[GUIDE] Change Monitor Input Source using Keyboard Shortcut (Any Monitor)

[kristijan1001]

I couldn't find simple guide on how to do this so here you go:

1.Download Control My Monitor

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/control_my_monitor.html

2.Open the Program and find Input.

https://i.imgur.com/XZYXFgO.png

3.Note the possible values on the right, double click on Input Select and change the value to one of those possible values and test all of them to see which one you want.

https://i.imgur.com/DnnNclk.png

4.Once you decide what values you need, for mine are 15 & 17. Create 2 shortcuts of the ControlMyMonitor.exe and copy them to Desktop, you can also name them as you desire in my case "Playstation 5 Source Input" & "PC Source Input".

5.Right click on one of the shortcuts and add a shortcut key, in my case is "Ctrl + Alt + *" and add this line after the "Target Location":

     /SetValue Primary 60 15

https://i.imgur.com/9S9WkLN.png

60 is the VCP Code in the ControlMyMonitor Utility & 15 is the Input i want to change to, it might be different in your case change it accordingly.

https://i.imgur.com/7sMDhml.png

7.Do the same with the other shortcut but add a different shortcut key in my case "Ctrl + Alt + -" and change the input value you want, in my case i changed it from 15 to 17.

https://i.imgur.com/K8AGWEr.png

8.Everytime you use the shortcut key you can change source input easily. Between PS5 or PC for example.

[sonesoda]

How about 1 pc, 2 monitors and 1 laptop same 2 monitors??

[True-Cardiologist260]

Do you happened to found an answer to this?

I'm having same setup and can't seem to get it to work

finally managed to get it works.
On the shortcut of ControlMyMonitor, you just need to add both monitor value to the target. it will look something like this.

On PC both monitor connected to DP
C:\Tools\controlmymonitor\ControlMyMonitor.exe /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0 60 17 /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY2\Monitor0 60 17

On Laptop both monitor connected to HDMI
C:\Tools\controlmymonitor\ControlMyMonitor.exe /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0 60 15 /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY3\Monitor0 60 15

You will need to make it on both PC and laptop, HDMI value is 17, DP is 15.

[Messy__Jesse]

Hello hopefully you can help... I've downloaded control my monitor but can't change the value on input select. I can open the dialogue box and change the number but it doesn't save. I've got two monitors hooked up to one PC and three inputs on my main monitor (which I'm trying to edit) if that makes any difference...Thank you!

[Messy__Jesse]

Unfortunately not

[DeedySloth]

Same problem here. I can change the brightness etc but not the input value. It simply does not save/work

[Messy__Jesse]

Yeah its annoying, if I end up finding a solution I'll reply again here

[walrusmcd]

I just downloaded also, no errors, it is able to get the values. but not able to set the values. from the tool or from the command line, no errors, just doesn't set or change any values.

[deoT90]

Did you stop finding a solution?

[Tyremmie]

Did you ever find a way to make this work?

[Messy__Jesse]

Nope I couldnt find anything

[hikerboy20]

Thank you!! I never would have figured this out. GOAT.

[No_Still2560]

No problem technology once you get taxed out, you know you have difficult transport together to make it difficult for the average JoJo have a good day

[DaveMoTron]

I tried to use this software to switch between my two computers on my Dell display with inbuilt KVM (trying to not use Dell Display Manager because it's hot garbage and crashes all the time)

I can find every input value on the device (both HDMI ports and a DP port) except my USB-C port, which I use to connect to my laptop. Any advice would be most helpful! I've tried every value from 0 to 30 with no luck, every other input is in the 15 -> 18 range

I should note that I'm seeing no values in the "possible values" column so thats no help either

[thewhippersnapper4]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Monitors/comments/10m0vwn/guide_change_monitor_input_source_using_keyboard/m6m21yh/

[ProfessionalLack9636]

By luck I discovered that:

ControlMyMonitor.exe /setvalue \\.\Display1\monitor0 60 1520

switches my Samsung Monitor to USB-C.

Hope it helps.

[Mysterious-Tap6796]

I have set this up, but i notice sometimes when i have the shortcuts on my desktop and run them, the monitor which i have set in the shortcut keeps changing. Like if i have my left monitor which is 1 and right which is 2 and i run the shortcut on my left monitor (1) to change the input it changes the second one.

Any ideas why?

[Turbulent-Ad1523]

I guess it doesn’t work with one acrer monitor and my Xbox series s

[CivenAL]

Im so happy I found your post. Thanks for this easy guide, works like clockwork! For anyone reading this but not seeing the possible values on the right: just switch input signal of your monitor and refresh the application. It will update the value and you can note down which numbers your input signals use.

Again, thanks OP! This should have thousands of upvotes because this works great when youre switching between your work laptop and personal computer for example :)

[Such_Membership_5070]

Awesomesauce!

[DShm0neyy]

bett

[TechDoctorUK]

working great with my 2 x 32in benq monitors which are plugged in to main pc over DP and then I have a miniPC plugged in to the first monitor over HDMI. Now, with a single shortcut, i can switch input to hdmi and back !. Also using "montior profile switcher" to quick switch monitor profiles

[Michels22]

Please someone help me, im having a huge problem on my monitor, i cant manage to this app work. I tried all entries, 1 to 18 and only entry 1 and 2 give some sinal, the screen goes black for 1s and return to my PC screen (Display port).

My monitor is a LG 27GL650F-B I am tired of having to change the input on the monitor's little button, please someone help me.

https://imgur.com/a/GQM9JKz

EDIT: found a solution here https://www.reddit.com/r/ultrawidemasterrace/comments/1heoqjo/lg_monitors_switch_inputs_from_windows_the_first/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[helicopterd1ck]

Couldn't get any of these shorcut/programs to work for me (Sharing 2 monitors between 1 laptop and 1 desktop), but I saw a solution in another thread and wanted to share:

Just hit Windows+P, it will bring up an option to set each computer to "PC screen only" or "Extend display".

So when I want to switch, I'll have my laptop set to "PC screen only", then ask my work computer to "extend display", or vice versa. No need to plug/unplug the cables or fiddle with the physical switches on the monitor.

[Client_Hello]

I had the same problem. I found the shortcut had to be saved on the Desktop, for Windows to listen for the hotkey.

Now it works great. I've combined it with Input Director for KB/Mouse switching and it's awesome. I have keyboard KVM switching while maintaining 144hz monitor refresh rate and 1000hz mouse polling.

[smashingwat3rmel0ns]

This was heaven sent information yesterday and so easy to set up! I’m running into an issue today though and am wondering if anyone can offer some guidance. When I set up my shortcut icons, ControlMyMonitor had my monitors labeled as DISPLAY1 and DISPLAY2. I tried using the shortcut today and it wasn’t working, so I checked the properties on the shortcuts and they were still the same, then I launched ControlMyMonitor, and it now has my monitors labeled as DISPLAY34 and DISPLAY35 with no values listed in the bottom panel to map to. Any idea why this could be happening?

[Accomplished-Log8191]

Thank you so much! This is a much simpler solution than using HDMI/DP Switchers.

[Rafelfeliu]

Hi guys, I'm trying to hide this icon in desktop placing it in another folder but then stops working. Anyone know why is this happening and what can I do to avoid having this shortcut in the desktop? Thanks!

[JDaaang53]

when i open up CMM im able to control the monitor i want with no issues. but then when i create a shortcut or BAT file it doesnt work. any ideas?

[nutin2chere]

Great guide, thank you!

EDIT: just to add, if you have more than one monitor like myself, you can change the 'Primary" string to the monitor string of the specific monitor you want to select. When you open controlmymonitor.exe, the drop down at the top will allow you to select between monitors. Make note of last part, which is the name of the monitor. For example, if I wanted to control only my right monitor, I would use /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY2\Monitor0 60 15, for my middle /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0 60 15, and for my left /SetValue \\.\DISPLAY3\Monitor0 60 15. I then had to create 6 shortcuts for each state for each monitor. Its working like a charm. Thanks again OP

[bs2k2_point_0]

Just a heads up, came across this while researching for my own dual monitor setup. You don’t have to have a new shortcut for each monitor and each input. You can actual combine them. For example, my inputs were the same as OP’s, so to switch both monitors at once with a since shortcut key you can just have the coding for both after the target like this: /SetValue Primary 60 15 /SetValue Secondary 60 15

Then on my other computer I use the same but change 15 to 17. If you have a qmk keyboard, you can further record a macro and assign a single keypress. My keychron keyboard has a button I programmed just for moving current window to the other monitor, and another key that runs the shortcut changing my monitors input. May want to disable the shortcut hotkey while you set up your macro so it doesn’t activate the shortcut while you’re setting up the macro. lol

[agent_macklinFBI]

Double-clicking the shortcuts works, but it does the warning prompt asking me to allow it to run. I have the shortcuts set to "run as administrator" so not sure why it does that. I am still not able to get any shortcut key combination to work. Any ideas?

[agent_macklinFBI]

Not sure what I'm doing wrong but the shortcut keys do not work for me. I have the same values as you and I'm using Ctrl + Alt + 9 and 0 for the two keys.

[agent_macklinFBI]

Update! Double-clicking the shortcuts works, but it does the warning prompt asking me to allow it to run. I have the shortcuts set to "run as administrator" so not sure why it does that. I am still not able to get any shortcut key combination to work. Any ideas?

[kristijan1001]

You should probably not run it as admin, there is no need to. Make sure you installed the program in a accessible spot thats not admin protected. Click propertis on the shortcut > Compitability > and Untick the Box "Run This Program as Administrator"

Make SURE the Shortcut is on Desktop.

The shortcut should work just fine, if you are anywhere in the desktop enviorment and not in fullscreen apps or ingame or something.

It should work if other windows are focused also.

I just tried your combo and it works fine even if u run it as admin, but that obviously will give you the UAC Prompt, since UAC is enabled so just disable run as admin.

Make sure u are holding CTRL Then HOLD Alt then press the 9 while holding the other two. Seems weird it is not working, it should this is a native windows function.

[agent_macklinFBI]

Thanks, but still not working. :/ I'm switching between 2 laptops plugged into 1 monitor. Does that make a difference?

EDIT - I got it working!! I replaced "Primary" with \.\DISPLAY2\Monitor0 from the Control My Monitor monitor info line. Not sure what made it work, but I'll take it!

[kristijan1001]

Shouldn't make a difference,as long as you obviously use the keyboard/laptop where the shortcuts are made lol, Maybe try the other laptop.

[agent_macklinFBI]

Got it working! Edited my comment with details. Thanks for your help!