Dell Display Manager User's Guide
Overview
Dell Display Manager (DDM) is a Microsoft Windows application designed to manage a monitor or a group of monitors. It enables manual adjustment of the displayed image, assignment of automatic settings, energy management, window organization, image rotation, and other features on select Dell monitors. After installation, DDM runs automatically when the system starts and places its icon in the notification tray. Hovering over this icon provides information about connected monitors.
Alternatively, DDM can be launched by right-clicking the desktop background and selecting Dell Display Manager from the context menu.
NOTE: Dell Display Manager requires the DDC/CI channel to communicate with your monitor. Ensure DDC/CI is enabled in the monitor's menu.
[Image description: A screenshot of the Windows notification tray showing the DDM icon, the monitor model "Dell U2520D/U2520DR - Standard", and the current time and date.]
[Image description: A screenshot of the monitor's On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, highlighting the DDC/CI setting, which is set to "On".]
Using the Quick Settings Dialog
Clicking the DDM notification tray icon opens the Quick Settings dialog box. If multiple supported Dell monitors are connected, a specific target monitor can be selected from a menu. The Quick Settings dialog allows for easy adjustment of brightness, contrast, resolution, window layout, and more. It also enables automatic switching between preset modes or manual selection of a preset mode.
The Quick Settings dialog also provides access to DDM's advanced user interface for adjusting basic functions, configuring auto mode, and accessing other features.
NOTE:
| Feature | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Quick DDM Access | Quick key to call up DDM UI | Ctrl+Shift+DUse Page Up/Page Down keys or click the ">" icon to cycle through Easy Arrange layouts. |
| Control individual monitor in multiple monitor setup |
|
[Image description: A screenshot of the Dell Display Manager Quick Settings dialog, showing options for display selection, resolution, Auto Mode/Manual Mode, brightness, and contrast sliders.]
Setting Basic Display Functions
You can manually select a preset mode or choose Auto Mode, which applies a preset mode based on the active application. An on-screen message briefly displays the current Preset Mode whenever it changes. Brightness and Contrast can also be adjusted directly from the Basic tab.
NOTE: When multiple Dell monitors are connected, select "Enable display matrix control" to apply brightness, contrast, and color presets to all monitors simultaneously.
[Image description: A screenshot of the Dell Display Manager interface, showing the Basic tab with resolution, Auto Mode/Manual Mode selection, brightness and contrast sliders set to 75%, and the "Standard" preset mode selected.]
[Image description: A second screenshot of the Dell Display Manager interface, similar to the first, but with the "Enable display matrix control" checkbox selected.]
Assigning Preset Modes to Applications
The Auto Mode tab allows you to associate a specific Preset Mode with an application and apply it automatically. When Auto Mode is enabled, DDM switches to the corresponding Preset Mode whenever the associated application is activated. The assigned Preset Mode can be the same across all connected monitors or vary between them.
DDM is pre-configured for many popular applications. To add a new application to the assignment list, drag the application from the desktop, Windows Start Menu, or elsewhere, and drop it onto the current list.
NOTE: Preset Mode assignments are not supported for batch files, scripts, loaders, and non-executable files like zip archives or packed files.
You can also configure the Game preset mode to be used whenever a Direct3D application runs in full-screen mode. To prevent an application from using a specific mode, assign a different preset mode to it.
[Image description: A screenshot of the Dell Display Manager Auto Mode tab, showing a list of applications (e.g., Default for desktop apps, Default for fullscreen Direct3D, Internet Explorer) and their assigned preset modes (e.g., Standard, Game, SRGB).]
Organizing Windows with Easy Arrange
Easy Arrange helps you effectively organize application windows on your desktop. First, choose a pre-defined layout pattern that suits your workflow, then drag application windows into the defined zones. Press the ">" icon or use the Page Up/Page Down keys to find more layouts.
To create a custom layout, right-click on a thumbnail with a small triangle in the bottom right corner, arrange the number of rows and columns in the opened window, and click OK to set up your preferred arrangement.
For Windows 10, you can apply different window layouts for each virtual desktop. If you frequently use the Windows snap feature, you can select "Hold down the SHIFT key to enable zone positioning". This gives Windows snap priority over Easy Arrange, requiring you to press Shift to use Easy Arrange positioning.
[Image description: A screenshot of the Dell Display Manager Easy Arrange tab, displaying various grid-based window layout presets.]
[Image description: A second screenshot of the Dell Display Manager Easy Arrange tab, showing the option "Hold down the SHIFT key to enable zone positioning" and "Span multiple monitors".]
Easy Arrange Advanced Features
If you use multiple monitors in an array or matrix, Easy Arrange layouts can span across all monitors as a single desktop. Select "Span multiple monitors" to enable this feature, ensuring your monitors are properly aligned for effectiveness.
