Scaling on external monitors

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Level 1

8 points

Scaling on external monitors

I have a 15" MacBook pro connected to an external monitor that has 2K resolution connected via USB3 to DisplayPort 1.2.

When I set the monitor to full resolution, the font is too small, almost unusable, unless I zoom individual windows. But when I bring down the resolution to 1080p, it's readable and usable, but the fonts are blurry.

I have read so many articles on how to fix it. I have tried some utilities, but nothing works. I know that it is happening because of "retina" expectation on the external monitor too. But, why? Providing a scaling option like what windows 10 does is one solution. Otherwise, why not fall back to 'non-retina' mode on external displays that do not have higher PPI.

I have a serious frustration about this. I am not sure why this flexibility is locked down. I mean, if I can customize how my dock icons should zoom on hover, which is utterly useless in my opinion, why prevent this resolution scaling? It does not make sense. This is a huge disappointment.

Is there any solution to this problem other than buying an expensive higher DPI monitor

MacBook Pro 15”, 10.15

Posted on Jul 30, 2020 2:00 PM

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Answer 1

apple_way Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 12, 2020 8:59 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I tried enabling High DPI mode by running those commands explained in that article. That did not work. Although, Grant Bennet-Alder's answer above took me on the right path, where I did the following and eventually got what I wanted (sort of). Credit: Stack Exchange answer https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/125928/how-do-you-enable-hidpi-mode-for-unsupported-monitors-like-the-dell-p2815q-in-ma

Install XCode from App Store
Open XCode > Open Developer Tools > More Developer Tools. This takes you to apple developer site.
Download Additional Tools for XCode 11
Open Quartz Debug application
Choose Window > UI resolution > Enable High DPI Mode.

After this, according to the question and apple documentation, this should allow me to choose HiDPI modes from the display settings for my external monitor. That did not work. Continue...

Download Displays app from app store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/displays/id1107272470?mt=12
This allows you to choose simulated retina modes.
Find the one that fits your monitor. I did not find a simulated retina mode that fits my monitor. I chose a mode that works best, although with 2 black bars on the sides.

Overall, things worked out, well, after 5 bucks for that app. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Answer 2

Aug 1, 2020 8:00 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It is possible that your display is not recognized as a HiDPI display, and therefore the "Scaled" settings are not available to you.

Take a look at this article, that talks about forcing a more modest resolution display to make some of the HiDPI features available:

https://www.techjunkie.com/hidpi-mode-os-x/

.

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Answer 3

Jul 30, 2020 2:05 PM in response to apple_way

If you don't like the built-in method, lower the ACTUAL resolution of the display until the text is readable.

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Answer 4

apple_way Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 30, 2020 3:22 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I have tried that and while this solves the readability problem, it creates another problem, that is "blurry fonts".

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Answer 5

Jul 30, 2020 3:30 PM in response to apple_way

wait, what? I thought that's what you said lowering the "Looks Like" resolution did.

what does your screen look like:

system preferences > Displays

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Answer 6

Aug 12, 2020 9:14 AM in response to apple_way

...So for your five bucks for Displays.app, did you get some modest resolution-scaling that did not make the fonts look fuzzy and distorted on an external display of modest resolution?

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Answer 7

apple_way Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 1, 2020 10:08 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Correct. It helped me with a resolution, with texts sharper and with scaling that is enough to make it readable. I wonder, how people deal with this, after buying especially a Mac Mini.

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Scaling on external monitors

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