Best app for volume keys on an external monitor
Plug a monitor in over HDMI or DisplayPort, press a volume key, and you get a crossed-out speaker. macOS just doesn't control volume on those outputs. There are two ways to fix it, and the right one depends on your monitor.
Short answer
- Best free pick: MonitorControl. If your monitor supports DDC volume and you only want the keys to work, use it. It's free and open source.
- Best if DDC doesn't work, or you also want per-app volume: Faders. Its software volume works with any display or TV, and every app gets its own slider. $5.99 at launch.
- Best for everything: SoundSource. Volume keys for any output plus EQ, effects and AirPlay, for $49.
Two ways to fix it
Hardware volume over DDC. Many monitors accept commands over the display cable, including volume. Apps like MonitorControl and FineTune send those commands, so you're changing the monitor's own volume. It's the cleanest result, but only if your monitor supports it. Plenty don't, and many TVs, docks and adapters don't pass DDC through.
Software volume. The app turns the sound down on the Mac before it reaches the display, and the monitor stays at a fixed level. It works with any monitor, TV or receiver. Faders, SoundSource and Sound Control work this way.
What external-monitor users actually need
- Volume keys that just work, with an on-screen indicator like the built-in one.
- macOS not switching to the monitor's speakers by itself when you plug in. Most people never want sound from them.
- Sometimes, brightness control as well. Only DDC apps like MonitorControl do that.
The picks
MonitorControl
Free, open source · GitHub
MonitorControl makes your volume and brightness keys control the monitor itself over DDC, with the native on-screen indicator. If your monitor supports it, this is all most people need, and it costs nothing. It isn't a per-app mixer, and it can't help if your monitor or adapter doesn't support DDC volume.
Good
- Free
- Changes the monitor's real volume
- Brightness and contrast too
Not so good
- Only works with DDC-capable monitors
- No per-app volume
Faders
$5.99 once at launch ($15.99 regular) · macOS 14.2+ · No trial (browser demo) · fadersmac.com
Faders adds software volume to displays without hardware volume, so the keys work on any HDMI or DisplayPort monitor or TV, with an indicator that looks like the system one. You can also mark the monitor as “never auto-select”, so macOS stops sending sound there when you plug in. And every app gets its own volume slider. It can't change brightness.
Good
- Works with any display
- Native-looking indicator
- “Never auto-select” rule
- Per-app volume included
Not so good
- No brightness control
- Software volume only, not the monitor's own
- No free trial
FineTune
Free, open source · macOS 15+ · GitHub
FineTune has opt-in media keys with a volume indicator and can set monitor speaker volume over DDC, on top of per-app volume, EQ and device priority. Like MonitorControl, the monitor part needs DDC support.
Good
- Free
- Per-app volume and EQ
- DDC monitor volume
Not so good
- Needs a DDC monitor
- Needs macOS 15
SoundSource 6
$49 once · Free trial · macOS 15+ · rogueamoeba.com
SoundSource makes the volume keys work with any output, and adds a device order, hidden devices, EQ, effects and AirPlay. It's the pick if you want all of that. For volume keys alone it's a lot of money.
Good
- Works with any output
- Huge feature set
- Free trial
Not so good
- $49
- Needs macOS 15
Sound Control 3
$15 once direct (trial) or App Store subscription · macOS 11.4+ · staticz.com
Sound Control's “virtual volume” adds volume keys to DisplayPort monitors, HDMI TVs and receivers. It also has per-app EQ, routing and priority devices, and runs all the way back to macOS 11.4. That makes it the best paid option if your Mac can't run Sonoma.
Good
- Works with any output
- macOS 11.4+
- EQ and routing
Not so good
- App Store version is a subscription
- No brightness control
Side by side
| MonitorControl | Faders | FineTune | SoundSource | Sound Control | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume keys on HDMI / DP | ✓ DDC | ✓ software | ✓ DDC | ✓ | ✓ software |
| Works without DDC support | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brightness | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Per-app volume | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keep macOS off the monitor speakers | — | ✓ never auto-select | ✓ device priority | ✓ hide devices | ✓ priority lists |
| macOS | See GitHub | 14.2+ | 15+ | 15+ | 11.4+ |
| Price | Free | $5.99 | Free | $49 | $15 |
Questions
How do I know if my monitor supports DDC?
Install MonitorControl and try the volume keys. If they work, you're done and don't need to buy anything. Check that DDC/CI is turned on in your monitor's own menu first.
With software volume, what volume should the monitor be at?
Set the monitor's own volume once, fairly high, and then use your Mac's keys. The app lowers it from there.
Can I use MonitorControl for brightness and Faders for volume?
Yes. Turn off MonitorControl's volume control so both apps don't respond to the same keys.
Volume keys for any monitor, plus a slider for every app
If DDC doesn't work on your display, Faders does. $5.99 once at launch.
Related
Sources
- MonitorControl on GitHub (DDC brightness, contrast and volume)
- FineTune on GitHub (media keys, DDC monitor volume, macOS 15)
- SoundSource (volume keys for HDMI and DisplayPort, macOS 15)
- Sound Control (virtual volume, macOS 11.4+, $15)