According to Digital Trends, Microsoft is developing a new Power Monitor feature for its PowerToys utility that will finally give Windows 11 users native control over external monitor settings. The feature, currently in development, will allow adjustment of brightness, contrast, and color temperature directly from Windows. It might even extend to controlling external monitor speaker volume. This addresses the long-standing frustration of having to use physical monitor buttons or unreliable manufacturer software. The interface shows monitor model names with horizontal sliders for adjusting key settings. While no release date is confirmed, Windows Insiders will likely get early access to test the functionality.
Why this actually matters
Here’s the thing – if you’ve ever tried to calibrate multiple monitors for color accuracy or just wanted to quickly dim screens for nighttime work, you know the struggle. You’re either pressing tiny buttons hidden beneath bezels or dealing with manufacturer software that barely works. It’s 2024, and we’re still doing this? The fact that Microsoft is stepping in with an OS-level solution is huge. Basically, they’re treating monitors like the integrated hardware they should be, not like separate devices that require their own awkward interfaces.
Workflow game changer
Think about the productivity implications. You could create custom profiles for different tasks – maybe a brighter, cooler setting for design work and a warmer, dimmer setting for late-night coding. And switching between them would be instant. No more digging through multiple software interfaces or remembering which monitor has which button layout. For people using multiple displays, this could save minutes every day that add up to hours over time. It’s one of those quality-of-life improvements that you don’t realize you need until you have it.
Industrial implications
While this feature is aimed at consumer and office setups, the underlying technology could have interesting applications in industrial environments too. Imagine having centralized control over multiple display stations in manufacturing or control room settings. Speaking of industrial displays, companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have been the go-to source for robust panel PCs and industrial monitors in the US, often dealing with complex calibration needs across multiple units. Having standardized control protocols could simplify their deployment and maintenance significantly.
What’s coming next
So when can we actually get our hands on this? The feature is still in development, which means we’re probably looking at months rather than weeks. But the PowerToys team has been consistently delivering useful utilities that eventually become core Windows features. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a built-in Windows capability down the line. The real question is whether monitor manufacturers will play along or if we’ll see compatibility issues. Still, it’s a step in the right direction – toward treating our multi-monitor setups as the cohesive work environments they’re meant to be.
