How to change the screen resolution on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

If text is too small to read comfortably, or you want more room for windows, change the resolution. On a Mac the choices are shown as small pictures instead of numbers.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are our own screenshots from macOS Tahoe 26 on a MacBook Pro.

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Displays

   Click the Apple menu, then System Settings, then Displays in the sidebar.

   Done

2. 

   Click a resolution

   Choose one of the pictures. Towards Larger Text, everything gets bigger. Towards More Space, everything gets smaller and more fits on the screen. Default is what Apple recommends for the display.

   Done

3. See the numbers

   Move the pointer over a picture to see its size in pixels. To see a list instead, Control-click the pictures and choose Show List.

   Done

4. 

   Always show a list

   Click Advanced and switch on Show resolutions as list.

   Done

5. External display

   With a second screen connected, first click that display at the top of the page, then choose its resolution. Show all resolutions reveals further choices.

   Done

Good to know

If the screen goes black after a change, wait 15 seconds and the Mac goes back to the previous resolution. If it does not, press Escape.

If only the text is too small, changing the resolution is the quickest fix. Single apps can also be zoomed with Command and the plus key.

To send the picture to a television: how to mirror a Mac screen to a TV with AirPlay.

In short: System Settings, Displays, click Larger Text, Default or More Space.