Common Issues & Solutions

Common Issues & Solutions

This section addresses frequently encountered problems when using Solaris, providing practical solutions to help you get the most out of the application.

Solaris Cannot Detect My Monitors or Some Monitors Are Missing

Issue: Solaris relies on Windows' DDC/CI (Display Data Channel/Command Interface) capabilities to communicate directly with your monitors. If Solaris cannot list all or any of your displays, or if the monitor names appear generic (e.g., "Generic PnP Monitor"), it often indicates a communication problem.

Solutions:

1. Check Physical Connections:
   • Ensure all monitors are securely connected to your graphics card using DisplayPort or HDMI cables. DDC/CI generally does not work over VGA or older DVI standards.
   • Try disconnecting and reconnecting the cables.
2. Update Graphics Drivers: Outdated or corrupted display drivers are a common cause of DDC/CI issues.
   • Visit your graphics card manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to download and install the latest drivers.
3. Monitor OSD Settings: Some monitors have an option in their OSD (On-Screen Display) menu to enable or disable DDC/CI.
   • Check your monitor's manual or OSD settings to ensure DDC/CI is enabled. Look for options related to "DDC/CI," "DPM," "Display Management," or "Intelligent Display."
4. Restart Solaris and Your PC: A full system restart can often resolve transient communication issues between Windows and your hardware.
5. Run as Administrator: In rare cases, running Solaris with administrator privileges might improve monitor detection, especially if system permissions are restricted.
   • Right-click the Solaris shortcut or executable and select "Run as administrator."

Brightness or Color Temperature Controls Don't Work

Issue: You've adjusted settings in Solaris (manually or via Circadian Mode), but your monitor's brightness or color temperature doesn't change, or it reverts to its previous state. This is typically a DDC/CI communication issue specific to the control commands.

Solutions:

1. Verify Monitor Compatibility: Not all monitors fully support DDC/CI, and some may have partial or buggy implementations.
   • Consult your monitor's manual to confirm its DDC/CI support.
2. Check OSD Settings: As mentioned above, ensure DDC/CI is enabled in your monitor's OSD settings.
3. Use Supported Cables: Confirm you are using DisplayPort or HDMI cables. Older or low-quality cables can sometimes interfere with DDC/CI signals.
4. Hardware Monitor Firmware: Rarely, a monitor's firmware might have bugs affecting DDC/CI. Check your monitor manufacturer's website for available firmware updates.
5. Conflicting Software: Other monitor control utilities (e.g., manufacturer's own OSD software, other brightness/color apps) can conflict with Solaris.
   • Temporarily disable or uninstall other monitor control software to test for conflicts.
6. Windows Night Light/HDR: If Windows' built-in Night Light feature or HDR settings are active, they can sometimes override or interfere with Solaris's color temperature adjustments.
   • Disable Night Light (Settings > System > Display > Night light settings) and review your HDR settings.

Circadian Mode Isn't Changing My Display Automatically

Issue: Solaris's core feature, automatic brightness and color temperature adjustment based on the sun's position, isn't working as expected.

Solutions:

1. Enable Circadian Mode: Ensure Circadian Mode is toggled "On" in the Solaris dashboard.
2. Verify Location Settings: Solaris needs accurate location data to calculate sun positions.
   • Go to Solaris's Location Settings and ensure your geographic location is correctly set (either automatically detected or manually entered).
   • Check Windows' own location services settings (Settings > Privacy & security > Location) to ensure apps are allowed to access your location.
3. Correct System Time and Time Zone: Ensure your system's date, time, and time zone are accurately set. Solaris relies on these for precise solar calculations.
4. Brightness Curve Configuration: If your custom curve is very flat or set to extreme values, you might not notice the changes.
   • Review your Interactive Brightness Curves settings to ensure a suitable range and transition between different solar elevations.
5. Application Running in Background: Solaris needs to be running in the background for automatic adjustments to occur.
   • Ensure Solaris is allowed to run in the background (check Windows' Startup Apps and Background apps settings).

Gaming Mode Doesn't Prevent Brightness Changes or Activates Incorrectly

Issue: You've configured Gaming Mode, but Solaris still adjusts brightness during your games, or Gaming Mode activates when you're not gaming.

Solutions:

1. Enable Gaming Mode: Confirm that Gaming Mode is enabled in Solaris settings.
2. Check Application List Configuration:
   • Whitelist: If you're using a Whitelist (only apps on this list trigger Gaming Mode), ensure your game's executable is correctly added.
   • Blacklist: If you're using a Blacklist (apps on this list never trigger Gaming Mode), ensure your game is not on this list if you want Gaming Mode to activate for it.
3. Correct Executable Path: Ensure the executable path for your game is accurate. Games often use a launcher, but the actual game process might be a different .exe file.
   • While the game is running, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find the game's process, right-click, and select "Open file location" to get the exact path.
   • Add this path to your Solaris Gaming Mode configuration.
4. Foreground Application Detection: Solaris detects the active foreground application. If your game is running in the background or minimized, it might not be detected. Ensure the game window is active.
5. Conflicting Overlay Software: Some game overlays or other system utilities might interfere with Solaris's ability to detect the active game process.
   • Temporarily disable other overlay software to test.

Solaris Starts Slowly or Won't Launch

Issue: Solaris takes a long time to open, or fails to launch entirely.

Solutions:

1. Single Instance Policy: Solaris is designed to run as a single instance. If it doesn't appear to launch, it might already be running in the background or minimized to the system tray.
   • Check your system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen) for the Solaris icon.
   • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for "Solaris" under processes. End any active Solaris tasks, then try launching again.
2. System Resources: Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements and isn't overloaded with other applications. Close unnecessary programs.
3. Antivirus/Firewall Interference: Your antivirus software or firewall might be preventing Solaris from launching or accessing necessary system resources.
   • Temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall to test if it's the cause. If it resolves the issue, add an exception for Solaris in your security software.
4. Reinstall Application: If the issue persists, try uninstalling and then reinstalling Solaris. This can fix corrupted installation files.
5. Graphics Driver Issues: As with monitor detection, graphics driver problems can sometimes manifest as application startup failures. Ensure drivers are up to date.

Display Colors Appear Too Warm or Cool

Issue: The dynamic color temperature adjustments feel too aggressive, or the colors don't match your preference during certain times of the day.

Solutions:

1. Adjust Color Temperature Range: Solaris allows you to customize the minimum and maximum color temperature values.
   • Navigate to the Dynamic Color Temperature settings and adjust the Daylight (cooler) and Warm (warmer) temperature values to suit your comfort.
2. Refine Brightness Curve: The color temperature transition is often tied to the same circadian rhythm as brightness. Review your Interactive Brightness Curves to ensure the transition points and overall shape align with your preference for color changes throughout the day.
3. Temporary Manual Override: If you need a specific color temperature for a short period, you can temporarily disable Circadian Mode or use the manual control options within Solaris.
4. Monitor Calibration: For professional use or if you suspect your monitor's default color profile is off, consider calibrating your monitor using a hardware calibrator. This ensures a neutral starting point for Solaris's adjustments.