How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac

Mac screen resolution plays a crucial role in enhancing visual experience and productivity. It determines the level of detail, sharpness, and overall quality of the displayed content. Let’s explore the impact of different screen resolutions and learn how to change the screen resolution on a Mac.

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac

1. Visual Quality and Detail

The screen resolution directly affects the sharpness, clarity, and level of detail displayed on your Mac. Higher resolutions provide crisper images, sharper text, and more vibrant colors, resulting in a visually immersive experience. Lower resolutions may compromise the overall visual quality, making content appear pixelated or fuzzy.

2. Productivity and Multitasking

A higher screen resolution allows you to fit more content on your screen, thereby increasing your productivity. With more screen real estate, you can comfortably work on multiple applications, view large spreadsheets, edit high-resolution images, or engage in multitasking without feeling cramped. It enables seamless workflow and smoother navigation between different tasks

3. Multimedia and Entertainment

Screen resolution significantly impacts your multimedia and entertainment experience on Mac. Higher resolutions deliver enhanced visual details, making movies, videos, and games more immersive and lifelike. It allows you to appreciate intricate graphics, subtle textures, and enjoy content as intended by the creators.

4. Design and Content Creation

For designers, photographers, and content creators, screen resolution is of utmost importance. It enables precise editing, accurate color representation, and ensures the fidelity of intricate design elements. High-resolution displays provide a true-to-life preview of your work, allowing you to make informed decisions and produce professional-quality output.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Screen Resolution on a Mac

Step 1: Opening System Settings

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - Step 1 Opening System Settings

First, click on the Apple menu () at the top left corner of the screen, and from the menu that appears, select “System Settings.”

Step 2: Accessing Display Settings & Choosing the Resolution

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - Step 2 Accessing Display Settings Choosing the Resolution

In the System settings window, find and click on the “Displays” icon. This will open the Display settings panel.

Select the desired Screen resolution from the provided list. You can also adjust the scaling options to find the ideal balance between screen real estate and readability.

Step 3: Confirming the Changes

After selecting the desired resolution, your Mac’s display will adjust to that resolution. Take some time to verify if the new resolution meets your expectations. If not, you can repeat the process to try different resolutions and find the optimal settings.

For Macbooks with a notch, it’s important to note that some resolutions may not be fully compatible. Please ensure to check this aspect carefully.


Unlock more screen resolutions size supported by Mac.

Step 1: Open the Display [Advanced…] settings

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - Step 1 Open the Display Advanced settings

Select the [Displays] tab in the left sidebar of your Mac’s System Settings and click on the [Advanced…] settings located at the bottom.

Step 2: Activate the [Show resolutions as list] option toggle

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - Step 2 Activate the Show resolutions as list option toggle

In the [Advanced] settings, click on the toggle button for [Show resolutions as list] to enable it. This will make the display menu show resolutions as a list.

Step 3: Activate the [Show all resolutions] option toggle

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - Step 3 Activate the Show all resolutions option toggle

Below the newly configured display resolution list, activate the [Show all resolutions] option toggle. This will allow you to choose from a wider range of screen resolutions that were previously not visible.


Apps to change Mac screen resolution

Are you looking to enhance your Mac’s display experience? One effective way to achieve this is by using screen resolution apps. These apps provide you with additional features and flexibility to customize your Mac’s screen resolution according to your preferences.

1. Display Menu

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - Display Menu

Display Menu is a powerful screen resolution app that offers a convenient menu bar interface. With Display Menu, you can easily switch between different screen resolutions, adjust brightness and contrast, and even rotate your display. The app provides a user-friendly interface, making it simple for anyone to navigate and customize their Mac’s display settings.

2. SwitchResX

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - SwitchResX

SwitchResX is a popular screen resolution app known for its advanced customization options. It allows you to create custom resolution profiles, set up hotkeys for quick resolution changes, and manage multiple displays seamlessly. SwitchResX also provides detailed information about your display’s capabilities and supports a wide range of resolutions, giving you greater control over your Mac’s screen.

3. EasyRes

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - EasyRes

If you’re looking for a straightforward and easy-to-use screen resolution app, EasyRes is a great choice. It offers a simple interface that allows you to switch between resolutions with just a few clicks. EasyRes also provides a preview feature, enabling you to see how your display will look before applying the changes. With its intuitive design, EasyRes is perfect for users who want a hassle-free way to adjust their Mac’s screen resolution.

4. QuickRes

How to Change Screen Resolution on Mac - QuickRes

QuickRes is another popular screen resolution app that offers a range of powerful features. With QuickRes, you can effortlessly switch between resolutions with a single click from the menu bar.

It supports a wide array of resolutions, including non-standard ones, and allows you to create and save custom resolution profiles. QuickRes also provides hotkey support, making it even more convenient to switch resolutions on the fly.

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