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How can I get my Dell Monitors software i.e. Dell Display Manager in my Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS for controlling the monitor via software rather than the physical buttons on the screen ?

subahswagle
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    Most likely you can't if Dell doesn't provide software for Linux. – Pilot6 Sep 08 '19 at 13:45
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    The answer is here... You can't use that particular software, but Linux has it's own way. https://askubuntu.com/questions/860761/ubuntu-command-line-to-change-input-source-on-a-display-monitor – user1049812 Mar 03 '20 at 00:05
  • As the previous comment hints, one can write a Gnome extension that uses ddcutil for controlling specific things in the screen. For example, there is one for controlling brightness: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/2645/brightness-control-using-ddcutil. – Blencer Aug 21 '21 at 15:54
  • Dell also build their SDK for linux, e.g. https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=0p8mg But getting your hands on the latest binaries isn't easy, and the lib is basically same as ddcutil but with all the dell specific enums and the dell specific apis. – Tamir Daniely Feb 14 '23 at 21:29

2 Answers2

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The proprietary application called Dell Display Manager has not been provided for Ubuntu. However, most displays (including Dell’s) can be controlled from the PC over DDC communication which is available in Ubuntu.

Brightness

If you wish to control the display’s brightness, use the GNOME extension Brightness control using ddcutil. Setting it up, however, requires several steps. Apart from installing the extension (which requires a browser addon and a native application or manual installation), you must setup ddcutil which is used as a backend of this extension.

I’ve installed the extension together with ddcutil and it’s worth it from my perspective.

screenshot of running brightness extension

Other controls

If you wish to control other features of your display, you should follow the manual approach using ddcutil (or ddccontrol but it’s outdated) or create/find a wrapper appropriate to your needs.

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Melebius
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Installing ddcutil with Gnome extension related to it works in my case.

  1. Install ddcutil
sudo apt update && sudo apt install ddcutil

  1. follow the instructions in the Readme file of the official git repo Setup ddcutil

  2. Install the Gnome extension. Brightness control using ddcutil

  3. Reboot and check

enter image description here

Akitha_MJ
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