GRUENCY / WS Apps / WS.Candela
Brightness keys for your external monitor. Free.
On a Mac, the brightness keys change only the built-in display. WS.Candela sends them on to your external monitor through its cable, so one key press dims or brightens the screen you are looking at.
FreeVery lightNo accountNo tracking
Install on Mac
Easiest: one line, no warnings
curl -fsSL https://gruency.com/candela.sh | sh- Click Copy.
- Open Terminal: press ⌘ Space, type Terminal, press Return.
- Paste with ⌘ V and press Return. WS.Candela installs and opens by itself.
Or download the file
Unzip it and drag WS.Candela to Applications. The first time, macOS may say it cannot verify the app: open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. You see this once.
The Windows and Linux versions are in preparation.
What it does
The keys you already use
The brightness keys on the MacBook and on a Magic Keyboard now work on the monitor as well. The familiar brightness bar appears at the top right.
Cursor mode
The keys change the display the cursor is on.
Sync mode
One key changes the built-in display and the external monitor together.
Dim below the minimum
When the monitor reaches its lowest brightness, more key presses dim the picture down to black. Brightening returns the same way.
Each display on its own
Separate control of each display, and it keeps control when you move between displays.
Out of the way
A small icon in the menu bar and nothing else. It starts at login and comes back by itself after a crash.
One permission
WS.Candela needs Accessibility access to receive the brightness keys. macOS asks the first time: open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility and turn on WS.Candela.
What to know
Control runs over DDC/CI through the cable, so it depends on the monitor and the port. We tested it with a MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro) and a BenQ SW321C.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Free to download and use, at home and at work, with no account and no payment. Copying, reselling or modifying it is not permitted.
Does it track me?
No. There is no analytics or tracking code, and GRUENCY collects nothing about you or how you use it.
Which monitors work?
Monitors that accept brightness commands over DDC/CI. This depends on the monitor, the cable and the port.
Which Macs does it run on?
Macs with Apple silicon (M1 and newer) and macOS 14 or later.
And Windows and Linux?
Both are in preparation. They will be free as well.
How do I remove it?
Quit WS.Candela from its menu and drag it from Applications to the Bin.
WS.Candela · WS Apps by WS.COMPUTER · by GRUENCY · Free to use for any purpose; copying, redistributing, reselling or modifying it is not permitted.