Make text sharp on your Mac's external monitor

Why it happens

Every monitor has one native resolution, the exact number of dots it's built with. Any other resolution makes the monitor stretch the picture, which blurs text. On top of that, a typical 1080p or 1440p monitor has larger dots than a Retina screen, so text looks softer even when everything is set right.

How to fix it

1. Find your monitor's native resolution. It's on the box, in the manual or on the maker's website, for example 1920 × 1080, 2560 × 1440 or 3840 × 2160.

2. Open System Settings and click Displays. If you have more than one screen, click the external monitor at the top of the page first.

3. If the resolutions appear as small picture thumbnails, Control-click one of them and choose Show List. The resolutions then appear as a list you can pick from.

4. Turn on Show all resolutions so the full list appears, then choose the native resolution.

   Displays›Resolution›Show all resolutions

5. On a 4K monitor, text at the native resolution can look tiny. A scaled option a step or two larger stays sharp on a 4K screen, so pick whichever size feels comfortable.

Still not fixed?

1. Native resolution missing from the list? The cable or adapter may be holding it back. Try a better cable, ideally DisplayPort, Thunderbolt or a certified high-speed HDMI cable, or another port on your Mac.

2. Check the monitor's own menu with its buttons. Set sharpness to its middle or default value, and on a TV turn off overscan, sometimes called Just Scan or 1:1.

3. If colours look washed out as well as soft, try turning off High Dynamic Range for that monitor.

   Displays›High Dynamic Range

4. Choose a higher Refresh rate if one is offered. A low refresh rate doesn't blur text, but it can make moving the pointer look smeary.

   Displays›Refresh rate

5. If the monitor is just as blurry with another computer, the monitor itself is the issue. Contact its maker or a repair shop. If only your Mac shows it blurry on every monitor and cable, contact Apple Support.