Welcome to our article on how to make the screen smaller on Mac! If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to navigate your Mac due to the size of your screen, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be showing you 12 easy steps to make your Mac screen smaller, as well as providing some helpful tips and tricks along the way.
Steps
Step 1: Open System Preferences
The first step is to open System Preferences on your Mac. You can do this by clicking on the Apple icon in the top left-hand corner of your screen, then selecting System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Click on Displays
Next, click on the Displays icon in the System Preferences window. This will bring up a new window where you can adjust your display settings.
Step 3: Select the Display Tab
Once you’re in the Displays window, click on the Display tab. This will allow you to adjust the resolution and scaling of your screen.
Step 4: Adjust the Resolution
To make your screen smaller, you’ll need to adjust the resolution. You can do this by dragging the slider under the Scaled heading to the left. As you move the slider, you should see the resolution of your screen change.
Step 5: Check Your Options
If you don’t see the resolution you want, check the “Scaled” options for a wider variety of resolutions. Pick the one that suits you best.
Step 6: Confirm Your New Settings
After you’ve selected a new resolution, your screen will automatically adjust to the new size. Check that everything looks good then click “Confirm.”
Step 7: Adjust Scaling
If you find that the icons and text on your screen are too small, you can adjust the scaling instead. This option is located just beneath the resolution slider. Drag it to the right to increase the size of everything on your screen.
Step 8: Check Your Display Preferences
To make sure everything looks good, open up some applications and web pages. Check that you can read everything and that everything displays properly.
Step 9: Make Further Adjustments if Needed
If your display still isn’t quite right, you may need to make some further adjustments. Experiment with the scaling and resolution settings until you’re satisfied with how everything looks.
Step 10: Use Your New Settings
Once you’re happy with your new display settings, start using your Mac as usual. Enjoy your newly resized workspace!
Step 11: Restore Default Display Settings
If you ever want to restore your default display settings, simply go back into System Preferences > Displays and click the “Default for display” button.
Step 12: Save Your Settings
Finally, if you want to save your new display settings for future use, click the “Save” button at the bottom of the Display window.
Explanation
Now that we’ve walked you through the steps to make your screen smaller on Mac, let’s delve a bit deeper into the reasoning behind these steps and what they actually do.
When you adjust the resolution of your screen, you’re essentially changing the number of pixels that are being displayed on your screen. A lower resolution means that there are fewer pixels, which makes everything on your screen appear bigger. Conversely, a higher resolution means that there are more pixels, which makes everything on your screen appear smaller.
Adjusting the scaling, on the other hand, changes the size of the user interface elements on your screen, such as text, icons, and buttons. By increasing the scaling, you can make everything on your Mac larger and easier to see.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you make the most out of your new screen settings:
1. Use keyboard shortcuts
You can quickly zoom in and out on your Mac screen using keyboard shortcuts. Press “Command + Option + +” to zoom in, or “Command + Option + -” to zoom out.
2. Adjust text size in web browsers
If you find that the text in your web browser is too small, you can adjust the font size in the browser settings. In Safari, go to Preferences > Appearance and adjust the “Page zoom” setting. In Chrome, go to Settings > Appearance and adjust the “Font size” setting.
3. Use accessibility settings
Your Mac has a range of built-in accessibility settings that can help you customize your display to better suit your needs. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility to explore these settings.
4. Use Zoom feature
Your Mac’s Zoom feature lets you magnify areas of your screen up to 20 times their original size. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom to enable this feature.
5. Use an external display
If you have access to an external display, you can use it to extend or mirror your Mac’s desktop. This can help you see more on-screen at once without having to adjust your display settings.
6. Adjust display brightness
If you find that your screen is too bright or too dark, you can adjust the brightness using the function keys on your Mac’s keyboard. Press “Option + Shift + F1” to decrease brightness, or “Option + Shift + F2” to increase brightness.
7. Use Night Shift
Night Shift is a built-in feature on your Mac that reduces the amount of blue light emitted by your screen. This can help reduce eye strain and improve your sleep quality. Go to System Preferences > Displays > Night Shift to enable this feature.
8. Use Display Enhancer
Display Enhancer is a third-party app that can help customize your display settings even further. It offers a range of advanced features, such as gamma correction and color adjustments.
9. Use a larger cursor
If you find it difficult to see your cursor on-screen, you can increase its size in the Accessibility settings. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display and adjust the cursor size slider.
10. Take breaks
Finally, make sure to take regular breaks when using your Mac. Staring at a screen for too long can cause eye strain and fatigue. Make sure to take breaks every 20-30 minutes to rest your eyes and stretch your muscles.