Additional advanced features for Easy Arrange include:
| Feature | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Easy Arrange | Custom layouts | Save and name up to 5 customized Easy Arrange patterns. Configure x*y patterns. |
| 5 MRU (most-recently-used) layouts | Press Ctrl+Shift+Home to cycle through the last 5 MRU layouts. | |
| On the fly partition resizing | Hold down Ctrl while resizing the current Easy Arrange layout to adjust the size and number of cells. Newly formed patterns are saved into the Easy Arrange icon position. Hold down Ctrl while clicking a modified layout icon to restore the default layout. | |
| Easy Arrange layouts for portrait mode | Portrait mode Easy Arrange icons are presented when the monitor is rotated. |
Managing Multiple Video Inputs
The Input Manager tab offers convenient ways to manage multiple video inputs connected to your Dell monitor, making it easy to switch between inputs when working with multiple computers. All available video input ports are listed, and you can assign custom names to each input. Changes can be saved after editing.
You can define shortcut keys for quick switching to your favorite input or between two specific inputs.
[Image description: A screenshot of the Dell Display Manager Input Manager tab, showing input ports (USB-C, DP, HDMI), input names (NB, PC1, Alienware), and settings for favorite and general input shortcut keys.]
You can use the dropdown list to switch to any input source.
NOTE: DDM communicates with your monitor even when it displays video from another computer. You can install DDM on your primary PC to control input switching and also on other PCs connected to the monitor.
Restoring Application Positions
DDM can restore application windows to their previous positions when you reconnect your PC to the monitor(s). This feature is accessible by right-clicking the DDM icon in the notification tray.
Choosing "Auto-restore window layout" means DDM tracks and remembers your application window positions. DDM automatically places application windows into their original positions upon reconnection.
To revert to a favorite layout, first use "Save current window layout" and then "Restore saved window layout". DDM can apply different window layouts to monitors with varying models or resolutions, recognizing the reconnected monitor and restoring positions accordingly.
If you need to replace a monitor in a matrix configuration, save the window layout beforehand and restore it after installing the new monitor.
NOTE: Keep your applications running to benefit from this feature, as DDM does not launch applications itself.
[Image description: A screenshot of the DDM notification tray menu showing options like "Save current window layout", "Restore saved window layout", and "Auto-restore window layout".]
Applying Energy Conservation Features and Shortcut Keys
The Options tab provides PowerNap energy conservation settings, allowing you to customize keyboard shortcuts. In the upper pane, you can set the monitor's brightness to the minimum level or put the monitor to sleep when the screensaver is activated.
Other Shortcut Keys
Define shortcut keys for quick access to DDM functions:
- Program shortcut key: Quickly opens the Quick Settings dialog box.
- Easy Arrange MRU shortcut key: Quickly applies the 5 most recently used window layouts.
- Application window shortcut key: Launches a quick menu for options under Auto Mode and Easy Arrange.
[Image description: A screenshot of the Dell Display Manager Options tab, showing PowerNap options (Reduce brightness, Put display to sleep) and configurations for Program shortcut key, Easy Arrange MRU shortcut key, and Application window shortcut key.]
Attaching DDM to Active Windows
For Windows 10, you can add the DDM shortcut icon to the toolbar region of active windows. To enable this, right-click the DDM icon in the notification tray and select "Attach to active window" from the menu.
Once the icon is in the toolbar, right-clicking it displays a quick menu with options under Auto Mode and Easy Arrange for easy adjustments.
[Image description: A screenshot of the DDM notification tray menu with the "Attach to active window" option highlighted.]
[Image description: A screenshot of the DDM quick menu that appears when the DDM icon is right-clicked in the toolbar, showing options to move windows to different screen zones like "Fullscreen", "Top half", "Bottom right", etc.]
Troubleshooting
If DDM cannot work with your monitor, an icon will appear in your notification tray.
[Image description: A notification tray icon indicating "Please connect a supported Dell monitor".]
Clicking the icon displays a more detailed error message.
[Image description: A Dell Display Manager error message stating "This program requires a supported Dell monitor and connection, and compatible display driver".]
DDM functions exclusively with Dell branded monitors; it does not support monitors from other manufacturers.
If DDM fails to detect or communicate with a supported Dell monitor, follow these troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure the video cable is properly connected to your monitor and PC, with connectors firmly inserted.
- Check the monitor's OSD to confirm DDC/CI is enabled.
- Install the correct and latest display driver from your graphics vendor (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, etc.), as display driver issues are a common cause of DDM failure.
- Remove any docking stations, cable extenders, or converters between the monitor and the graphics port. Some low-cost devices may not properly support DDC/CI and can cause DDM to fail. Update the driver for such devices if available.
- Restart your system.
DDM may not function with the following monitors:
- Dell monitor models released before 2013 and D-series Dell monitors. 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 may require disabling MST/DP 1.2 via the monitor OSD.
If your PC is connected to the internet, you may be prompted when a newer version of DDM is available. It is recommended to download and install the latest DDM application. You can also check for new versions by right-clicking the DDM icon while holding the 'Shift' key.
[Image description: A DDM notification tray menu shown with the Shift key pressed, revealing additional options such as "Save monitor asset report", "Save diagnostic report", "Auto-load at startup", and "Onscreen notifications".]
