BeforeAll displays · 100%
Display 1 · 100%Display 2 · 100%Display 3 · 100%
Uniform brightness creates unnecessary glare across the entire desk.
A better way to dim your Mac
Dim every display.
Rest your eyes.
NightOwl gives you independent brightness control for every display connected to your Mac — perfect for late-night work, bright external monitors, and comfortable multi-display setups.
Native macOS app Lightweight menu bar utility Independent display controls Pro available as a one-time purchase
Designed for macOS
Native macOS Experience
Independent Display Controls
Built for Multi-Monitor Setups
One-Time Pro Upgrade
The Problem
Your monitors should not control your night.
External displays are often too bright, especially in darker rooms. Their built-in controls may be inconvenient, inconsistent, or unable to dim far enough. NightOwl gives every display its own simple software dimmer.
One brightness level does not fit every screen
Your built-in Mac display and external monitors can have completely different brightness levels.
Hardware controls are inconvenient
Stop reaching behind monitors or navigating complicated on-screen display menus.
Bright screens disrupt nighttime work
Reduce excessive light while keeping your workspace visible and usable.
AfterBalanced per display
Display 1 · 55%Display 2 · 75%Display 3 · 34%
Independent levels create a softer, calmer workspace without losing visibility.
How it feels
Control every display from one place
A calm, focused interface that treats each display as its own instrument.
Built-in Display · 97%
D24f-J09 · 59%
H32T13 · 34%
3 displays detected
- 1
Detect
NightOwl automatically displays the monitors currently connected to your Mac.
- 2
Adjust
Use a separate brightness slider for each display and choose exactly how dim each screen should appear.
- 3
Toggle
Enable or disable dimming for individual displays without changing the others.
Features
Everything you need for a calmer workspace
Per-Display Dimming
Independent brightness levels for every display detected by macOS. Your built-in Retina display and each external monitor get their own slider.
Independent Switches
Each display has its own dimming toggle. Enable dimming on one screen without affecting the others.
Brightness Sliders
Precise 0–100% software brightness for each display. Move the slider until the screen feels right.
Menu Bar Access
Reach NightOwl from the macOS menu bar. Adjust dimming without opening the full window.
Keyboard Shortcut
Configure a global hotkey to open NightOwl instantly, from anywhere in macOS.
Quick Disable
One click restores all displays to normal brightness. Perfect for when you need full clarity.
NightOwl Pro
Your favorite display setup, one click away
Save named combinations of per-display dimming levels and instantly restore them whenever your environment changes.
- A brighter daytime workspace
- A softer evening setup
- A deeply dimmed night mode
- A temporary disable preset
LightComfortNight ShiftDisable All
Settings
Designed to stay out of the way
A small utility that respects your workflow — with just enough options to make it yours.
Launch automatically
Open NightOwl when you sign in to your Mac.
Menu bar access
Keep the application conveniently available from the macOS menu bar.
Close to the menu bar
Dismiss the main window without quitting the utility.
Custom hotkey
Choose a keyboard shortcut that opens NightOwl whenever you need it.
Easy feedback
Contact support directly from the settings panel.
One simple upgrade
Unlock NightOwl Pro forever
Upgrade once to unlock saved Quick Presets and instantly restore your preferred dimming levels across connected displays.
NightOwl Pro
$3.99one-time purchase
- Save four named Quick Presets
- Save separate dimming levels for each display
- Restore complete display setups instantly
- No recurring subscription
- Restore purchases through the App Store
- Configurable global keyboard shortcut
Use cases
Built for the way you use your Mac
Late-Night Work
Reduce harsh light while coding, writing, studying, or browsing after dark.
Multi-Monitor Desks
Balance displays that have different brightness capabilities and panel characteristics.
Creative Workspaces
Temporarily lower secondary monitors while keeping your main working display visible.
Shared Rooms
Make a bright monitor less distracting when other people are sleeping or relaxing nearby.
How it works
Comfortable displays in three steps
01
Download NightOwl
Install the native macOS application on your Mac.
02
Choose a Display
NightOwl detects your connected displays and gives each one its own control.
03
Set Your Comfort Level
Enable dimming and move the slider until each display feels right.
04
Save It as a PresetPro
NightOwl Pro lets you save the entire setup for later.
Why NightOwl
Everything you need for a more comfortable multi-display setup
NightOwl combines precise per-display dimming, fast access, and reusable setups in one native Mac app.
| Capability | Why it helps | What NightOwl offers | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent brightness levels | Balance displays that feel too bright without forcing one shared level. | A separate 0–100% software dimming slider for every detected display. | Included |
| Dimming below the display minimum | Reduce harsh light when the monitor's own lowest setting is still uncomfortable. | A software dimming layer applied independently to each enabled display. | Included |
| Per-display on/off switches | Lower a secondary screen while keeping the main working display clear. | An independent dimming switch for every connected display. | Included |
| One-window control | Adjust an entire multi-monitor desk without opening separate display menus. | All detected displays, current levels, and switches shown together. | Included |
| Quick access | Reach your dimming controls without interrupting the task in front of you. | Menu bar access plus a configurable global keyboard shortcut. | Included |
| Instant reset | Return every screen to normal brightness for daytime or color-sensitive work. | A one-click Disable All control for all enabled displays. | Included |
| Saved multi-display setups | Restore favorite arrangements for work, comfort, or night use in seconds. | Four named Quick Presets with saved per-display levels. | Pro |
| Mac workflow options | Keep NightOwl available in the way that best fits your routine. | Run at startup, show in the menu bar, and close to the menu bar. | Included |
Included with NightOwlPro available with the optional one-time NightOwl Pro upgrade
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
NightOwl adds a software dimming layer to each connected display, allowing you to reduce the visible brightness independently.
NightOwl is designed as a software dimming utility. It visually reduces display brightness without requiring you to use the monitor's physical controls.
Yes. Each detected display receives its own dimming switch and brightness slider.
Each detected display has its own dimming switch and brightness slider. NightOwl also includes menu bar access, a configurable keyboard shortcut, and one-click Disable All controls.
No. NightOwl Pro is designed as a one-time purchase.
Quick Presets save a combination of dimming levels for your connected displays so you can restore an entire setup quickly.
Yes. You can configure NightOwl to remain accessible from the macOS menu bar.
Yes. NightOwl includes an option to run at startup.
Yes. The settings panel includes a configurable shortcut for opening the application.
NightOwl should work with displays that macOS recognizes, but behavior can vary depending on the display, adapter, macOS version, and display configuration.
Minimum macOS version is being finalized. This section will be updated with the confirmed deployment target.
Use the feedback option inside NightOwl or contact support through this website.
Give your eyes a darker workspace.
Control the brightness of every display from one simple native Mac application.
Individual display switches · Optional one-time Pro upgrade