Mac external monitor resolution issue However, I'm having significant issues with external displays. Getting to Mac OS (12. Cheers! Sep 16, 2025 · BetterDisplay is a free app that provides advanced control over your display settings, helping you fix resolution and scaling issues quickly. 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. 1) Display settings, and selecting Resolution->Scaled, I see drop down list with several options. Give It a rest for a few seconds. For people like you and me who use a 1440p, WQHD or Full HD display . Aug 30, 2025 · Is your Mac screen not showing up on your monitor? It’s a common problem many MacBook users face. 16" M1X Macbook Pro with macOS Monterey 12. This is usually due to a misunderstanding or genuine problem—you're reading the wrong settings or need a new video cable. 13. More Dec 15, 2020 · For me, the screen turns off when I reboot with the MacBook screen closed - I have to open the MacBook screen to get a signal to my external screen. "Looks like YYYY x YYYY"? I run an LG 27" 4K monitor, and run it at "Looks like 2560 x 1440", and it looks great. 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). But if I plug the monitor through the HUB the text is blurry. As my workflow relies heavily on an external display (over 80%), this has become a major problem. 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. If your Mac has an HDMI port, connect an external display directly to your Mac for best results. Ideally pixel art would display with nice even squares, but the only Oct 14, 2024 · Second Mac monitor is not displaying If you've connected a second monitor to your Mac, but it's not displaying, there's no need to panic. . Mar 31, 2023 · Don’t know how to fix the external display issues of Mac? You can try updating your Mac’s software, turning on Sleep Mode, and more. When the highest native resolution of 2560x1440 is selected, system text, apps and all items are small. Could you May 28, 2020 · What display settings / resolution are you running when you're in macOS? It's possible the "Default for display" is running something weird - if you go to Scaled, and mouse over the current setting, what does it show up on the left under the screen, eg. Trying all those options, actually there is degradation on resolution and not just scaling. This article will guide you through the process, ensuring optimal performance and clarity for your external monitor. The max resolution I can pick on my 32" screen is 720p - which is almost useless : ( Apr 3, 2014 · Quick guide to enable correct color mode and 125% scaling on external Dell 4K (2650 x 1440) monitors with your MacBook. I tried all 4 ports on my MacBook Pro 16, and none of them work properly. As such, you don't have to restart your mac every time. Now I'm a new owner of a MacBook Air 15", and I'm using a DELL U2720Q 27"/4K monitor with the scaling 3008x1692. I have m32u (4k 32" screen), which is really beautiful. Could a newer laptop I. Troubleshooting this issue Mar 18, 2022 · If you’re having problems with external monitors not working on your Mac after upgrading to macOS Sonoma, Ventura or Monterey or after buying an Apple Silicon Mac, here we show you how to get them working again. Dec 3, 2021 · One issue arises when you plug certain sub-4K third-party monitors into your M1 Mac. The menu is so unconventional. (Instructions for Windows and OSX). We explain these effects and how much they matter. The primary display works at 3008 x 1692 just fine. Put your Mac to sleep for a moment, and then wake it back up to see if anything changes in the Display preferences. You must choose the "Default for display" option for the entire image to fix on your external display. see the low resolution picture . 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. If you’re still experiencing the same issue, contact the community for more help. I have to reboot the Mac to get the screen back to its normal resolution. The main issue is that most displays appear fuzzy and blurry. The most common fixes include checking your cables and connections, restarting your Mac with the display connected, and adjusting your display settings in System Settings. I bought an ASUS VP28U (4K), connected it with an HDMI to USB-C adapter and, generally, it wor Jun 25, 2025 · Increasing the resolution of external displays connected to a Mac Mini can significantly enhance your viewing experience. With my first monitor, I was able to select the option next to the default titled "more space", and MacOS Apr 19, 2025 · Troubleshoot Mac external monitor issues with effective solutions to fix display problems, connection errors, and improve screen performance easily. 2? From port swaps to system resets, here's how to restore output! Mar 13, 2024 · MacBook Air M3 external display resolutions Hi there- Just got the new MacBook Air M3. However, connecting external displays can sometimes lead to frustrating issues, from flickering images and connection problems to resolution mismatches. Disconnect the Monitor from a dock or USB-C hub If you're using a docking station or USB-C hub to connect an external display, please disconnect it. 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. In most cases, the issue is caused by a physical connection failure, a Mac software problem, incorrect display settings, or monitor connection issues. By utilizing the Better Display app, users can easily adjust screen resolution settings, especially when employing the mirror feature. In clamshell mode, I can't get my second Dell 4k screen to display at 3008 x 1692. E MacBook Air M2 fix this? Thanks! 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. 2) and I've also got a Dell 2209WAf monitor, which I'm using with a VGA cable and this adaptor. Dec 27, 2024 · With the release of the Mac mini M4 and Mac mini M4 Pro models in 2024, Apple has brought significant improvements in performance and power efficiency. Windows (approx 10 seconds) Plug in monitor Right Click Desktop Mac OS is known for its weird approach to scaling the user interface which becomes cumbersome when you own a sub 4k monitor. 