Macbook Max Resolution

Question

Tvrspeed12 Author

Level 1

8 points

Macbook Max Resolution

I have an early 2016 Macbook.

In System Preferences->Display I have "Scaled" and "More Space" selected.

If I hover over "Default" then it says "Looks like 1280x800", for "More Space" it says "Looks like 1440x900".

I appreciate this is scaled and not true pixel resolution.

Now when I connect a Dell U2713HM via HDMI cable and with "Mirror Displays" selected the screen on the Macbook suddenly displays a lot more space - to my mind it "Looks like 2000x1200" or thereabouts.

My question then is why can I not select this higher resolution/more space when the external monitor is not connected?

Or maybe I can but just do not know how?

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jun 26, 2016 12:39 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 26, 2016 2:19 PM in response to Tvrspeed12

The reason why you can't change the resolution when it's not plugged into the monitor is that it's displaying the resolution size of the monitor and therefore you can't use that one while the MacBook is unplugged from the monitor.

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Answer 2

Tvrspeed12 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 26, 2016 11:36 PM in response to Iamthetaylor

Thanks for the reply - but that does not really answer my question. If the Macbook is capable of displaying (and working) with that resolution then why can I not select it when the external monitor is not connected.

I have a lot of Apple notebooks and this is by far the best (so far!) - the only negative so far (for me - I appreciate others may have other opinions) is the lack of "space" available to work in multiple Windows.

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Answer 3

Jun 27, 2016 11:24 AM in response to Tvrspeed12

It's because of the size of the MacBook screen, it has a built in resolution of 2304 x 1440 and can't use a resolution for more space due to the 12 inch screen. Hope this helps answer your question!

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