[GH-ISSUE #1466] DDC control is grayed out / Apple Cinema Display X Thunderbolt Display (macbook m1 2023) #826

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opened 2026-05-05 06:45:16 -06:00 by gitea-mirror · 1 comment

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:45:16 -06:00

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Originally created by @renanmalato on GitHub (Nov 9, 2023).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/issues/1466

Before opening the issue, have you...?

Searched for existing issues
Looked through the wiki
Updated MonitorControl to the latest version (if applicable)

Describe the bug

Hi,

I have an Apple Cinema Display at home and there, with MonitorControl, I could manually put DDC all in 255 and the brightnesses works pretty similar to my macbook pro.

I bought another piece for my office, but it's a Thunderbolt display, I read some articles that they are the same, but at the office I can't put the DDC 255 and the brightnesses is like on 70%. It shows that is 100% but I have the same piece at home and I know there I could set the brightness decent.

At home I did what this guy did on this video
https://youtu.be/SzZHdyRJkws?si=mftO9ByJcUWwH7bS&t=383

But I can't do that at my office.

Someone could please help me?

Steps to reproduce

1 Monitor control preferences / Display

2 All options are grayed out - except Enable keyboard for control display

Expected behavior

Use hardware DDC control not grayed out

DDC max able to put 255

upper the apple cinema display brightnesses

Anything else?

No response

Environment Information (please complete the following information)

- macOS version: Monterey 12.5
- Mac model: macbook pro m1  2023
- MonitorControl version: updated today
- Monitor(s): Thunderbolt Display
- Apple Silicon/M1 (yes or no): yes

Originally created by @renanmalato on GitHub (Nov 9, 2023). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/issues/1466 ### Before opening the issue, have you...? - [X] Searched for existing issues - [X] Looked through [the wiki](https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/wiki) - [X] Updated MonitorControl to the latest version (if applicable) ### Describe the bug Hi, I have an Apple Cinema Display at home and there, with MonitorControl, I could manually put DDC all in 255 and the brightnesses works pretty similar to my macbook pro. I bought another piece for my office, but it's a Thunderbolt display, I read some articles that they are the same, but at the office I can't put the DDC 255 and the brightnesses is like on 70%. It shows that is 100% but I have the same piece at home and I know there I could set the brightness decent. At home I did what this guy did on this video https://youtu.be/SzZHdyRJkws?si=mftO9ByJcUWwH7bS&t=383 But I can't do that at my office. Someone could please help me? ![screenshot](https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/assets/3617070/946d2a1b-ee0c-488a-85b9-2f62786ab9ea) ### Steps to reproduce 1 Monitor control preferences / Display 2 All options are grayed out - except Enable keyboard for control display ### Expected behavior Use hardware DDC control not grayed out DDC max able to put 255 upper the apple cinema display brightnesses ### Anything else? _No response_ ### Environment Information (please complete the following information) ```markdown - macOS version: Monterey 12.5 - Mac model: macbook pro m1 2023 - MonitorControl version: updated today - Monitor(s): Thunderbolt Display - Apple Silicon/M1 (yes or no): yes ```

gitea-mirror closed this issue

2026-05-05 06:45:17 -06:00

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:45:23 -06:00

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@waydabber commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2023):

Hi, the thunderbolt display is reported to support native brightness control using Apple's APIs, that's why DDC is not enabled. If native control does not actually work, then you can try BetterDisplay and use the opion under the display to force it to be detected as a third party display by the app thus enabling DDC - that way you can try whether DDC control actually works with this display or not.

@waydabber commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2023): Hi, the thunderbolt display is reported to support native brightness control using Apple's APIs, that's why DDC is not enabled. If native control does not actually work, then you can try [BetterDisplay](https://betterdisplay.pro) and use the opion under the display to force it to be detected as a third party display by the app thus enabling DDC - that way you can try whether DDC control actually works with this display or not.