External monitor scaling on a Mac: fit more windows
Text too big on your monitor, or too small to read? How macOS scales external displays, which setting fits more windows, and when to pick each one.
Open System Settings, Displays, select the monitor, and choose a setting towards More Space. Everything gets smaller, so more windows fit side by side.
Picking a setting
- 4K at 27 inches: "looks like" 2560 by 1440 is the usual sweet spot: sharp, and room for three windows across.
- 1440p monitors: the default is already the full space; text cannot get sharper, only smaller.
- Ultrawide monitors: the extra width is the point; see ultrawide window managers.
- If the option you want is missing, click Advanced and turn on Show resolutions as list, then Show all resolutions.
More space, more windows
A wider screen fits more columns. ClutterFreeMac lays its strip out in points, not pixels, so a setting with more space simply shows more of the strip at once; the windows past the edge are still one swipe away.
Questions
How do I make everything smaller on my external monitor on a Mac?
In System Settings, Displays, select the monitor and choose a setting towards More Space.
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