What is the Dell QuickSet Utility?
Summary: This page contains a Guide to Dell Quickset used on Dell Laptops and Notebooks
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Symptoms
The Dell QuickSet utility provides easy access to configure settings for power management, icon and font size, display brightness, and volume control as well as other functions on most Dell systems. Please refer to your user manual for instructions if QuickSet is not present (located on your Dell product support homepage)
Table of Contents :
Note: On legacy systems the Quickset utility can be downloaded from the Applications section of the Drivers and Download section on the Dell support website.
Quickset was replaced by ControlPoint and then by Dell Feature Enhancement Pack software on more recent systems (Latitude, OptiPlex, Precision, Venue) look for these software listings in the download section if you are having difficulties finding the Quickset software.
1. Overview
Note: Certain keystroke combinations, such as FN + F10 (Eject CD) will not function in Windows until the Quickset utility is installed.
The Dell QuickSet Utilities are a suite of software applications that provide enhanced functionality to a Dell portable computer. The software provides easy access to a number of functions that would normally require several steps. Some of the features include:
- Brightness and Audio Controls through Keyboard Keystrokes
- Power Management Controls
- Battery Information
- Icon Resizing
- Wireless Enable/Disable
These can all be accessed through a single icon down on the Windows Systray - on most systems located at the bottom right of your screen beside the date and time.
2. Hot Keys and Functions
Here is a list of all the hot keys and function keystrokes available with the QuickSet Utilities:
Hot Keys
| Fn + F8 | Switches the video image to the next display option. The options include the integrated display, an external monitor, and both displays simultaneously. |
| Fn + up-arrow key | Increases brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor). |
| Fn + down-arrow key | Decreases brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor). |
| Fn + Page Up | Increases the volume of the integrated speakers and external speakers, if attached |
| Fn + Page Dn | Decreases the volume of the integrated speakers and external speakers, if attached |
| Fn + End | Enables and disables the integrated speakers and external speakers, if attached |
| Fn + F3 | Displays the Battery Health Meter |
| Fn + F1 | Activates Hibernation mode. |
| Fn + F10 | Ejects the tray out of the drive. |
| Fn + F2 | Enables or Disables the Wireless and Bluetooth cards (if installed). |
Functions
Many of these features are available without installing the Dell QuickSet utility, such as the Brightness and Volume controls. Some, like the CD/DVD tray eject and the Battery Health Meter are not. However, all these keystrokes will bring up a graphical indicator once the QuickSet utilities are installed.
Display Selection (FN+F8)
If you have an external display attached, this keystroke will allow you to cycle through the different display options. Depending upon what type of display is attached, you may see any one of these icons:
Brightness Controls (FN+Up-Arrow/Down-Arrow)
If the user adjusts the LCD Brightness, the QuickSet Utility will provide a graphic popup of the adjustment:
Volume Controls (FN+PgUp/PgDn,End)
If the user adjusts the Volume Control, the QuickSet Utility will provide a graphic popup of the adjustment:
Battery Health Meter (FN+F3)
More information on this can be found in the Battery Health Meter FAQ section.
Hibernation Mode (FN+F1)
Press FN+F1 to put your computer into the hibernation state. If hibernation is not enabled in your computer's power settings, QuickSet notifies you, and you need to enable hibernation for the hot key to function.
CD/DVD Tray Eject (FN+F10)
This feature will only work if the QuickSet Utilities are installed. This keystroke allows the user to eject the optical drive on their system.
Wireless Enable/Disable (FN+F2)
If the user adjusts the wireless radio, the QuickSet Utility will provide a graphic popup of the adjustment:
3. Battery Health Meter FAQ
| Q. When will the BIOS Setup - QuickSet section display Battery Health information (i.e Normal State, Caution State I, Caution State II, Replacement Necessary and Permanent Failure state)? |
| A. Only when the battery is a Dell Battery and the BIOS is able to communicate with the battery. |
| Q. What happens when the battery is not identifiable (any non-Dell battery)? Note: QuickSet is unable to determine the health of the battery. |
A.
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| Q. What happens when the system is unable to communicate with the battery? Note: QuickSet is unable to determine the health of the battery. |
| A. The BIOS Setup and QuickSet BHM will display message: The system cannot communicate with the battery. |
| Q. What happens when the battery is in Temporary Failure mode (possibly caused by overheating)? |
| A. The BIOS Setup and BHM would not do anything different. They will display the battery's current health. |
| Q. What happens when you insert a battery while viewing the battery health field in BIOS setup? |
| A. BIOS setup will refresh (update) the battery health information. |
| Q. What happens when a battery in bad health or Permanent Failure mode is inserted when the system is in standby or hibernate state? |
A. The BHM would query for the battery health on resume from S3/S4 and display the popup as appropriate.
|
| Q. Which battery health states will cause the BHM to show a popup? |
| A. The following battery health states will cause a popup: Caution State II, Replacement Necessary I & II (permanent failure). |
| Q. If multiple batteries fail simultaneously, what is the order of priority for the BHM popup? |
| A. The BHM will popup the message for the more critical battery. If both batteries are in the same failure state, the BHM will display the warning for primary battery. |
| Q. What happens when I have disabled the popup but later I insert a new battery? |
| A. The popup messages will be reset whenever a battery in normal health is inserted. |
| Q. What happens when a battery in bad health or Permanent Failure mode is inserted when the system is running in Windows? |
| A. The BIOS would notify the QuickSet Utilities and the BHM will query the health for primary and secondary batteries. The BHM will display a popup for the battery in more critical health. |
| Q. What happens when you press Fn+F3 while in Windows? |
| A. The QuickSet Utilities will display the Battery Health Meter defaulted to the first page (Battery Status). On selecting the Battery Health tab, the health information for the battery in more critical health will be displayed. If the primary and secondary batteries are in same health status, the primary battery health will be displayed. |
Article Properties
Article Number: 000141999
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 10 Apr 2021
Version: 3
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