M2 Macbook Air, display resolutions are "incorrect"

Hi mag0718,

Thanks for posting in Apple Support Communities! See if you're able to adjust the resolution with these steps:

1. "From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences, then click Displays.
2. 
3. In Display Settings, select the external display in the sidebar, then press and hold the Option key while you click Scaled to see additional resolutions.
4. 
5. Select a resolution, then click Done.

If the expected resolution doesn't appear for your display, check the specifications page to see what display resolutions your Mac supports."

You can find the above steps in the article If your external display isn't detected or appears blurry when connected to your Mac, and following them will allow you to adjust your resolution. Be sure to check the specifications page in step 5 if you're still not seeing other options.

Cheers!

Mag0718,

Got it. Also be mindful that your Mac automatically chooses a default resolution that is optimal for your display. We'd like to verify if you experience the same issue in safe mode as well.

Completing this step allows us to determine if  this could be caused by the software that loads as your Mac starts up:

How to use safe mode

Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:

Apple silicon

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.

3. Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode.”

4. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

Intel processor

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac. 

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window.

If the issue continues in safe mode

If the issue continues while in safe mode, or your Mac restarts several times and then shuts down while starting up in safe mode, you should 

reinstall macOS and make sure that your Apple software and third-party apps are up to date.

If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode

If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode, leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally. Then test for the issue again. The issue might be resolved.

If the issue returns after leaving safe mode, startup items are probably at fault. Apps can install such items in numerous places, and they aren't always easy to find or recognize. For that reason, you should

first make sure that you've installed any available updates for your Apple software and third-party apps.

If updating your software doesn't help, try any of these solutions:

• Test your login items.

• To learn whether software in your user account is causing the issue, set up a new user account, then log in to it and try to reproduce the issue in that account.

• Unplug all accessories from your Mac, including printers, drives, USB hubs, and other nonessential devices. You could have an issue with one or more of those devices or their cables.

Let us know the results.

Best regards.