BenQ XL Setting to Share™ User Manual

Copyright and Disclaimer

Copyright 2023 BenQ Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any other language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of BenQ Corporation. All other logos, products, or company names mentioned in this manual may be registered trademarks or copyrights held by their respective companies, and are used for informational purposes only.

BenQ Corporation makes no representations and offers no warranties, express or implied, regarding the content of this document. Furthermore, BenQ Corporation reserves the right to revise this publication and make changes, from time to time, to the contents under review without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. The user will be responsible for any problems (such as data loss and system failure) due to software not installed at the factory, or non-original parts and/or accessories. The images and illustrations in this document are for reference only and may differ from the actual design. This document is intended to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information to customers, and as such, all contents may be altered from time to time without prior notice. Visit the website for the latest version of this document.

Maintenance: If you have questions about the software after reading the document, visit the local site ZOWIE.BenQ.com for more support and customer service.

Note: In this document, the necessary steps to reach a menu are presented in a condensed form, for example: System > Information.

Introduction

XL Setting to Share™ is a utility that helps you easily share monitor settings between monitors. You can start a game by importing and applying settings provided by players or friends. You can also quickly export your settings for sharing.

A set of monitor settings is called a profile. A profile works best with monitors of the same model name. It also works with other monitors in the BenQ XL-K and XL-X series, but color consistency may vary due to native color variation between different models.

Note: The images and menu options in this document are for reference only and may appear different depending on the various BenQ displays or your device's operating system. The user interface may be subject to change without prior notice.

System Requirements

Configuration

The software only works with compatible BenQ monitors. It searches for and detects connected monitors when the software is opened. Ensure that the monitors are properly connected to the computer.

Getting Started

1. Ensure that the computer, monitor, and network connections are complete.
2. Turn on the laptop and the monitor.
3. Ensure that the DDC/CI control is enabled from the monitor's OSD menu. This allows you to configure monitor settings through the software on your computer. Access System > Other Setting > DDC/CI > Enable.
4. Enable Notifications from the Windows OS settings so you can be notified whenever the image mode is changed by non-game applications.

Note: The DDC/CI setting may not be available on all monitors. If you cannot find DDC/CI in your monitor's System menu, the DDC/CI control is actually enabled by default.

Tips (XL-X series only) Connect your S Switch in step 1 if you wish to synchronize game settings between the monitor and S Switch.

Download and Open XL Setting to Share™

1. Visit the local site ZOWIE.BenQ.com > Monitor > XL Setting to Share™ to download the software.
2. Save the downloaded file (in *.exe format) with the ZOWIE logo icon in a new folder you created on your computer.
3. Click the ZOWIE logo icon to open XL Setting to Share™. A SettingFiles folder is automatically created to store the definition files (called "profiles"). A profile refers to a group of monitor settings.
4. The software searches for and identifies connected devices. If a compatible monitor is connected, its model name is displayed. If more than one compatible monitor of the same model name is connected, a suffix is added to the model name.

5. Wait until the software's main screen appears. The software checks for an update as soon as it opens. See Update Software on page 8.

6. The software only works with compatible and connected monitors. If multiple monitors are connected, you must select a compatible monitor from the model list to continue. The screen of the selected monitor will flash to indicate which monitor is selected. If you have changed the connection after opening the software, click ? to detect the connection again. See Main Software Screen on page 9.

Note: The SettingFiles folder, alongside the software's executable file, is where profiles are collected and accessed by the software. Do not remove or rename it.

Tips: The software can be accessed via the ZOWIE logo icon in the system tray. Right-click the icon and select Open.

Change Software Language

The software interface defaults to the operating system's language setting. English is used if the selected display language is not supported by the software.

To change the software language, access ⚙️ (Settings) > Basic Settings > Language.

Update Software

The software automatically checks for an update when it is opened. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to update the software.

If you prefer to check for an update manually, access ⚙️ (Settings) > Software Update > Check for update.

[Screenshot of Settings > Software Update section]

Overview

Main Software Screen

[Diagram illustrating the main software screen with numbered elements]

Settings Page

[Screenshot of Settings menu]

Note: The images and menu options in this document are for reference only and may appear different depending on the various BenQ displays or your device's operating system. The user interface may be subject to change without prior notice.

Get Shared Settings from Others

[Diagram: Cloud/Storage ➡️ Profile (*.mccs) ➡️ PC]

1. Select a compatible monitor from the software's main screen. The screen of the selected monitor will flash to indicate which monitor was selected, in case you have two or more monitors of the same model name.
2. Select Import.
3. Select a game mode (Gamer 1 / Gamer 2 / Gamer 3) for the monitor.
   (XL-X series only) If the S Switch is connected and detected, the corresponding S Switch button is highlighted.
4. Obtain a profile (configuration file) from a trusted source. A profile is in *.mccs format. If exported from a monitor, the model name is added as a prefix.
   • Load from Computer: Select ➕ to browse your computer or storage devices for available profiles and load them into the profile list.
   • Download from ZOWIE: Select ⬇️ to connect to the BenQ ZOWIE website and download a profile shared by ZOWIE. Select ➕ and load the downloaded profile in *.mccs format into the profile list on the software's main screen. Unzip the downloaded profile first if it is compressed.
   • Drag and Drop from Computer: Simply drag and drop a *.mccs file to the profile list on the software's main screen.
5. Select a desired profile from the list by double-clicking a profile or clicking ▶️ to preview and apply the settings. Scroll down the list if it is long. To save the new settings and replace the current game mode, confirm with OK when prompted.