1/15. Whether you are Apr 29, 2023 · Unable to change resolution on extended display / external monitor Hi, I've been using a Toshiba monitor as an extended display for my 13inch MacBook Pro M1 for over three years. May 5, 2022 · Hello, I have recently purchased a 2K Dell monitor "DELL S2722DC". 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. May 2, 2019 · Quick guide to enable correct color mode and 125% scaling on external Dell 4K (2650 x 1440) monitors with your MacBook. I chose this scaling because it's the only way to make the font Sep 26, 2025 · Is Dual Display acting up after updating MacBook Pro M1 to macOS 15. There are various issues that can affect Macs with external monitors but one of the most common is terrible image quality when connected to them. 1. When I connect my MacBook 2017 (12 inch) with a HDMI to my new external monitor (Samsung M8), the text on the external monitor is so tiny difficult to read. 6) and I need an external display. This includes QHD monitors with a resolution of 2560x1440. Nov 23, 2022 · I've noticed a problem / bug that whenever I connect my external display at work to my mba M2, the resolution changes to what seems like 16:9 and the screen shrinks. Sep 30, 2025 · here's a complete guide to fix macOS Tahoe 26 external display Not detecting Issue that screen blurry and flickering Randomly. Jan 29, 2025 · How to Troubleshoot macOS External Display Issues Using an external display with macOS devices can significantly enhance productivity, offering more screen real estate for multitasking, creative work, or simply enjoying media. Aug 27, 2019 · Hi Aravind_Chakravarti! Thanks for your reply. Find out what your Mac supports Your external display will be dark if it exceeds the maximum number of external displays your Mac can use at the same time. I'm struggling to find a way of achieving a similar look in this new setup/environment/whatever you want to call it. This gives you a smoothly scaled external monitor experience which keeps UI elements approximately the same ‘size’ as you drag them between May 28, 2023 · Has anything changed with Ventura when scaling the UI? I've stayed away from a Macbook for years because of the constant talk of reduced screen sharpness on external displays when using a 27"/4K monitor, for example. Many find that text and icons can appear tiny, blurry or fuzzy when connected to Oct 21, 2025 · 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. How to fix Mac not detecting May 5, 2025 · If the external display's brightness is too low to register, this could resolve that issue. Jun 20, 2025 · Some users may experience display issues after connecting a MacBook to a 4K monitor, such as text appearing too small, app windows shrinking, and the navigation bar being difficult to read on the external monitor. I've got a MacBook Pro (Early 2015, OS 10. Jan 3, 2024 · My awesome wife gifted me a MacBook Pro M3 Max for Christmas, an impressive laptop with excellent battery life and performance. My previous computer was an iMac with a 4K Retina monitor, and I was very satisfied with how it looked. This gives you a smoothly scaled external monitor experience which keeps UI elements approximately the same ‘size’ as you drag them between the Retina and external display. The operating system either displays the desktop at the native resolution of the monitor – in which case text and user-interface widgets appear too small – or offers an unusable blurry magnified Find out what your Mac supports Your external display will be dark if it exceeds the maximum number of external displays that your Mac can use at the same time. May 18, 2023 · We recommend the steps above because they will show you what to do if your external display has a low resolution. That resolution is missing in display settings (even if I option click to reveall *all* resolutions). 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. Details: 5120 x 1440 49'' Samsung DQHD Mini LED Gaming ultra-wide Monitor Odyssey Neo G9. 3. I think your 34" at 3440 x 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. May 29, 2025 · If your Mac suddenly stopped detecting your external monitor after updating to macOS Sequoia, we'll show you how to fix it. I'm currently using two 27" 4k monitors, on an m1 Mac. 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. after connecting da default resolution to only fulldhd with 30 hz. Resolution issues with external monitor. I have a brand new Macbook Pro 14 (purchased March 2025). Typically, a few simple tweaks are all you need to get things working again. Feb 5, 2023 · 2. 11. Restart your Mac. However, like any new device, users have reported encountering some display-related issues, especially when using multiple monitors or connecting high-resolution displays such as 4K and 5K. The monitor's optimum resolution is 1680x1050 @ 60Hz an Nov 15, 2018 · I have a MacBook Pro 2016 (with Thunderbolt 3 ports on macOS 10. You’ve connected your external display but see nothing but a blank screen staring back at you. Since the monitors are only 27", I need some scaling to make the monitors actually useable. 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. In this blog, we will explore the common problems Nov 12, 2021 · I have found a temporary quick fix for a stretched out resolution after disconnecting an ultra-wide display: Change the refresh rate to another refresh rate like 60hz, then switch it back to pro-motion. Go ahead and restart your Mac, but keep the external display connected. 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. This limit varies by Mac model. Jan 7, 2023 · Low resolution on external monitor via Hub I have a 4K monitor, I found that if I plug the HDMI cable directly into the Mac the resolution works fine. Apr 3, 2025 · Monitor Resolution Issues on new Macbook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) I recently switched over from Windows to Mac, and am running into an issue with external displays and resolution. It does not change back when I disconnect the monitor. May 2, 2024 · I just got a new Mac along with a new monitor, and I'm having trouble getting the resolution to my liking. bhx i8rtta ys vku tc2d8ad u8ork qs9pc 41v6p gtdn 41a0r9vi8