Manic Trash Panda / Software Labs

A calmer screen.
Every monitor.

Turn down the glow without reaching for the monitor buttons. Overdark puts independent brightness sliders a click or a shortcut away.

Microsoft Store listing ↗

Free utility · Windows 10 (2004+) & 11 · x64
Store release is being prepared. Downloads will open after certification.

Overdark controls showing separate brightness and filters for two displays, slider steps and a custom shortcut
No DDC required

Software overlays work without monitor brightness-control support.

Free, with no account

No subscriptions, ads, or in-app purchases.

Local by design

Settings stay on the PC. No app analytics or telemetry.

Small utility / Useful details

Your screens, at your pace.

01 / DISPLAYS

Separate or together.

Set each monitor independently, or switch to one slider for all monitors. Individual settings are kept for the next time you switch back.

02 / OVERLAYS

Choose the texture.

Use a smooth solid overlay, or a pattern of true-black dots. The experimental dot mode covers up to half the pixels, with OLED displays in mind.

03 / FILTERS

Set the mood.

Keep it dark, add a cool or warm tint, or choose a vignette to dim the edges more than the center. A value of 100 clears the overlay.

Compact Overdark tray popup with one vertical slider for all monitors and an options gear

A click / A scroll / Done

Right where you need it.

  1. Open the quick sliders.
    Left-click the white tray icon, or press Ctrl + Alt + B. The shortcut is yours to change.
  2. Dial in the brightness.
    Drag a slider or scroll over it. Choose free movement, or 3, 5, or 10 positions between your minimum and full brightness.
  3. Make it yours.
    Use the gear for full controls, filters, and optional Windows startup. Press Esc to hide either view. Right-click the tray icon to pause or exit.

A few practical things

Good to know.

Does Overdark change my monitor’s hardware brightness?

No. It draws click-through overlays over the desktop. Your monitor’s backlight and hardware brightness setting stay as they are. The slider is an overlay strength control, not a calibrated luminance measurement.

What does the dot mode do?

It places small, opaque black points across the display. At the bottom of its range, half the pixels are covered; at 100, none are. Dots may be visible on fine text and patterns. It is an experimental alternative to solid dimming, without a promised power-saving benefit.

Will it cover every screen and application?

It is designed for the normal Windows desktop and multiple monitors. Secure Windows screens and some exclusive fullscreen applications may appear above the overlay. HDR and display color settings can affect the result.

How do I restore normal brightness?

Set the sliders to 100, choose Pause from the tray menu, or exit Overdark. Overdark does not change your monitor’s hardware brightness.

Does it record my screen or send data?

No. It does not capture the screen, log keystrokes, or send usage data. The shortcut only opens its controls. Read the privacy policy for the full details.

Made by Manic Trash Panda Software Labs

A little less glare.

Questions or a bug to report? Include the Windows version and what happened.

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