How to change the screen resolution on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-change-the-screen-resolution-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Displays

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

   On our MacBook Neo the screen is shown at the top as Built-in Display.

   Done

2. 

   Click a resolution

   Point at a picture to see its size, then click the one you want. Towards Larger Text everything gets bigger; towards More Space more fits on the screen.

   On our MacBook Neo there are four pictures: Larger Text, an unlabelled one, Default (selected) and More Space, and pointing at More Space shows 1637 × 1024.

   Done

3. 

   Show resolutions as a list instead

   Click Advanced… at the bottom of the Displays page, switch on Show resolutions as list, then click Done.

   On our MacBook Neo, Advanced… sits next to Night Shift…, not below Color profile, and Show resolutions as list was off.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• If you cannot find Displays Type Displays in the Search field at the top of the System Settings sidebar.
• If you see a list instead of pictures Click Advanced… on the Displays page and switch off Show resolutions as list.
• If the pictures show no size Hold the pointer over a picture for a moment; the size appears under its name, such as 1637 × 1024 under More Space.

If this does not work

• If text is still too small Click Larger Text or the unlabelled picture next to it instead of Default.
• If you want to undo your change Click Default, which is the standard setting for the built-in screen.
• If the brightness changes on its own That is Automatically adjust brightness on the Displays page; switch it off if you prefer a fixed brightness.

About this guide

If text is too small or you want more room for windows, change the resolution. On a Mac the choices appear as small pictures, not numbers.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

If the screen goes black after a change, wait 15 seconds and the Mac goes back to the previous resolution.

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, More Space or the picture between them.