SOLVED Macbook Air M1: Can´t change internal scaled display resolution to native resolution

[giffut]

Hi, there.

I want to use the native resolution of the internal display panel of my Macbook Air M1, but I can´t choose it from the display preference panel the usual way klicking "scaled" while pressing the option key.

I can do this with the external display on the Mac Mini M1, though.

Is there a way to force the native resoution for the internal display by other means?

Thank you - any help is appreciated.

 

[LuisN]

Hi, there.

I want to use the native resolution of the internal display panel of my Macbook Air M1, but I can´t choose it from the display preference panel the usual way klicking "scaled" while pressing the option key.

I can do this with the external display on the Mac Mini M1, though.

Is there a way to force the native resoution for the internal display by other means?

Thank you - any help is appreciated.

You can use "Display Menu" app from App Store. It's free. MBA M1 here.

 

[giffut]

Thank you, that did the trick. And I learned, SwitchResX works, too.

 

[adib]

Does any of these work with external displays? I found that my 4K HDMI display only has non-retina resolutions on the DTK.

 

[LuisN]

Does any of these work with external displays? I found that my 4K HDMI display only has non-retina resolutions on the DTK.

Didn't try yet but I guess so. See in the App Store. SwitchResX works too but costs money

 

[Eithanius]

What was the default resolution on the M1 MBA...?

 

[LuisN]

What was the default resolution on the M1 MBA...?

1440x900 and scaled default resolutions 1680x1050; 1280x800; 1024x640. Those in white in post #2

MBAir at Retina display maximum supported resolution (only usable if you have very good vision):

 

[DummyFool]

Hi,

When I go to settings and display, I get 4 choices to set-up my screen resolution, the highest being 1680x1050. There doesn't seem to be a way to set it up its native 2560x1600. I thought there use to be 5 options, the 5ft being 2560x1600. Did it change or is there a problem with my Mac ?

Thanks

 

[Apple_Robert]

This thread may be of help.

Default vs scaled resolutions

Hello all, I'm a new Mac user. Just got my 2020 MBP and I have a question about the resolutions available on my MacBook. The default 2560 resolution was too small for my eyes so under scaled resolutions I chose 1280 by 800 which makes everything look just right. Is there any downside to using a...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[DummyFool]

Thanks. I read the thread and it does not really answer my question. I have seen peoples on YouTube as well as some pictures in articles. When they go to change the resolution they have 5 options, the one further to the right being 2560x1600. I only have 4 showing, the highest being 1680x1050.

 

[mikethebigo]

Thanks. I read the thread and it does not really answer my question. I have seen peoples on YouTube as well as some pictures in articles. When they go to change the resolution they have 5 options, the one further to the right being 2560x1600. I only have 4 showing, the highest being 1680x1050.

I have had many 13" MacBooks and this has never been an option as far as I can remember.

 

[Mac... nificent]

I have seen peoples on YouTube as well as some pictures in articles. When they go to change the resolution they have 5 options, the one further to the right being 2560x1600. I only have 4 showing, the highest being 1680x1050.

I have never seen that. 2560-by-1600 native resolution. Additionally supported resolutions are;

• 1680 by 1050
• 1440 by 900
• 1024 by 640

Perhaps other countries have different resolutions for some reason?

 

[mj_]

The trick is to hold down alt/option while selecting "Scaled" in the Display settings in System Preferences. On my iMac this gives me a list of possible resolutiosn to choose from. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work on the Air M1. You could always use 3rd party software such as ScreenResX.

 

[mikethebigo]

The trick is to hold down alt/option while selecting "Scaled" in the Display settings in System Preferences. On my iMac this gives me a list of possible resolutiosn to choose from. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work on the Air M1. You could always use 3rd party software such as ScreenResX.

Yeah there are more options on larger laptop screens and on desktop monitors. But for the 13" screens, Apple limits the default options.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks. I read the thread and it does not really answer my question. I have seen peoples on YouTube as well as some pictures in articles. When they go to change the resolution they have 5 options, the one further to the right being 2560x1600. I only have 4 showing, the highest being 1680x1050.

It did answer the question.

Here is another article.

"The "2020 M1" MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro both have quality 13.3" color widescreen LED-backlit displays (2560x1600 native resolution at 227 ppi, which displays as a scaled resolution of 1440x900 by default) with "True Tone" technology that automatically adjusts the color temperature of the display. However, the 13" MacBook Pro display is a bit brighter (500 nits instead of 400 nits for the MacBook Air)."

 

[thenumbersrbad]

Which resolution do you think works best for the MBA M1? I'm coming from a 16" MBP

What do you all usually use?

 

[Significant1]

Hi,

When I go to settings and display, I get 4 choices to set-up my screen resolution, the highest being 1680x1050. There doesn't seem to be a way to set it up its native 2560x1600. I thought there use to be 5 options, the 5ft being 2560x1600. Did it change or is there a problem with my Mac ?

Thanks

Install an app like EasyRes from the App-store and you can choose between these resolutions:

 

[rajdash]

After a few hours of searching, I figured it out.

1. On my M1 MBA, I selected System Settings the Displays in the left vertical menu bar.
2. You'll see the limited resolution options without numbers (unless you hover your mouse over one of them). Right-click over any of the options and you'll see a dialog menu popup that includes "Show as a list" (or similar). Select that.
3. You'll now see a list of actual resolutions. You will also see a switch (turned off) labelled "Show all resolutions." Turn that on.
4. Now the full list of supported resolutions, including two that are higher than 1650x1050. Select the one you want. I find 2560x1600 too tiny for my old eyes, but it might be fine for you. I'm using the 2048x1280 setting.

Alternately, I found that using the free Nomachine app for remote login has a setting that allows you to get all the same resolutions. (So I wonder why Apple hides it.) But unless you have two computers you're trying to connect together, this won't work.