Windows 10: Manage Monitor Brightness (DDC/CI) with built-in brightness controls

So, I recently started using my laptop in clamshell mode to make room for a full size keyboard (Surface Keyboard). It has Windows' built-in brightness controls on the top row, but I haven't been able to find a program that can properly use DDC/CI and those keys to adjust my monitor's brightness at the same time.

• DDC/CI works because I can enable it on my monitor's OSD, and apps that use DDC/CI can change monitor brightness.
• Some programs (ClickMonitorDDC and Twinkle Tray, to name a few) can synchronize brightness across all displays, but it doesn't work in clamshell mode.
• Some apps have hotkeys and can run command line stuff, but I don't think any apps I've tried were able to properly recognize the Brightness Up/Down buttons. I initially thought that Microsoft's Mouse and Keyboard could detect it, but it seems like only certain buttons from the top row (like media controls) are detected.
  • I also tried every method of accessing the Keyboard's settings/properties, including going through Device & Printers, but right-clicking > Keyboard Settings links me to Mouse & Keyboard center... and nothing shows up.
• I saw somewhere on the Microsoft website there was documentation for manipulating DDC/CI monitors through C++ (?) code. On stack overflow or something similar I found basic code I could probably use, but I'm assuming there's no way to run that code on Brightness Up/Down key presses...

Am I SOL until Microsoft decides to build it into the native Windows 10 brightness controls (will they ever? Honestly from what it seems DDC/CI looks like it could get messy on a large scale and cause headaches)? The only other option I can really see would be to have my laptop open, but that kinda defeated the purpose of switching to a full size keyboard and changing my setup to give me the most possible space...

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:)

 

DDC/CI and brightness keys

I have a Dell monitor supporting DDC/CI, a Intel-based PC running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with an Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti, and a new Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID.

The Modern Keyboard has brightness keys (top middle, also F7/F8 if you hold down "fn"), and the monitor can accept brightness changes via DDC/CI (works with the Dell Display Manager software). When I touch the brightness keys, I get a small overlay in the screen
top left of the brightness "changing" (is this a Windows overlay), but the actual display brightness does not change.

Is there a way to get the brightness keys working to change the monitor brightness?

Whose technology is responsible for this? Nvidia? Microsoft? Dell?

 

DDC/CI and brightness keys

Thanks for the reply, but your answer is not clear.

I understand that the graphics card is ultimately responsible for sending the required signal.

But the Dell Display Monitor software already allows software driven control of the screen brightness (via an onscreen slider), suggesting that the graphics card is already behaving as expected. The user manual of the graphics card offers no further advice
about setup of this function.

My question is really more about the Microsoft Modern Keyboard. The support page you linked to gives no information about the specific functioning of the media, volume and brightness keys on the Modern Keyboard.

With a fresh install of Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, a 2017 DDC/CI compatible monitor, and latest generation graphics card, I would have expected this Modern Keyboard function to "just work."

But since that is not the case, I would be very grateful if someone could suggest a way to get these elements working together as expected.

Thanks!

 

DDC/CI and brightness keys

From Dell: "The Dell monitor team never tested the "Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID" and its software. You should start by searching for Microsoft support."

From Nvidia: "Microsoft is in charge of display brightness as of Windows 10."

From Microsoft: "adjusting the display brightness using the keyboard keys is controlled by the graphics card installed on your device. …we suggest that you refer to the user guide of your graphics card."

From EVGA: "I'd say Dell."