58Simply click on the link icon to link the brightness levels of both monitors.

04:03Once linked, you'll only need to adjust one slider for both monitors at the same time.

04:08Now, both monitors will follow the same brightness setting, making it more convenient to control them together.

04:15This is perfect for dual monitor setups, where you want consistency without adjusting each monitor separately.

04:22Twinkle Tray isn't just about controlling brightness.

04:25It has some pretty cool advanced features that can make your life even easier.

04:30Twinkle Tray also comes with a handy feature called Time of Day Adjustments.

04:34This lets you schedule brightness changes throughout the day, perfect for reducing eye strain in the evening or increasing brightness in the morning.

04:43Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings.

04:47Click on Time Adjustments.

04:50In the Time of Day Adjustments section, click Add a Time button.

04:54A new row will appear where you can set a specific time and brightness level.

04:59For example, let's say you want different brightness levels throughout the day.

05:03Set the time to 7 a.m. or your preferred morning time.

05:16Adjust the brightness slider to 90%.

05:18Now, every morning at 7 a.m., your screen brightness will automatically increase to 90%, so you get a bright and clear display to start your day.

05:30Click Add a Time button again.

05:32Set the time to 10 p.m. or your preferred night time.

05:36Adjust the brightness slider to 30%.

05:44Now, every night at 10 p.m., your screen will automatically dim to 30%, making it easier on your eyes in low-light conditions.

05:54Now, your monitor brightness will change automatically at the times you set, giving you the best lighting for every part of your day.

06:03If you ever want to go back to Manual Control, look for the times you've set.

06:08Next to each one, you'll see Remove Time.

06:11Click on it to remove each scheduled time.

06:15Once all times are removed, Twinkle Tray will stop adjusting brightness automatically.

06:21Twinkle Tray also supports customizable keyboard shortcuts, allowing you to adjust brightness without even opening the app.

06:28This is perfect if you prefer using the keyboard over the mouse.

06:31To set up keyboard shortcuts, head over to Hot Keys & Shortcut and choose your preferred keys for increasing or decreasing the brightness.

06:40Once set, just use those keys to change brightness on the fly.

06:44While Twinkle Tray is incredibly easy to use, there are a few common issues users might run into.

06:50Let's quickly go over them.

06:52If you don't see any brightness adjustment options for your monitor, it's possible your display doesn't support DDC slash CI.

06:59In that case, check your monitor's settings to ensure DDC slash CI is enabled.

07:05Twinkle Tray may not support every monitor out there.

07:08If it doesn't work with your display, make sure the monitor's drivers are up to date.

07:13Sometimes, third-party drivers or hardware limitations can cause issues.

07:18And that's it!

07:18Twinkle Tray is a fantastic, easy-to-use app that simplifies brightness control for multi-monitor setups.

07:25It's perfect for anyone who wants more control over their workspace or gaming environment.

07:31Next up is Monitorian, a lightweight app that lets you control brightness directly from your taskbar, even for multiple monitors.

07:38I'll show you how to download, install, and use all of Monitorian's features to make brightness adjustments effortless.

07:44First, let's get the app installed.

07:47You can download Monitorian from two sources, the Microsoft Store or directly from GitHub.

07:52Let's start by downloading Monitorian from the Microsoft Store, which is the easiest and most secure way to install it.

07:59Open the Microsoft Store on your PC.

08:01In the search bar, type Monitorian and hit Enter.

08:17Click on Monitorian from the search results.

08:21Now, click on Get or Install if you've downloaded it before to start the installation process.

08:27Once installed, you can find it in the Start menu or the System Tray.

08:42If you prefer, you can also download Monitorian directly from GitHub.

08:46I've placed the official download link in the description, so you can easily access it.

08:51Click on the GitHub link in the video description.

08:54Scroll down and find the latest release under the Releases section.

08:59Download the latest Monitorian installer zip file.

09:05Now that you've downloaded the zip file, you need to extract its contents.

09:09Locate the downloaded Monitorian installer zip file in your Downloads folder or wherever your browser saves files.

09:16Right-click the zip file and select Extract to to unzip the contents.

09:20Open the folder where you just extracted the files and double-click on Monitorian installer to launch the program.

09:29Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

09:32After installation, you'll find Monitorian running in your System Tray, ready to go.

09:48Now that we have Monitorian installed, let's go over how to use it.

09:52Click the Monitorian icon in the System Tray.

09:54You'll see a slider for each connected monitor.

09:58From here, you can drag the sliders to adjust each monitor's brightness individually.

10:08Monitorian comes with several settings that can enhance your experience.

