Dell Optimizer Presence Detection Setting Cannot Be Modified Without External Monitor Connected
Summary: This article provides information about how the Dell Optimizer Presence Detection setting cannot be modified without an external monitor connected.
Symptoms
Dell Optimizer (DO) version 4.1. x and later includes a setting for Presence detection to allow keeping the Presence Detection functionality enabled while external monitors are connected. This is necessary, since Dell also launched monitors and webcam peripherals supporting presence detection. The Presence Detection feature does not support external sensors (monitor or webcam) and internal sensors (Laptop Camera) simultaneously. The default setting is enabled, but can be configured in the Graphical User Interface (GUI) or Command-Line Interface of Dell Optimizer.
However, the setting itself is only visible in the GUI and can only be changed in the CLI if an external monitor is connected.
- You cannot find and configure the "Special Use Case" setting "Keep Presence Detection enabled while connected to external monitors" if the system is not connected to an external monitor.
- As an IT Administrator, you are not able to configure the "Special Use Case" setting "Keep Presence Detection enabled while connected to external monitors" with DO-cli.exe if the system is not connected to an external monitor. The command exits with return code 3

(Figure 1 - Presence Detection)
Cause
This is expected behavior due to user experience design. There is no install switch or other method to force configuration of the setting.
Resolution
You must connect an external monitor to be able to configure this setting.