Lack of available resolutions on Big Sur M1 Macs

christianhopkins · 06-04-2021, 06:44 PM

Hi All,

I've been monitoring the various threads while suffering the same symptoms. I have the Mac device listed above (have had it for 3 weeks) connecting to a Kensington DL device. I immediately updated my OS to Big Sur 11.3 before connecting any devices. But I've had the issues everyone describes from the outset (I believe the issue is with the Mac OS and changes associated with it).

If I connect my monitor to the DisplayLink device (via DisplayPort) the resolution drops to 1920 x 1080.

If I connect my monitor straight to the Macbook (DisplayPort to USB-C, the native resolution is 3440 x 1440.

Right now I have Big Sur 11.4 and DL 1.4.0

I've also used HDMI rather than DP, with zero change.

I'm sure it will get sorted eventually, but thought I'd throw my config up for support to review.

oztrip · 06-23-2021, 08:04 AM

This is a duplicate of the older post. DisplayLink has very limited resolution selection and most of them are very low resolutions which does not work well on the modern monitors.

For some of us this is a key feature.

Older post link: Missing Resolutions

rosch · 06-25-2021, 01:46 PM

I've been using SwitchResX for many years now, which enables all kinds of resolutions. It also works on my M1 iMac with a monitor connected via DisplayLink. Give it a try!

tommiy · 06-25-2021, 10:30 PM

it works but with M1 and displaylink you get no HiDPI options above 1920x1080. On a 4k monitor the text is very large. On native 4k the text is very small. Using switchresx to other options results in 'low resolution' and the text on a 4k monitor is visually blurry.As displaylink have not offered any responses to the Dec2020 product request to provide other HiDPI options one can only guess if this limitation is displaylink or Apple. The only real apparent option for usability of a 4k monitor is a single monitor directly from the M1 without displaylink as this provides the missing resolutions.

oztrip · 06-23-2021, 08:12 AM

On another hand Max OS Monterey Bata is here. Someone with M1 could test it as I guess there is loads of dual monitor support features. Multi monitor limitation to me is a deliberate issue from Apple as Mac Mini M1 can handle dual screens nativity. I wouldn’t be surprised Apple quietly added support for it.

ScreamCZE · 06-23-2021, 09:40 AM

M1 limitation is that it can support a total of 2 monitors. That means an internal monitor (if you have a MacBook/iPad) and 1 external monitor = a total of 2 monitors.

That is the reason why Mac Mini does support 2 external monitors - it does not have an internal monitor that "takes one slot". So you can connect 1 monitor to the HDMI port and 1 monitor to USB4.

06-04-2021, 06:44 PM	#1
christianhopkins Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 1	M1 Macbook Air Hi All, I've been monitoring the various threads while suffering the same symptoms. I have the Mac device listed above (have had it for 3 weeks) connecting to a Kensington DL device. I immediately updated my OS to Big Sur 11.3 before connecting any devices. But I've had the issues everyone describes from the outset (I believe the issue is with the Mac OS and changes associated with it). If I connect my monitor to the DisplayLink device (via DisplayPort) the resolution drops to 1920 x 1080. If I connect my monitor straight to the Macbook (DisplayPort to USB-C, the native resolution is 3440 x 1440. Right now I have Big Sur 11.4 and DL 1.4.0 I've also used HDMI rather than DP, with zero change. I'm sure it will get sorted eventually, but thought I'd throw my config up for support to review.

06-23-2021, 08:12 AM	#5
oztrip Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 3	On another hand Max OS Monterey Bata is here. Someone with M1 could test it as I guess there is loads of dual monitor support features. Multi monitor limitation to me is a deliberate issue from Apple as Mac Mini M1 can handle dual screens nativity. I wouldn’t be surprised Apple quietly added support for it. Last edited by oztrip; 06-23-2021 at 08:17 AM.

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06-23-2021, 08:04 AM	#2
oztrip Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 3	This is a duplicate of the older post. DisplayLink has very limited resolution selection and most of them are very low resolutions which does not work well on the modern monitors. For some of us this is a key feature. Older post link: Missing Resolutions

06-25-2021, 01:46 PM	#3
rosch Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 2	I've been using SwitchResX for many years now, which enables all kinds of resolutions. It also works on my M1 iMac with a monitor connected via DisplayLink. Give it a try!

06-25-2021, 10:30 PM	#4
tommiy Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 92	it works but with M1 and displaylink you get no HiDPI options above 1920x1080. On a 4k monitor the text is very large. On native 4k the text is very small. Using switchresx to other options results in 'low resolution' and the text on a 4k monitor is visually blurry.As displaylink have not offered any responses to the Dec2020 product request to provide other HiDPI options one can only guess if this limitation is displaylink or Apple. The only real apparent option for usability of a 4k monitor is a single monitor directly from the M1 without displaylink as this provides the missing resolutions.

06-23-2021, 09:40 AM	#6
ScreamCZE Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 50	M1 limitation is that it can support a total of 2 monitors. That means an internal monitor (if you have a MacBook/iPad) and 1 external monitor = a total of 2 monitors. That is the reason why Mac Mini does support 2 external monitors - it does not have an internal monitor that "takes one slot". So you can connect 1 monitor to the HDMI port and 1 monitor to USB4.