10:13To access the settings, right-click on the Monitorian icon in the System Tray.

10:17Here, you'll find various options to customize how the app works.

10:21Start on Sign In.

10:23Enabling this will automatically start Monitorian every time you turn on your PC.

10:28This is useful if you frequently adjust brightness and don't want to reopen the app manually.

10:33Use large sliders.

10:35If you find the default sliders too small, enabling this will make them larger and easier to adjust.

10:41Enable changing brightness in unison.

10:43This allows you to link multiple monitors together,

10:45so that adjusting one brightness slider affects all monitors at the same time.

10:50Check.

10:50Enable changing brightness in unison.

10:54Simply click the link icon on both monitors to synchronize their brightness levels.

11:01Now, moving one slider will adjust all linked monitors.

11:10Enable changing contrast.

11:15This option adds a contrast adjustment slider,

11:18letting you tweak contrast levels directly from Monitorian.

11:22Click on the Change Contrast icon to reveal the slider.

11:26Not all monitors support contrast control, so this may or may not work on your display.

11:35If you don't see any brightness adjustment options for your monitor,

11:38it's possible that your display doesn't support DDC slash CI display data channel command interface.

11:45This is a communication feature that allows software like Monitorian to control your monitor's brightness.

11:51Check your monitor's settings menu, usually accessible via the physical buttons on your monitor.

11:57Look for an option labeled DDC slash CI.

12:00If it's disabled, turn it on to allow brightness adjustments through Monitorian.

12:05If your monitor doesn't have a DDC slash CI option, Monitorian may not be able to control brightness,

12:11and you might need to adjust it manually from the monitor's buttons.

12:14And that's it! You now know how to install, set up, and customize Monitorian to effortlessly control

12:20the brightness of your monitors directly from your taskbar.

12:24Whether you have a single display or multiple monitors, Monitorian makes adjusting brightness a breeze.

12:29If you run into any issues, remember to check your monitor's DDC slash CI settings and ensure it's enabled.

12:37Now that we've covered how to control your monitor's brightness with Monitorian,

12:40let's move on to another great tool for brightness adjustment, Pangobright.

12:45If you want an even simpler, lightweight solution that's easy to use, Pangobright is just what you need.

12:50To get started, we first need to download Pangobright.

12:54Open your web browser and type Pangobright into Google's search bar.

12:59Click on the official link that appears in the search results.

13:03Once you're on the home page, you'll see a download button.

13:06Go ahead and click it.

13:08This will take you to a new page where you'll find the Pangobright installer file named Pangobright.exe.

13:15Click on that file.

13:19Now, click the Download Now button.

13:23On the next screen, click Download Now again to start the download.

13:28Your download will begin.

13:30Once the download is complete, locate the Pangobright.exe file in your downloads folder

13:35or wherever your browser saves files.

13:38Pangobright doesn't require an actual installation process.

13:41Once you double-click the file, it will automatically start running.

13:45Now, you'll see the Pangobright icon appear in your system tray.

13:49And that's it, Pangobright is ready to use.

13:53Let's take a look at how to use it to adjust your screen's brightness.

13:56First, click on the Pangobright icon in your system tray.

14:00This will open the main control panel for adjusting the brightness.

14:04The application offers 8 brightness levels, ranging from 100%

14:07full brightness, down to 20% minimum brightness.

14:12Simply click on your desired percentage to instantly adjust the screen brightness.

14:29The Choose Fade Out Color option allows you to customize the color effect when the screen dims or brightens.

14:34It opens a color picker, allowing you to choose your preferred fade-out color.

14:54To close the application, simply click Exit.

14:57This will terminate the program and return you to your normal desktop environment.

15:02That's all there is to it.

15:04Pangobright's screen brightness is a lightweight and user-friendly tool for managing your screen's

15:08brightness with ease.

15:10Whether you're looking to save power, reduce eye strain, or customize your display,

15:15this application has you covered.

15:17Now that we've covered Pangobright, we're going to look at Dimmer by Nelson Pires,

15:22an app that gives you more control over your screen's brightness than many other similar apps.

15:27One of the standout features of Dimmer is that it allows for extremely low brightness adjustments,

15:33much more than what you'd typically find in other brightness control apps.

15:37To get started, open up your web browser.

15:39And type Dimmer by Nelson Pires into Google's search bar.

15:48Click on the first official link that appears in the search results.

15:52This will lead you to Dimmer's official page.

15:55Once you're on the home page, scroll down and you'll find the download section.

16:00Here, you'll see the option to download the latest version of Dimmer.

