Mac external display resolution. I have a brand new Macbook Pro 14 (purchased March 2025).

Mac external display resolution. This may result in overly small interface elements and text on the external monitor, negatively impacting the user experience. The only M1 system that doesn’t come with its own display is the Mac mini M1 2020. Anyone got same problems and any solutions? May 9, 2025 · The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display. on windows I can do text scaling for 125% or 150% which keeps the same resolution, just enlarge everything for better readability. Since the monitors are only 27", I need some scaling to make the monitors actually useable. When the highest native resolution of 2560x1440 is selected, system text, apps and all items are small. You can use an external display, like the Apple Studio Display, or a projector or TV with your MacBook Air. Use an external display with your MacBook Air - Apple Support Your monitor's maximum refresh rate of 165 Hz is not supported. I am connecting to two external displays - Samsung 32" UJ59 Series 4K UHD (3840x2160) - via an external dock - TobenONE Quad Monitor Docking Station - using displayport cables. Using Dell 3440x1440 UW monitor even if i keep the resolution to 3440x1440 the screen is much sharper. 1 My Macbook pro (M3 Max), which is usually connected to Eizo 27" externel screen, now only provides an 1920 x 1080 alternative for Eizo, and this makes everything look blurry. I will update accordingly if anything changes. You must choose the "Default for display" option for the entire image to fix on your external display. (Instructions for Windows and OSX). This happened after after update 15. The native resolution for the displays is Jun 20, 2025 · Generally, macOS automatically applies an optimal UI scaling resolution to ensure clearity and readability. However, depending on the MacBook model, macOS version, or external monitor model, the system may sometimes defaut to native 4K (3840×2160) resolution output. 0 port. Jul 11, 2025 · The BenQ PD2730S 27″ 5K Monitor packs a wide array of Mac-friendly features, headlined of course by the crisp 5K resolution. Thanks for any help in advance! Nov 4, 2024 · Resolution and refresh rates: Primary monitor: Up to 6K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 144Hz Secondary monitor: Up to 5K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 100Hz Clamshell mode: You’ll need to close your MacBook Air’s lid to use two external displays. After reading the forums, it Jun 2, 2025 · We've bought and tested more than 355 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best external monitor for MacBook Pro, including the best MacBook Air monitors. 3. Jan 13, 2022 · The big reason text and graphics look so sharp on your Mac’s display is because of resolution and pixels. Mar 13, 2024 · The M3 MacBook Airs support One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz Close the MacBook Air lid to use a second external display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz That's directly from the Technical specifications. In the bottom right corner of the drop-down menu, click the Settings (gear) icon. However, the default text size in MacOS Monterey is way too small on high resolution monitors and no options show up to adjust it when I click on "Displays" in System Preferences. The largest HiDPI option for a 1440p monitor will likely be 720p which is a 2x scale. Dec 12, 2016 · If you’re considering an external display for your Mac, there’s a few important decisions to make. When you are running a screen in a Retina scaling mode, the internal canvas has 2x the number of pixels (in each direction) as the "UI Looks like" resolution selected in Jan 11, 2019 · Apple’s interface design in macOS is set up so it is comfortable for most people at a density of about 110 pixels per inch for non-Retina, and about 220 pixels per inch for Retina — text is readable and button targets are easy to hit at a normal viewing distance. 1) Display settings, and selecting Resolution->Scaled, I see drop down list with several options. But with the MacBook (16" m1) the text and ui is a bit too small when I keep resolution default for display therefore i have to use ''scalled'' version which makes everything readable but it is not that sharp anymore I do not know. The Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Air support video output. Oct 15, 2025 · We test, review and rank the best screens, monitors and displays to use with your MacBook, Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro. Getting to Mac OS (12. Still, those using external displays (particularly third-party On your Mac, use Displays settings to adjust resolution and brightness, and to set display options. This gives you a smoothly scaled external monitor experience which keeps UI elements approximately the same ‘size’ as you drag them between Feb 15, 2022 · Increase Font Size on External Display / Monitor I recently got a new Mac Mini and connected it to a 4k monitor. If your Mac is working, but the external display connected to it has a blank or black screen (no video) or can't use its highest resolutions or refresh rates, try these solutions. Even so, the mini only supports 2 external displays. How to set custom resolutions for external displays on Mac If you have an external display paired with your Mac, follow the steps below to manually set a custom resolution for the external display. With my first monitor, I was able to select the option next to the default titled "more space", and MacOS Dec 11, 2023 · It will show several resolution options that MacOS suggests for your monitor. Click Displays in the top