What can DisplayMagician automatically configure for a game or application?

Updated

DisplayMagician is an open-source Windows tool that bundles display, audio, and helper-program changes into a single shortcut, then reverses those changes when you close the game or application. It fits the case where different games need different screen layouts, audio devices, or background tools, and you are tired of reconfiguring Windows by hand each time. The site notes the NVIDIA, AMD, and Windows video manipulation libraries were completely rewritten, so if you tried it in the past and it failed, it is worth retrying.

Display profiles

You can create and save a Display Profile, then attach it to a Game Shortcut. The site's example is a sim-racing setup: run Dirt Rally 2.0 on a single NVIDIA Surround window across triple screens, but run Assetto Corsa across four individual screens (a triple plus one above). Each game gets its own arrangement without you touching Windows display settings.

Audio device switching

DisplayMagician can switch to a different audio device for one game and revert that change when the game closes. This suits a special audio device you only use for certain titles, so you stop fiddling with audio settings before every session.

Starting extra programs

A Game Shortcut can start additional helper applications before the game runs. The site's own examples: start SimHub when you play iRacing, or start Twitch when you play Call of Duty.

Restoring your previous setup

After you close the game or application, DisplayMagician resets things back to the way they were. You do not have to manually undo the display and audio changes.

How the pieces fit together

What you configure When it applies What happens on exit
Display Profile Before the game starts Previous display settings restored
Audio device Before the game starts Previous audio device restored
Extra programs Before the game starts Handled as part of the shortcut flow

How to set it up

  1. Download the latest version from the project's release page.
  2. Create and save a Display Profile for the screen arrangement you want.
  3. Build a Game Shortcut that uses that profile.
  4. Add the audio device switch and any extra programs to the same shortcut.
  5. Launch the game from the shortcut (a hotkey also works) and verify the display, audio, and helper programs are correct.
  6. Close the game and confirm your original display and audio settings return.

Common snags

  • The README covers current and planned features plus issues you may hit; check it before troubleshooting.
  • Missing features or bugs go through the project issue tracker.
  • If an older version did not work for you, the rewritten video libraries are the reason to try again.