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1 more ways to get Lunar
Package managers
- Homebrew
brew install --cask lunar
About Lunar
Lunar changes the real brightness of external monitors instead of darkening the picture with a black overlay. It sends DDC (Display Data Channel) commands such as setting brightness to 30% or switching input to HDMI 2 directly to the monitor, which keeps colours closer to reality and uses less power. It works on Apple Silicon as well as Intel Macs.
Apple displays such as the Studio Display, Pro Display XDR and LG Ultrafine are controlled natively with smooth transitions. The standard brightness keys can drive external monitors, and Lunar can adapt brightness using the ambient light sensor, adjust volume and turn displays off.
Strengths
- Changes real monitor brightness over DDC rather than using an overlay
- Native smooth control of Apple-made displays
- Keyboard brightness keys work on external monitors
- Can switch monitor inputs and adjust volume
Limitations
- macOS only, version 11 or newer for the current release
- Some features require the paid Pro license
Details
- Pricing
- FreemiumCore features are free; Lunar Pro is a $23 lifetime license with a 14-day trial.
- License
- Proprietary
- Developer
- Alin Panaitiu
- Platforms
- macOS
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Best suited for
- Mac users with external monitors who want to control them from the keyboard
- Categories
- System utilities
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Lunar
Compare allSoftware that can replace Lunar for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
BetterDisplay
A macOS display utility for flexible HiDPI scaling, brightness control, virtual screens and DDC control.
BetterDisplay also controls external monitor brightness over DDC and adds HiDPI scaling and virtual screens, with some features in its Pro version.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
HazeOver
A macOS app that dims background windows automatically so the active window stands out.
iStat Menus
A macOS menu bar system monitor for CPU, GPU, memory, disks, network, sensors and battery.
OnlySwitch
Access common Mac controls from one menu-bar utility.
LinearMouse
Customises mouse and trackpad behaviour per device on macOS.