toolbar. Sounds too good to be true, but it works. Apple doesn’t sell external displays any more, so you can’t just default to their wisdom. Nov 29, 2024 · This Support document suggests that if the first (and in many cases, only) external display has a resolution of 4K, the refresh rate can be as high as 144 Hz. Using a display that isn’t close Nov 26, 2024 · Connect Display 1 via DisplayPort to USB-C mac port Since swapping display cables between external monitors, the flickering has stopped. So there are actually two problems that exist on Mac OS. I bought an ASUS VP28U (4K), connected it with an HDMI to USB-C adapter and, generally, it wor Apr 3, 2025 · I recently switched over from Windows to Mac, and am running into an issue with external displays and resolution. Toggle on Show resolutions as list → Click Done. I'm thinking of upgrading to a Mac mini M2 Pro or a MacBook Pro 14" M2 Pro. Yep—you can run a 4K resolution on a regular 1080p monitor. Dec 30, 2022 · Here’s how you can set up and use BetterDisplay to enable 1440p scaling on external monitors on M1 and M2 Macs: Download and install BetterDisplay on your Mac. Display: 27-inch 5K resolution (5120×2880 pixels) at 218 PPI with a I'm currently using two 27" 4k monitors, on an m1 Mac. Trying all those options, actually there is degradation on resolution and not just scaling. Click the BetterDisplay icon in the Menu Bar. Connecting Your Displays The M3 MacBook Air has Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Nov 14, 2024 · Seeing as Apple just released a great monitor-less Mac, in the new M4 Mac Mini1, it makes sense that there’s more external display discussions surrounding Macs. That’s an issue, because not all displays are well suited for Macs. Jul 13, 2020 · Cannot connect to external display new Macbook Pro 16" Trying to call up LG external display on brand new Macbook Pro. If HiDPI is enabled on your system, you will likely see a resolution that is ½ the size of your monitor’s native resolution that has “ (HiDPI)” listed next to the resolution. This app not only gives you access to hidden resolutions but also lets you force higher-than-native resolutions on your external display. Mar 19, 2016 · Learn how to fix issues such as no signal, poor color, blurry image, and more on an external display connected to your Mac. . Aug 16, 2023 · Go to Display in System Settings → Select Advanced. " My question is whether that can handle a 49-inch super ultra-wide 32:9 at 3840 X 1080 native, because I can't tell if it could handle two displays at 4k. On your Mac, use Displays settings to adjust resolution and brightness and to set display options. I have a brand new Macbook Pro 14 (purchased March 2025). Jun 16, 2025 · If your Mac isn't detecting an external monitor, troubleshoot display settings, cables, and adapters with practical solutions to get it functioning again. Feb 23, 2025 · mac external monitor not showing full resolution after update 15. Could you Jul 13, 2020 · Cannot connect to external display new Macbook Pro 16" Trying to call up LG external display on brand new Macbook Pro. Aug 27, 2019 · Hi Aravind_Chakravarti! Thanks for your reply. Display Support Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and: One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz Thunderbolt 3 digital video output Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately). Dec 15, 2012 · Hi everyone! I have an iMac 27" Late 2012, 2560x1440px resolution. Since the resolution of the built-in display on the MacBook Pro is higher than 1080p, the image will be too large for your monitor and cannot display the entire desktop. This Mar 18, 2025 · Certain Mac models support external displays with 8K resolution, higher refresh rates of up to 240Hz when using 4K resolution, and expanded support for variable refresh rate (VRR). Apr 3, 2014 · Quick guide to enable correct color mode and 125% scaling on external Dell 4K (2650 x 1440) monitors with your MacBook. Jun 25, 2025 · Recently, I discovered a brilliant workaround using a free utility called BetterDisplay. Jan 19, 2023 · Whether you use Mojave or Catalina, Mac OS X usually handles display resolution and scaling quite well automatically. Update Dec 19, 2024 2pm: Unfortunately, the flickering still occurs but it's less often and less intrusive. 13. Wondering how many monitors your Mac can handle? Discover the maximum displays supported by Apple’s M4, M4 Pro & M4 Max chips across all Macs. On your Mac, make text and objects appear larger or smaller on your screen by changing your display’s resolution. Nov 14, 2024 · If you want to change the display resolution on your MacBook or Mac desktop computer, you can easily do so in the Displays settings. Dec 24, 2021 · scale display without decreasing resolution on external monitor when I'm plugging in my 1440p 27" monitor it defaults on resolution of 2560x1440 which makes the text go just a bit too tiny for me. Also, check out our recommendations for the best monitors for Mac mini, the best monitors for Mac Studio, and the best monitors for programming. In this article, we’ll explain how to change the resolution of your built-in display or an external display, as well as how to run apps in low-resolution mode and troubleshoot common problems. Feb 12, 2016 · Using an external display with your Retina display Mac If your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or iMac has a Retina display, it automatically optimizes the resolution for the internal Retina display and any external displays that you attach. The second issue is what causes subpixel rendering not to work well on Mac OS leading to much blurry image compared to windows/Linux. Sep 6, 2023 · Trick to change screen resolution on any Mac, iMac Pro, MacBook Pro or Air depending on your requirements. This is usually due to a misunderstanding or genuine problem—you're reading the wrong settings or need a new video cable. Feb 17, 2023 · Display scaling makes the size of your Mac's interface more comfortable on non-Retina monitors but incurs some visual and performance penalties. Nov 10, 2024 · When you select a scaling resolution that is not an integer multiple of your display's physical resolution, macOS in the background creates a virtual monitor that renders the correct resolution of your desired scale. Cheers! Oct 21, 2025 · If your Mac is working, but the external display connected to it has a blank or black screen (no video) or can't use its highest resolutions or refresh rates, try these solutions. That’s one up to 6K resolution display at 60Hz via Thunderbolt USB-C port and one up to 4K resolution display at 60Hz via HDMI2. In this guide, we’ll show you how to easily use BetterDisplay with your external monitor and make sure everything looks sharp and properly scaled on your Mac. 1 Sequoia yesterday. May 5, 2022 · Hello, I have recently purchased a 2K Dell monitor "DELL S2722DC". Monitor is connected via HDMI ports and turned on. 6) and I need an external display. 1) HiDPI mode not being available which this app tries to address and 2) Mac OS defaulting to YCbCr color mode over hdmi or even display port due to incorrect EDID of the monitor. May 12, 2023 · Your external display will be dark or use a lower resolution or refresh rate if you configure it to exceed the maximum supported resolution or refresh rate. Oct 16, 2023 · Upon connecting your Mac to a 4K monitor, you may find that your display settings show an incorrect resolution. Jan 3, 2024 · Learn how to configure a second display on a Mac to expand your workspace and increase productivity with this step-by-step guide. We explain these effects and how much they matter. I would like to focus on the issue Mar 19, 2025 · Overview Apple's M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips deliver high performance, but each generation has unique capabilities for supporting external displays via the system’s Thunderbolt ports. ) is needed. Feb 12, 2016 · If your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or iMac has a Retina display, it automatically optimizes the resolution for the internal Retina display and any external displays that you attach. Mar 28, 2025 · With a big external display, you might find yourself unable to read the type. Nov 15, 2018 · I have a MacBook Pro 2016 (with Thunderbolt 3 ports on macOS 10. When you are running a screen in a Retina scaling mode, the internal canvas has 2x the number of pixels (in each direction) as the "UI Looks like" resolution selected in Sep 16, 2025 · BetterDisplay is a free app that provides advanced control over your display settings, helping you fix resolution and scaling issues quickly. Aug 26, 2024 · Do you want to tweak the connected monitor's resolution? Here are the best ways to adjust resolution for second display on Mac. Jul 28, 2024 · MacBook Pro 14 (2021) owner I wanted to buy an external monitor for work and last time I bought FHD (1920x1080) which was a big mistake. Not a clear picture, blurry text. This is a comparison before and after using BetterDisplay with the same resolution. If you’ve bought an external display for your Mac and found that the resolution and scaling is poor or the picture blurry, here are some tips on how to fix it. Nov 11, 2020 · Apple M1 MacBook Pro - External Monitor Resolution The specs show that the new M! MB Pro can drive "one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. This limit varies by Mac model, display, the video cable and adapter used with the display, and the resolution and refresh rate of other connected displays. Choose a resolution. When looking for a monitor to replace my current setup with a single computer and one external monitor I am now confused as to what I can expect with a 27in 4k (3840 x 2160) monitor? Is this still the best size and resolution to use with the new apple laptops? or is 24in 4k better, but there are basically no options expect for LG at this size. Apple makes very high-res displays; the M1 iMac, for example, is 4480 x 2520, which Feb 5, 2023 · For Mac Studio introduced in 2022, Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later, Mac Pro introduced in 2019, MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 or later: You can connect a display with a resolution up to 4K at 60Hz to the HDMI port. One of them is connected directly to my usb-c hub through HDMI, and another is connected to a usb-c to displayport adapter (with displaylink). The flickering happens maybe once an hour. Feb 21, 2025 · My questions: What resolution do you recommend for my monitor or what settings do you have for a 27" 4K monitor? Is there a difference in quality between 2560x1440 (which is often recommended on YouTube) and 2304x1296? I work a lot with text and a lot with Outlook. I have m32u (4k 32" screen), which is really beautiful. This article explains how many displays each chip can support while directly connected to the laptop, and will assist you in identifying if a software solution (DisplayLink, InstantView, etc. If you’re having problems getting your Mac to recognize an external display or detect the display after changing the resolution or refresh rate, here’s how to reset the external display settings on a Mac. I also have to think about an external 27" monitor to connect and I don't want to take the Apple Studio Display. gtcaiysx n6ekcdhw exqgf nmty gxx jrapsm 5ybzs gzj wmlbo vv8wxba