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DisplayLink Manager First Time Configuration

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DisplayLink Manager is a required application for products based on DisplayLink technology. To operate correctly on macOS, the application must be granted specific system permissions after installation.

After installation, a configuration wizard automatically launches to guide users through the required setup steps.

1. Connect a DisplayLink Device


In the first step, the user is asked to connect a product based on DisplayLink technology.

If the application does not detect the connected product, please refer to the following support article: DisplayLink Manager doesn't detect my device

The wizard will not proceed to the next step until a DisplayLink product is successfully detected.

Note: If a DisplayLink product has already been connected to the system in the past, this step is skipped and not shown in the wizard.

2. Allow Screen Recording permission


macOS requires users to explicitly grant Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager to function properly.

This permission allows DisplayLink Manager to access the screen pixels needed to render mirrored or extended displays and transmit them over USB to the DisplayLink device.
DisplayLink Manager does not transmit any screen data or pixels to Synaptics or to any third party.

On the Allow Screen Recording step of the wizard:

  1. Click Open System Settings
  2. Enable Screen Recording for DisplayLink Manager

After granting this permission, DisplayLink Manager must be restarted for the change to take effect.

3. Allow Background Activity permission


To provide the best user experience, DisplayLink Manager must be allowed to run in the background.

In most cases, this permission is granted automatically during installation. If it is not, an additional step appears in the configuration wizard.

To grant the permission:

  1. Click Open System Settings
  2. Enable the requested Background Activity permission for DisplayLink Manager

Unlike the Screen Recording permission, no restart is required. The wizard automatically detects when this permission has been granted and continues the setup.

✅ Summary

Once all required permissions have been granted and the DisplayLink product is properly detected, the wizard displays a Setting up completed successfully screen.

Click Finish to exit the wizard. DisplayLink Manager is now fully configured and ready for use.