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[GH-ISSUE #563] Keyboard shortcut to change external display only #423

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opened 2026-05-05 05:58:21 -06:00 by gitea-mirror · 8 comments

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:21 -06:00

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Originally created by @avichou on GitHub (Sep 5, 2021).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/issues/563

Originally assigned to: @waydabber on GitHub.

Before opening the issue, have you...?

Searched for existing issues

impossibilty to change external display brightness only

Describe the solution you'd like

im extremely thankful of being able to use ddc on m1 now !

just wanted to submit an idea which i am suprised not to see implemented yet:

using a custom shortcut ,whatever it be ,to control external display brightness only ,while keeping macbook display at the same brightness (in my case 0 nits/off )

Describe alternatives you've considered

im extremely thankful of being able to use ddc on m1 now !

just wanted to submit an idea which i am suprised not to see implemented yet:

using a custom shortcut ,whatever it be ,to control external display brightness only ,while keeping macbook display at the same brightness (in my case 0 nits/off )

Anything else?

No response

Originally created by @avichou on GitHub (Sep 5, 2021). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/issues/563 Originally assigned to: @waydabber on GitHub. ### Before opening the issue, have you...? - [X] Searched for existing issues ### Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe impossibilty to change external display brightness only ### Describe the solution you'd like im extremely thankful of being able to use ddc on m1 now ! just wanted to submit an idea which i am suprised not to see implemented yet: using a custom shortcut ,whatever it be ,to control external display brightness only ,while keeping macbook display at the same brightness (in my case 0 nits/off ) ### Describe alternatives you've considered im extremely thankful of being able to use ddc on m1 now ! just wanted to submit an idea which i am suprised not to see implemented yet: using a custom shortcut ,whatever it be ,to control external display brightness only ,while keeping macbook display at the same brightness (in my case 0 nits/off ) ### Anything else? _No response_

gitea-mirror

2026-05-05 05:58:21 -06:00

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gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:27 -06:00

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@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 6, 2021):

There is a shortcut to change brightness for the internal display only (ctrl+brightness), we could add an other that does this in reverse and change external displays only (shift+ctrl+brightness).

@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 6, 2021): There is a shortcut to change brightness for the internal display only (ctrl+brightness), we could add an other that does this in reverse and change external displays only (shift+ctrl+brightness).

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:29 -06:00

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@avichou commented on GitHub (Sep 6, 2021):

There is a shortcut to change brightness for the internal display only (ctrl+brightness), we could add an other that does this in reverse and change external displays only (shift+ctrl+brightness).

thanks that would be awesome !! also yes my syntax sucks ahaha

@avichou commented on GitHub (Sep 6, 2021): > There is a shortcut to change brightness for the internal display only (ctrl+brightness), we could add an other that does this in reverse and change external displays only (shift+ctrl+brightness). thanks that would be awesome !! also yes my syntax sucks ahaha

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:31 -06:00

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@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2021):

I added this to 3.1.0. There is an unsigned interim version here to test.

Update: the shortcut is now changed to ctrl+command+brightness (shift+ctrl+brightness was colliding with fine control if somebody wants to control internal display only)

@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2021): I added this to 3.1.0. There is an unsigned interim version [here to test](https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1md5rjyll0lsyo/MonitorControl.zip?dl=0). Update: the shortcut is now changed to **ctrl+command+brightness** (shift+ctrl+brightness was colliding with fine control if somebody wants to control internal display only)

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:33 -06:00

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@avichou commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2021):

I added this to 3.1.0. There is an unsigned interim version here to test.

Update: the shortcut is now changed to ctrl+command+brightness (shift+ctrl+brightness was colliding with fine control if somebody wants to control internal display only)

works wonders,amazing ! i assume it'll be released as stable or at least beta ,within the next couple of days right?

thanks again and have a good day!

@avichou commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2021): > I added this to 3.1.0. There is an unsigned interim version [here to test](https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1md5rjyll0lsyo/MonitorControl.zip?dl=0). > > Update: the shortcut is now changed to **ctrl+command+brightness** (shift+ctrl+brightness was colliding with fine control if somebody wants to control internal display only) works wonders,amazing ! i assume it'll be released as stable or at least beta ,within the next couple of days right? thanks again and have a good day!