16:04Click on the download icon to start downloading the zip file.

16:07Your download should begin automatically.

16:10Once the file is downloaded, we're ready to move on to the next step.

16:14Now that you've downloaded the zip file, you need to extract its contents.

16:18Locate the downloaded dimmer.zip file in your downloads folder or wherever your browser saves files.

16:26Right-click the dimmer.zip file and select Extract 2 to unzip the contents.

16:32Open the folder where you just extracted the files.

16:34And double-click on Dimmer to launch the program.

16:40Dimmer will start running and it will open the brightness control panel.

16:44In the brightness panel, you'll see your monitor listed.

16:47Here's the interesting part.

16:48Dimmer allows for extremely low brightness adjustments, more than most other apps.

16:54This makes it particularly useful if you want to reduce your screen's brightness to a very dim level,

16:59like when you're using your computer in low-light environments or at night.

17:04If you have more than one monitor connected, Dimmer will show each screen individually,

17:09and you can adjust the brightness of each one separately.

17:11The options menu in Dimmer is where you fine-tune how the app behaves to match your workflow.

17:25Let's break down each setting and how it can improve your experience.

17:29Show screen identity.

17:31Turn this on to display monitor names or numbers.

17:34Super helpful if you use multiple screens and need to identify which is which.

17:38Show screen boundaries.

17:40Enable this to flash colored borders around each monitor briefly.

17:44Great for double-checking which screen you're controlling.

17:47Auto-run after user login.

17:49Tick this box to launch Dimmer automatically when you start your computer.

17:53No more forgetting to turn it on.

17:55Pair this with Start Minimized for a truly seamless background experience.

18:00Start Minimized.

18:01Prefer Dimmer to stay out of sight?

18:03This option keeps it running in the system tray instead of popping up at launch.

18:08Moveable window.

18:10Want to drag the dimmer panel to a different spot on your screen?

18:13Enable this to reposition it freely.

18:16And click Reset to restore the default position.

18:20With these options, Dimmer adapts to your needs whether you're a multi-monitor power user

18:25or just want subtle control over screen brightness.

18:28And that's all there is to it.

18:30Dimmer by Nelson Pires is a fantastic, easy-to-use tool for managing your screen brightness with just a few clicks.

18:36Whether you're working late into the night or just need a quick adjustment to reduce eye strain,

18:41Dimmer has you covered.

18:43Next up, we have Flux.

18:45An amazing app designed to adjust your screen's color temperature based on the time of day.

18:50This helps to reduce eye strain, improve your sleep quality, and make using your computer

18:54at night a lot more comfortable.

18:56It's a great tool for anyone who spends long hours in front of a screen.

19:01Let's dive into how to download, install, and set up Flux for the best experience.

19:06Open your browser and go to Google.

19:08Type in F.Lux.

19:11And press Enter.

19:12Click on the official link that shows the Flux website.

19:16Once you're on the home page, look for the Download button.

19:20Click on Download Flux to start the downloading process.

19:23The website should automatically detect your operating system and offer the correct version for you.

19:29Once the file is downloaded, locate the setup file in your Downloads folder.

19:36And double-click on it to begin the installation.

19:39Follow the on-screen instructions to install Flux.

19:42The process is pretty straightforward.

19:45Once installed, a notification will appear asking you to restart your computer

19:49to apply certain modes and settings.

19:52Click Restart Now if you want to apply the changes immediately,

19:56or select Restart Later if you need to finish your current work before restarting.

20:01After the restart, you'll be prompted to set your location.

20:04This is important because Flux uses your location to adjust

20:07the color temperature based on the time of day.

20:11Once you set your location, Flux automatically adjusts

20:18your screen's color temperature based on the time of day.

20:21Let's break down the interface you're seeing.

20:24The sun is set.

20:25This message indicates that it's nighttime.

20:27So Flux is keeping your screen at a warmer color temperature

20:30to reduce blue light exposure and help your eyes adjust to low-light conditions.

20:35Below this, you'll see details about your local solar time,

20:38including how many hours ago the sun set and how long ago you woke up.

20:43Circadian Response The graph at the bottom shows

20:46how your current light settings affect your body's natural rhythm.

20:50Right now, it's at 46%, ready to work, meaning your screen brightness and color temperature

20:56are optimized for productivity.

20:58Earliest Wake Time You can adjust this to let Flux know when you usually wake up.

21:02This setting influences how Flux transitions between different lighting phases.

21:07At the top, you'll see a slider that lets you manually adjust the color temperature of your screen.

21:13Moving the slider to the left makes the screen warmer, reducing blue light.

