Dell Display Manager User's Guide Overview Dell Display Manager is a Microsoft Windows application used to manage a monitor or a group of monitors. It allows manual adjustment of the displayed image, assignment of automatic settings, energy management, window organization, image rotation, and other features on select Dell monitors. Once installed, Dell Display Manager runs each time the system starts and places its icon in the notification tray.
Using the Quick Settings Dialog Clicking Dell Display Manager's notification tray icon opens the Quick Settings dialog box. When more than one supported Dell monitors are connected to the computer, a specific target monitor can be selected using the menu. The Quick Settings dialog box allows you to easily adjust the brightness, contrast, resolution, window layout, and so on. It also allows you to enable automatic switching between preset modes or to select a preset mode manually.
Setting Basic Display Functions You can manually select a preset mode or you can select Auto Mode that applies a preset mode based on the active application. An onscreen message momentarily displays the current Preset Mode whenever it changes. The selected monitor's Brightness and Contrast can also be directly adjusted from the Basic tab.
NOTE: When multiple Dell monitors are connected, select “Enable display matrix control” to apply brightness, contrast and color presets controls to all monitors.
Assigning Preset Modes to Applications The Auto Mode tab allows you to associate a specific Preset Mode with a specific application, and apply it automatically. When Auto Mode is enabled, Dell Display Manager automatically switches to the corresponding Preset Mode whenever the associated application is activated. The Preset Mode assigned to a particular application may be the same on each connected monitor, or it can vary from one monitor to another.
Organizing Windows with Easy Arrange On supported Dell monitors, the Easy Arrange tab allows you to easily arrange the open windows in one of the predefined layouts by dragging them in the zones. Press “>” or use Page Up/Page Down key to find more layouts. To create a custom layout, arrange the open windows and then click Save.
For Windows 10, you can apply different window layouts for each of the virtual desktops. If you often use Windows snap feature, you can select “Hold down the SHIFT key to enable zone positioning”. This gives Windows snap priority over Easy Arrange. You will then need to press the Shift key to use Easy Arrange positioning. If you are using multiple monitors in an array or matrix, Easy Arrange layout can be applied across to all the monitors as one desktop.
Managing Multiple Video Inputs The Input Manager tab provides convenient ways for you to manage multiple video inputs connected to your Dell monitor. It makes it very easy to switch between inputs while you work with multiple computers. All video input ports available to your monitor are listed. You can give each input a name as you like. Please save your changes after editing.
You can use the dropdown list to switch to any input source. NOTE: DDM communicates with your monitor even when the monitor is displaying video from another computer. You can install DDM on the PC you frequently use and control input switching from it. You may also install DDM on other PCs connected to the monitor.
Restoring Application Positions DDM can help you restore application windows into their positions when you reconnect your PC to the monitor(s). You can quickly access to this feature by right-clicking on DDM icon in the notification tray. If you choose “Auto-restore window layout”, your application windows' positions are tracked and remembered by DDM. DDM automatically puts the application windows into their original positions when you reconnect your PC to your monitor(s).
Applying Energy Conservation Features On supported Dell models, an Options tab is available that provides PowerNap energy conservation options. You can choose to set the monitor's brightness to the minimum level, or to put the monitor to sleep when the screensaver is activated.
Troubleshooting If DDM cannot work with your monitor, DDM will show below icon in your notification tray. Click on the icon, DDM shows a more detailed error message. Please note that DDM only works with Dell branded monitors. If you are using monitors from other manufacturers, DDM doesn't support them. If DDM is unable to detect and/or communicate with a supported Dell monitor, please take below actions to troubleshoot: 1.
DDM may not work with below monitors: • Dell monitor models earlier than year 2013 and D-series of Dell monitors. You can refer to Dell Product Support websites for more information • Gaming monitors using Nvidia-based G-sync technology • Virtual and wireless displays do not support DDC/CI • Some early models of DP 1.2 monitors, it may be necessary to disable MST/ DP 1.