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:36 -06:00

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@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2021):

We don't have an exact timetable, but surely we'll release it eventually. :)

@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2021): We don't have an exact timetable, but surely we'll release it eventually. :)

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:39 -06:00

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@Converseallstar95 commented on GitHub (Sep 20, 2021):

I added this to 3.1.0. There is an unsigned interim version here to test.

Update: the shortcut is now changed to ctrl+command+brightness (shift+ctrl+brightness was colliding with fine control if somebody wants to control internal display only)

Thanks for this suggestion I was just looking for it as a new MonitorControl user!

I just switched away from my two Thunderbolt Displays and they worked as follows, if I pressed the volume or brightness keys on my wireless keyboard, they only changed the external monitor. If I pressed those keys on the laptop, the only changed the laptop values.

Any way this can be added as an option for MonitorControl; thanks in advance!

@Converseallstar95 commented on GitHub (Sep 20, 2021): > I added this to 3.1.0. There is an unsigned interim version [here to test](https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1md5rjyll0lsyo/MonitorControl.zip?dl=0). > > Update: the shortcut is now changed to **ctrl+command+brightness** (shift+ctrl+brightness was colliding with fine control if somebody wants to control internal display only) Thanks for this suggestion I was just looking for it as a new MonitorControl user! I just switched away from my two Thunderbolt Displays and they worked as follows, if I pressed the volume or brightness keys on my wireless keyboard, they only changed the external monitor. If I pressed those keys on the laptop, the only changed the laptop values. Any way this can be added as an option for MonitorControl; thanks in advance!

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:41 -06:00

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@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 20, 2021):

Hi, this does not seem to be easily possible. MonitorControl uses MediaTapKey which does not currently distinguish between the brightness key from a Magic Keyboard and a built-in keyboard. MediaTapKey relies on IOKit's special key designations which also don't seem to distinguish between these. There is a distinction in real life of course and apparently some apps can capture this (for example Hammerspoon returns a different code for them and also Karabiner can distinguish between strokes from different keyboards). You might want to try to add a new Feature Request regarding differentiating between built-in/external keyboard keytaps here: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MediaKeyTap. If the devs make it work, MonitorControl can also implement something like this.

@waydabber commented on GitHub (Sep 20, 2021): Hi, this does not seem to be easily possible. MonitorControl uses MediaTapKey which does not currently distinguish between the brightness key from a Magic Keyboard and a built-in keyboard. MediaTapKey relies on IOKit's special key designations which also don't seem to distinguish between these. There is a distinction in real life of course and apparently some apps can capture this (for example Hammerspoon returns a different code for them and also Karabiner can distinguish between strokes from different keyboards). You might want to try to add a new Feature Request regarding differentiating between built-in/external keyboard keytaps here: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MediaKeyTap. If the devs make it work, MonitorControl can also implement something like this.

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 05:58:42 -06:00

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@Converseallstar95 commented on GitHub (Sep 21, 2021):

Hi, this does not seem to be easily possible. MonitorControl uses MediaTapKey which does not currently distinguish between the brightness key from a Magic Keyboard and a built-in keyboard. MediaTapKey relies on IOKit's special key designations which also don't seem to distinguish between these. There is a distinction in real life of course and apparently some apps can capture this (for example Hammerspoon returns a different code for them and also Karabiner can distinguish between strokes from different keyboards). You might want to try to add a new Feature Request regarding differentiating between built-in/external keyboard keytaps here: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MediaKeyTap. If the devs make it work, MonitorControl can also implement something like this.

Thanks for the insight, I will try my luck with them. :)

@Converseallstar95 commented on GitHub (Sep 21, 2021): > Hi, this does not seem to be easily possible. MonitorControl uses MediaTapKey which does not currently distinguish between the brightness key from a Magic Keyboard and a built-in keyboard. MediaTapKey relies on IOKit's special key designations which also don't seem to distinguish between these. There is a distinction in real life of course and apparently some apps can capture this (for example Hammerspoon returns a different code for them and also Karabiner can distinguish between strokes from different keyboards). You might want to try to add a new Feature Request regarding differentiating between built-in/external keyboard keytaps here: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MediaKeyTap. If the devs make it work, MonitorControl can also implement something like this. Thanks for the insight, I will try my luck with them. :)