21:17This is ideal for nighttime use, as it helps reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality.

21:24Moving the slider to the right makes the screen cooler,

21:26which is better for daytime use when you need a bright, crisp display for productivity.

21:32By default, Flux will automatically adjust the color temperature based on the time of day,

21:37but this slider lets you fine-tune the settings to match your personal preference.

21:42Flux offers specialized presets for different scenarios.

21:45Here's when to use them.

21:47Flux's recommended colors are scientifically designed presets

21:50that automatically adjust your screen based on your environment and activities.

21:59Reduce Eye Strain

22:00Slightly warmer tones for long work sessions.

22:06Classic Flux

22:07The original warm setting for nighttime.

22:12Working Late

22:13Balances warmth and clarity for late hours.

22:15Cave Painting

22:18Cave Painting

22:19Very warm for complete darkness.

22:25When you click the timeline in Flux,

22:27the graph shows your screen's color temperature transitions throughout the day.

22:32Did you know Flux has a secret time machine?

22:34Double-click the timeline to see how your screen will transform throughout the day.

22:38If you've ever wondered what these three little dots in Flux can do, you're in for a treat.

22:47This tiny menu holds powerful ways to customize how Flux protects your eyes and sleep.

22:53Change current color.

22:54Manually adjust the current color temperature setting.

22:57Let me show you how to use these in real life.

23:00When I'm riding late at night.

23:01Switch to 1900K Candle.

23:04I use Candle Mode which gives me enough light to see but won't keep me awake.

23:09When I'm doing color-sensitive work in the evening.

23:12Switch to 3400K Halogen.

23:15Halogen gives me better color accuracy while still being easy on the eyes.

23:23The Effects and Extra Colors menu in Flux offers specialized display modes that go beyond standard

23:28color temperature adjustments.

23:30Vignette Mode

23:31Dims the screen edges while keeping the center clear, mimicking focused task lighting.

23:37Grayscale

23:39Removes all color from the display, helping to reduce visual stimulation.

23:44Use Dark Mode at Sunset

23:47Automatically enables dark mode interfaces at night.

23:50And that's how you set up and use Flux.

23:53This app is a game changer for anyone who spends long hours in front of their computer,

23:58especially if you often work late into the evening.

24:01By adjusting the color temperature throughout the day,

24:03you can make your screen more comfortable and reduce eye strain.

24:07Last but not least, we have the NVIDIA Control Panel.

24:10This is an essential tool for anyone using an NVIDIA graphics card, allowing you to fine-tune

24:15display settings, adjust brightness, and optimize visuals for a better experience.

24:21Let's go step-by-step to access and adjust the brightness settings using NVIDIA Control Panel.

24:26Right-click anywhere on your desktop.

24:29From the menu, click on NVIDIA Control Panel.

24:32If you don't see this option, ensure you have NVIDIA drivers installed.

24:36I have made videos on how to download and install graphics driver for your GPU.

24:42I have added the links in the video description, you can check that out for step-by-step instructions.

24:47Once the NVIDIA Control Panel opens, you'll see a menu on the left with different display settings.

24:53On the left sidebar, expand Display by clicking the plus sign if it's collapsed.

24:58Click on Adjust Desktop Color Settings.

25:01This section lets you control brightness, contrast, gamma, and digital vibrance for each connected display.

25:08At the top, select the monitor you want to adjust.

25:11If you have only one monitor, it will be selected by default.

25:15Now, let's adjust the settings.

25:17Use the sliders under Apply Color Enhancements to modify.

25:21Brightness controls overall screen brightness.

25:25Increasing it makes the screen brighter, while decreasing it makes it dimmer.

25:30Contrast adjusts the difference between dark and light areas.

25:36Higher contrast makes images more defined, while lower contrast softens the image.

25:42You can fine-tune these settings to your preference.

25:44Once you're satisfied with your adjustments, click Apply at the bottom.

25:49If you don't like the changes, click Cancel or Restore defaults to revert to the previous settings.

25:55And that's it! You've successfully adjusted brightness using NVIDIA Control Panel.

26:01Unlike software-based brightness tools, this method directly modifies your GPU's output,

26:06ensuring better color accuracy and deeper control over display settings.

26:11And that wraps up our list of the top brightness control apps.

26:15Whether you need simple adjustments, advanced automation, or the dimmest settings possible,

26:20there's an option for everyone. Which app do you prefer? Let me know in the comments!

26:25Also, if you found this video helpful, hit the like button and consider subscribing for more tech

26:30tips and tutorials.

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