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November 16th, 2025 11:47
U3425WE, macOS Tahoe 26.0.1, cannot change volume via macOS menu bar
I cannot change the sound output volume on my U3425WE using the standard macOS controls.
I have connected the U3425WE over Thunderbolt 4 to a MacBook Pro M1 Max running macOS Tahoe 26.0.1. See screenshots.
Weird thing is that when I open the Sound tab in the macOS settings that the slider is grayed out in the "Output & Input" section (below), but it is available and working if I select the monitor on "Play sound effects through" in the "Sound Effects" section (above).
When I install DDPM I can control the volume, but I don't want/need DDPM (then I can just as well use the OSD menu).
I already installed the latest driver, but I doubt whether that even did something because the monitor was already working fine before (DELL_U3425WE-MONITOR_A00-00_DRVR_FWTPN.pkg).
I also already updated the monitor's firmware to it's latest version (M3B105).
LuukBurger
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November 16th, 2025 12:51
I have the same problem. U3425WE (running M3B105 firmware) connected over Thunderbolt 4 to a MacBook Pro M1 Max running macOS Tahoe 26.0.1. The sound output volume is not controllable via the standard MacOS volume control. I don't want / need the DDPM because I then I can just as well use the OSD menu. Seems like a bug?
(edited)
LuukBurger
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November 19th, 2025 11:23
Ok, so I did some investigation, and turns out the problem is a generic MacOS problem.
When audio goes over DisplayPort/HDMI/USB-C display audio (I connected the U3425WE over ThunderBolt 4 so effectively I'm using DisplayPort), macOS often treats it as a fixed-volume digital device. In that case the system volume slider + keyboard volume keys are disabled (or do nothing), because macOS expects the volume to be controlled on the display itself.
There are plenty of tools that solve the problem, like MonitorControl, DisplayBuddy and BetterDisplay Pro. I ended up purchasing DisplayBuddy because it not bloated with features and it supports Tahoe.
You can connect it to the keyboard buttons for brightness/volume, and then it talks to you monitor using the DDC/CI protocol, as if you were controlling the brightness/volume directly on the OSD. Works like a charm!