While adequate for the majority of users, these five resolution choices (default and scaled) are missing several “in-between” display options, as well as “low resolution” modes, such as a true 2560×1440 that must be upscaled by the monitor and may be necessary for testing or software compatibility purposes. On the Phillips HDTV, OS X suggests a “default” resolution of a Retina-scaled 1080p equivalent, and we have the choice to set other resolutions (“scaled”) including 1280 x 768, 720P, 1080i, and 1080p. An actual PC monitor usually displays a “Looks like # x #” resolution underneath the TV image in the options window. Click on “Scaled” to view the display choices.Īs referenced above, the external monitor connected to the Mac in the screenshots is a Phillips FTV HDTV, with a native resolution of 1080p. The exact resolutions will vary depending on the specifications of your external display. If you prefer a different screen size, OS X gives you four other options.
By default, in recent versions of OS X, you’ll see a “default” recommended resolution for your external display.Select the window residing on the display you wish to modify.
If you have more than one screen connected to your Mac, a new Display Preferences window will appear for each one.
