DisplayLink Manager App for macOS Introduction, Installation & Scope
2. How to stop using the DisplayLink Manager App and go back to the legacy driver
3. Do I need to uninstall the classic driver (DisplayLink Software 5.x.x) before trying the DisplayLink Manager App?
4. How to use the new DisplayLink macOS App
6. Other functions of the DisplayLink Manager
7. Current DisplayLink Manager app scope and limitations
1. Introduction: what is the DisplayLink Manager app for macOS?
The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app is a new way of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS using a much simpler architecture. Today, the app is available as a standalone installer. In the future, the goal is to also distribute the app through the mac App Store to make deployment even simpler.
As the DisplayLink Manager app does not rely on macOS kernel extensions, it is not only easier to install, but it will also lead to increased stability/reliability, improved behaviour across OS upgrades, and seamless updates through the App Store.
DisplayLink Manager app will introduce new elements/features like a graphical user interface shown in section 4.4.
The app is available on our website.
2. How to stop using the DisplayLink Manager App and go back to the legacy driver
2.1. If the login screen extension is not installed (see 5.1)
Then move the app from Applications folder to Trash Bin, like with any other app.
2.2. If the login screen extension is installed (see 5.1)
3. Do I need to uninstall the legacy driver (DisplayLink Software 5.x.x) before trying the DisplayLink Manager App?
4. How to use the new DisplayLink macOS App?
4.1. First, uninstall the classic DisplayLink driver if you have it on your computer.
4.2. Download the DisplayLink macOS app and install it from the ZIP file.
4.3. Navigate in Finder to Applications and then open DisplayLink Manager.
4.5. Select “Launch automatically after logging-in” for the software to start automatically every time you log-in.
4.6. Now connect the peripheral with DisplayLink technology. Then navigate to your System Preferences to open Security & Privacy and select Screen Recording:
4.7. Enable “Screen Recording” to allow the DisplayLink Manager app to capture pixels and send them to your USB peripheral. Then tick the “Screen Recording” permission for DisplayLink Manager.
4.9 Now it has adequate permissions, re-open DisplayLink Manager from Applications in the Finder. On macOS Big Sur application will restart automatically.
4.10 Your displays are now working properly.
5. macOS Monterey: enable notifications when DisplayLink screens are active
In 1.6.0 version of DisplayLink Manager application will display this message in the Home tab when working with macOS Monterey. Using "Open Notification & Focus" hyperlink you will be taken directly to "Notification & Focus" setting in "System Preferences".
6. Other functions of the DisplayLink Manager
6.1 Login screen extension
Login screen extension enables the external screens to be available on login screen prior to the app loading after logging into your account.
1. To use the Login screen extension please download it from the link available on the front page of the DisplayLink Manager.
2. Install the extension.3. Once the installation is complete the extension will show as ‘Installed’ in the DisplayLink Manager.
6.2 Support
There is now a support page in the DisplayLink Manager. It includes links to our DisplayLink FAQs, Knowledge Base and DisplayLink Forum. The last link allows the user to raise a support ticket directly from the DisplayLink Manager through starting a new email thread with our support.
6.3 Feedback
7. Current DisplayLink Manager app scope and limitations
The DisplayLink Manager app is constantly improving. It
currently still has the following limitations we are currently working on, some
of them with the OS vendor.
- macOS supports a maximum of 4 virtual displays whatever their technology. Virtual displays are defined as displays not directly connected to the graphics card (GPU) (=not HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C),
- Rotation on Apple M1 requires DisplayLink Manager 1.6+ with macOS 12+.