SwitchResX 4.14.2 — macOS

If you’ve ever needed a resolution that macOS doesn’t offer, or wanted a specific display setting to kick in when you open a certain app, you’ve probably wished the built-in Displays panel did more. SwitchResX fills that gap. It’s a focused utility that gives you control over screen resolutions, refresh rates, and color profiles — without the guesswork.

Assign resolutions to specific applications

You can set SwitchResX to switch to a particular resolution automatically when you launch a program. This is handy if, say, one app needs a higher refresh rate for video work and another works best at a lower resolution for text readability.

Create custom resolutions macOS won’t show

macOS hides many possible resolutions by default. SwitchResX lets you define and enable custom modes — including Retina-compatible ones — that aren’t in the standard list. Useful for external displays, projectors, or older monitors that need a specific timing.

Build color-plus-resolution profiles

You can combine a color profile with a resolution setting into a single preset. That way, switching between a photo-editing setup and a general-use layout changes both the color and the pixel grid in one click.

October 2025 update fixes for headless Macs

The latest update, released in October 2025, addresses a few specific issues rather than adding flashy new features. If you’ve been running SwitchResX on a Mac that sometimes operates without an external display — say, a Mac mini or a MacBook connected to a dock that gets disconnected — you might have noticed the app repeatedly saving and updating its own settings. Version 4.14.2 stops that loop. It’s a small fix, but it keeps the preferences file from growing or causing confusion when you reconnect a monitor later.

Another fix deals with displays that show up in macOS without a name — sometimes a generic “Display” or a blank entry in the Displays pane. SwitchResX now handles those unnamed displays properly, so you can still assign custom resolutions or profiles to them without guesswork.

There’s also a correction for deleting a Display Set that was used after another Display Set. If you work with multiple display configurations — switching between a desk setup and a projector, for example — the app now removes the right one without leaving orphaned settings behind.

On Apple Silicon Macs, you can now quit the Dock when disabling a display. This matters if you use SwitchResX to turn off the built-in screen on a MacBook while using an external monitor, a common setup for desk work. The change makes the disable action cleaner, without the Dock staying active and causing confusion.

Trigger display switches via AppleScript automation

SwitchResX works with AppleScript, which means you can trigger resolution changes from scripts or automation tools like Keyboard Maestro or BetterTouchTool. You don’t need to open the SwitchResX window — just run a script and the display switches. This is useful if you have a recurring task, like switching to a specific resolution before a weekly video call.

The application also integrates with the macOS menu bar. Once installed, you’ll see a small monitor icon up top. Click it to see available resolutions and profiles without digging into System Settings. You can switch displays, rotate screens, or enable mirroring from that menu — it’s faster than going through the Displays panel.

If you use an HDTV or a projector as an external display, SwitchResX can create custom resolutions with the exact timing those devices need. macOS often picks a standard resolution that doesn’t fill the screen properly; SwitchResX lets you dial in the right one. The same goes for older third-party monitors that macOS doesn’t recognize fully.

Start by checking macOS's hidden resolutions

After installing SwitchResX, start by opening the application and looking at the list of current resolutions for your main display. Before creating any custom modes, try the ones macOS already hides — sometimes the resolution you need is already there, just not shown. SwitchResX can enable those hidden modes without you defining anything new.

Next, set up one or two Display Sets for your most common setups. If you use a MacBook with an external monitor at a desk and then take it on the road, create a Display Set for each scenario. Name them clearly — “Desk” and “Mobile” — so you can switch with one click from the menu bar. This saves time compared to adjusting resolution and mirroring settings manually each time.

If you have a program that needs a specific resolution, open that app, then use SwitchResX to assign the current resolution to it. The app remembers the setting and switches automatically next time you launch the program. Test it once to confirm the switch happens smoothly.

Finally, make a note of any custom resolutions you create. If you ever reinstall macOS or move to a new Mac, you’ll need to set those up again. Keeping a small text file with the horizontal and vertical pixel counts and refresh rates saves you from recreating them from scratch.

How SwitchResX fits with other tools

SwitchResX plays well with macOS’s built-in display management. It doesn’t replace the Displays panel — it extends it. The custom resolutions you create show up in the standard macOS display settings as well, so you can switch between them using the normal controls if you prefer. The application also respects macOS’s color sync, so color profiles you create in the system stay accurate when you use them in SwitchResX.

For users who automate their workflow, AppleScript support is the bridge. You can write a script that changes the resolution, then trigger that script from a calendar event, a folder action, or a launcher like Alfred. This makes it possible to have your display automatically switch to a video-editing resolution when you open Final Cut Pro, then revert when you close it — all without touching the menu bar.

SwitchResX also works alongside other display utilities. If you use a tool like MonitorControl for brightness and volume, or BetterDisplay for finer display tweaks, SwitchResX handles the resolution and profile side without conflict. They share the same system frameworks, so you don’t get double entries or conflicting settings.

On Macs with multiple users, each user can have their own SwitchResX preferences. This matters in an office where different people use the same Mac with an external monitor — one person might prefer a lower resolution for larger text, another a higher one for detailed design work. SwitchResX remembers per-user settings, so switching accounts changes the display to match.

• Fixes repeated self-updating of settings when no display is attached.
• Fixes an issue with displays that have no name in macOS.
• Fixes an issue deleting a Display Set used after another Display Set.
• Allows quitting the Dock when disabling a display on Apple Silicon Macs.

• macOS OS X 10.10 or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon