macOS Ventura: external display resolution issue

This is strange, but I toggled around the display settings by setting the external display as the main display, then as a mirrored display and then back to extended display and suddenly a lot more resolution options appeared, some with better sharpness.

Gavrog wrote:

Hmm, not too surprising really.

Is there some way to raise an 'official ticket' with Apple support? This is just a community after all - I assume nobody here has the power to actually solve the software error.

https://www.apple.com/feedback

I had the exact same problem. I was able to resolve it by changing the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter I was using and pressing and holding the the HDMI cable in as I connected the monitor. I let go of the cable once the monitor was detected and was once again showed the scaling text options like on previous OS versions.

I had the same issue and found a workaround, but I'm not too thrilled with the outcome.

My original setup (that didn't work):

16" 2019 MacBook Pro running Ventura macOS 13.2 (22D49)

Connected to CalDigit TS3+ using Thunderbolt 4 Pro 1.8m cable

Display is a Samsung u32r591cw connected to TS3+ using DisplayPort output

Following a number of the leads from this thread and trying all the suggestions, none worked for my setup. For clarity, here are the steps I tried:

• Reboot in safe mode, attach monitor (via dock), reboot in normal mode
• I did not have a /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.display.plist file to delete
• Switching between Display modes (extended vs. mirror vs. main)

The solution was changing out how I connected my monitor to my dock. Instead of using DisplayPort, I used the dock's Thunderbolt 3 downstream port to connect my monitor using a USB-C to HDMI cable and changing the monitor's input setting to HDMI. I'm now able to see the correct resolution and refresh rate options for the display.

The reason I say I'm not completely satisfied is because when I look at my Graphics/Displays information in System Information, the Resolution listed is incorrect:

My monitor's maximum supported resolution is 4K (and for my aging eyes, that's still too high, hence the 3008x1692 UI Looks like setting 🤓). Furthermore, when I look at System Preferences -> General -> About information for my Mac, the size of the monitor is incorrectly reported:

I might wish I had a 61-inch monitor, but I assure you it's 32 inches.

It's clear that the OS is reporting incorrect resolution information for the external monitor, which then may limit options for resolution and refresh rate in the System Preferences. My dock supports DisplayPort 1.2 which doesn't support resolutions as high as 6016 x 3384. Perhaps the OS is not offering the correct output options because the device is connected by DisplayPort and the maximum supported resolution for DisplayPort 1.2 is 5K @ 30Hz, much less than what the OS believes my monitor is capable of. It's possible that my DisplayPort cable is HBR instead of HBR2, which would explain why I'm only able to select 30Hz as the refresh rate at 4K resolution, but I'm fairly certain that my original DisplayPort setup with Monterey supported a 60Hz refresh rate. Regardless of the refresh rate, Ventura is also incorrectly reporting that the default resolution for my monitor is 1920 x 1080, regardless of whether the monitor is connected by DisplayPort or USB-C. The manufacturer reports the default resolution as 4K.

I may try to find an HBR2 cable to test the cable hypothesis and will report back if/when I do. In the meantime, I hope the steps I took prove helpful for others working to solve this problem.

Here's my current setup:

16" 2019 MacBook Pro running Ventura macOS 13.2 (22D49)

Connected to CalDigit TS3+ using Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro, 1.8m cable

Display is a Samsung u32r591cw connected to TS3+ using Thunderbolt 3 downstream output

Same here. M1 MacBook Air, Uni USB C hub through to a Dell 4k external monitor. Never had a problem before and now have low resolution with Ventura. Surely the OS needs an update to fix this?

Okay, so Apple support asked me to reinstall Ventura, but that didn't resolve the issue. I then saw on another forum that someone had resolved the issue by switching to the Soho Dock by CalDigit. I've just done the same and thankfully it has worked! Plenty of high resolution options available. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08FDJR8VK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Same issue, well similar, related.

My Samsung G9 is running at lower resolution (doesn't offer full 5140 as an option) and has a horrible screen flicker sometimes on RHS depending on what tab happens to be open. I don't get the option to upscale, even.

This happened immediately after the update.

Interestingly, I can set the full resolution again when I'm working in Immersed (VR) on Quest2.

I can change the resolution from VR, put my headset down and continue working in normal reslution on the G9.

.. until I exit Immersed in VR, then it switches back on the physical G9 again!

Maybe this will provide Apple a clue though?

.. so annoying, really amateur.

I have a bit similar problem with display but it is not about resolution.

I use Satechi adapter and when I plug it in the laptop (MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro) gets a new display in settings. Some "ghost" screen. However devices plugged in the adapter work good. Do you have any idea where is the problem?

Still not fixed. Sometimes I can select the right resolution for 4k and other times the option is simply not there and it's just low resolution. I was hoping the OS update would fix it but no luck there.

This is too widespread with different monitor makes and models to go to monitor manufacturers.. I'm having similar issues with a 4k 27'' LG at home, and a superwidescreen Samsung 43'' in the office. What worked flawlessly, now no longer works.

I agree. It really is pretty awful though that an M1 MacBook is struggling to send a high definition screen resolution to a 4k monitor. I’m finding that once in a while it miraculously seems to be able to do it and the rest of the time it’s low resolution. I’ve even just purchased an Apple thunderbolt cable to see if that would solve it (my external monitor has an HDMI cable that connects to a Uni Union Hub), but it’s had no effect.

Please Apple, get a fix out for this. It worked fine prior to Ventura.

Another suggestion offered in a different that seemed to help (FWIW, I haven't tried it because I don't have a 4K display and all my 1080 displays, at home or work, have been working):

In Finder, press Command-Shift-G and paste

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.display.plist

Drag the file to the trash, and restart.

I tried reaching out to Dell. After some correspondence, this is the reply I received about the display resolution issue:

This is *** from Dell E-mail Support.  I hope this email finds you well.  

In this case the issue is with Apple, I suggest to reach Apple for assistance,

Thank you for doing business with Dell!  

Kind Regards,