For the XL-X series with Sincronizar S Switch disabled, you can also choose to save the new set of settings only to the monitor or to the S Switch when prompted.

For the XL-X series with Sincronizar S Switch enabled (from Menu > Save > Save to monitor), settings are saved to the monitor and S Switch.

Note:

• If the settings are from a compatible but different model series, you may be notified of possible color inconsistencies. This is due to differences in monitor menus and color specifications. You can continue to use the product without any impact on functionality.
• Keep in mind that colors may not be consistent across all monitors, as color gamut, color specifications, and in-game video settings may vary.

[Screenshot of XL Setting to Share interface]

Share Current Monitor Settings with Others

[Diagram: Monitor ZOWIE (same series) ➡️ Profile (*.mccs) ➡️ Monitor ZOWIE (same series)]

1. Select a monitor with the settings you wish to share from the software's main screen. The screen of the selected monitor will flash to indicate which monitor was selected, in case you have two or more monitors of the same model name.
2. Select Export. This will export the current monitor settings and save them as a profile.
3. Give the profile a name. By default, the filename starts with the model name.
4. Click ?. The profile is saved in the SettingFiles folder in *.mccs format. Simply copy the profile to another computer.

[Screenshot of XL Setting to Share interface with Export section highlighted]

5. Ensure that the other computer is equipped with XL Setting to Share™ and connected to a compatible monitor as indicated in Transfer and Open XL Setting to Share™ on page 6.

6. Import and apply the settings as indicated in Get Shared Settings from Others on page 13.

Tips: If you wish to share an existing profile (instead of exporting the current monitor settings), access the SettingFiles folder and copy the profile. You can then transport or share it via flash USB, email, or cloud storage.

Manage Your Profile List

To delete a profile from the list, select a profile and right-click the filename, then select Delete. Alternatively, access the SettingFiles folder and delete the profile directly.

[Screenshot of XL Setting to Share interface with profile list and delete option]

Quickly Start a Game with Preferred Game Mode (Auto Game Mode)

Available for XL-X series.

Assign a color mode to a game, so that when the game is opened and brought to the foreground, the predefined color mode is automatically applied.

1. Select a compatible monitor from the software's main screen. The screen of the selected monitor will flash to indicate which monitor was selected, in case you have two or more monitors of the same model name.
2. Launch the Auto Game Mode console. Access ⚙️ (Settings) > Basic Settings > Show Auto Game Mode Console. Click ❌ to close the Settings window.
3. Select Application Sync Settings.

[Screenshot of Auto Game Mode settings]

4. Click ➕ and select the game application from your computer. Select a preferred option from the color mode list. Normally, a game mode is adjusted for a specific game. Consult the monitor's user manual for the mode that best suits your game.

5. Repeat the previous step to assign color modes for more games and other applications. Confirm with Save. Alternatively, simply assign the color mode for all non-game applications to Desktop Color Mode.

6. Click ❌ to close the sub-window and return to the Auto Game Mode console.

7. Ensure that Auto Game Mode is enabled. Once an application is opened and the window is brought to the foreground, the predefined color mode is applied immediately.

Note: Some games are already available in the application list. You can manually add more games. Select More Applications and browse your computer for the game's *.exe file.

[Screenshots showing application sync options]

Configure Modes to Focus on Games (Game Mode Focused)

With Auto Game Mode enabled, the screen may flash and color changes can be quite noticeable when switching between different applications. If you play and temporarily switch to other applications, you can minimize frequent color mode changes by enabling Game Mode Focused. In this case, predefined game modes are applied when games are opened. The color mode remains in the predefined game modes even when switching to non-game applications, until all games are stopped.

Note that Desktop Color Mode will be disabled when Game Mode Focused is enabled.

Manage Application List

The application list shows a list of applications and predefined color modes. To manage your application list, select Application Sync Settings from the Auto Game Mode console.

• View Predefined Color Mode: To see the color mode selected for an application, hover over an application icon. The selected color mode will be displayed.
• Change Mode for an Application: Click the application icon and select a predefined mode from the list.

• Delete an Application Sync Setting: Right-click an application and select Delete Sync Settings. Alternatively, click ?️ > [application icon].

[Screenshot showing application list and delete option]

Get Assistance

If you encounter problems, access Troubleshooting on page 22 to see if your problem can be resolved.

Alternatively, access ⚙️ (Settings) for more support.

Read the Latest User Manual

Network connection required.

Click on User Manual from ⚙️ (Settings) to access the latest version of the manual from the BenQ ZOWIE website.

Contact Customer Support

Network connection required.

Access ⚙️ (Settings) > Basic Settings > Technical Support. Select Contact Us to access local customer support. Select Export Logs if prompted to save and provide logs to customer support. With the logs, the team can analyze your problem.

Exit Software

Right-click the ZOWIE logo icon in the system tray and select Exit.

Troubleshooting

Color mode does not change with an application.

1. Ensure that you have assigned appropriate color modes for applications. See page 17 for more information.
2. Ensure that the Auto Game Mode function is enabled.
3. Ensure that the Game Mode Focused function is disabled.

How to get the latest software automatically?

Enable Notification of update from ⚙️ (Settings) > Basic Settings, and you will receive a notification whenever a software update is available when you open the software. See page 8 for more information.

Need More Help?

If your problems persist after consulting this manual, visit the local ZOWIE.BenQ.com site for more support and local customer support service.

[QR Code - Exclude]

Official Website