We hope you found this article helpful in learning how to make your screen smaller on Mac. Remember, adjusting your display settings can greatly improve your user experience and make your Mac work better for you. Try out these steps and tips today to see what works best for your needs. Happy Mac-using!
Advantages
1. Better Visibility
By making your screen smaller on a Mac, you can improve the visibility of your content. This is especially helpful if you have trouble reading small text or if you need to see more of a specific area on your screen.
2. Improved Focus
A smaller screen can also help you focus on specific tasks by reducing distractions. With less screen space to work with, you may find yourself more attentive and productive.
3. Energy Efficiency
A smaller screen can also save energy and prolong battery life on your Mac. This is especially important if you use your device on-the-go or if you’re trying to conserve electricity.
4. Enhanced Privacy
If you’re using a Mac in a public area or a shared space, reducing the size of your screen can help keep your content private. By reducing the visibility of your screen, you can prevent others from viewing your sensitive information.
5. Simplified Navigation
A smaller screen can also simplify navigation, making it easier to move between applications or view multiple windows at once. This can be especially helpful if you’re working on a complex project or trying to multitask.
6. Cost-effective
Another advantage of making your screen smaller on Mac is that it is cost-effective. If you don’t want to spend extra bucks on a larger screen, resizing the screen is a free and simple solution.
7. Portable
Finally, reducing the screen size on your Mac can make it more portable and lightweight. This is especially important if you travel frequently and need to bring your device with you on-the-go.
8. Improves organization
By having a smaller screen, you are required to organize your files better and increase your productivity thus being efficient as you work with a smaller space.
9. Aesthetic appeal
A smaller screen also means that there is more room for the computer’s design to shine through. Fewer wrinkles appear on the wide-screen and the computer looks fresh and sleek.
10. Longevity
By resizing the screen, it lessens the strain the monitor endures leading to a longer lifespan of the device.
Disadvantages
1. Reduced Productivity
If you’re not used to working on a smaller screen, reducing the size of your display can actually reduce your productivity. This may happen if you’re used to working with multiple windows or if you need to see more content at once.
2. Eye Strain
A smaller screen can also result in eye strain, which can lead to headaches, fatigue, and other physical discomforts. This is especially true if you’re working on a project for extended periods of time.
3. Limited Viewing Area
A smaller screen can also limit your viewing area, making it difficult to see certain details or visual elements. This may be a problem if you’re working on an intricate design or if you need to view high-quality images or videos.
4. Limited Multitasking
With a smaller screen, you may find it more difficult to multitask between applications or view multiple windows at once. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to manage multiple projects at once or if you’re used to working with multiple apps or windows.
5. Limited Display Options
A smaller screen also limits your display options, which may make it harder to work with certain applications or programs. For example, you may need to scroll more frequently or adjust your settings to accommodate a smaller screen.
6. Inefficiencies
Smaller screens may also lead to the inefficiencies in the mobile devices as users try to use a smaller screen for tasks that require larger screens, like watching videos or streaming online.
7. Annoying Pop-ups
Often, smaller screens on Mac devices result in an increased number of pop-up windows, making it harder to navigate between them.
8. The need for more space
With the same sized Mac, after resizing the screen, you may find that the interface is now cramped with no space which may cause more inconvenience for you as you work.
9. Reduced device value
Resizing the screen often means that the device would now be less valuable when compared to a standard-size device as it may no longer fit the required specification for some task-related software.
10. Harder to collaborate
When working with a smaller screen, it can become increasingly difficult to collaborate with others as you need to share your screen with others in charge of different project aspects.
FAQ
1. How do I make my screen smaller on Mac?
You can click on the green button located at the top-left corner of the window or press “Command + M”.
2. Is it possible to adjust the screen size without using the green button?
Yes, you can use the “Displays” setting in the System Preferences menu to adjust the resolution and scale of your screen.
3. What do I do if the green button doesn’t work?
You can try manually dragging the corners of the window to resize it.
4. Can I set a default screen size for all my windows?
Unfortunately, there is no built-in feature to set a default screen size for all your windows. However, you can use third-party apps to achieve this.
5. Does changing the screen size affect the quality of the display?
Yes, changing the screen size can affect the quality of the display. It is recommended to use the default resolution for optimal quality.
6. How do I restore the default screen size?
You can click on the green button again or press “Command + Option + F”.
7. Can I adjust the screen size using keyboard shortcuts?
Yes, you can use “Command + M” to minimize the window and “Command + Option + M” to maximize it.
8. Is it possible to adjust the screen size for specific apps only?
Yes, you can adjust the screen size for specific apps by going to the “Displays” setting and selecting the app.
9. Does changing the screen size affect the performance of my Mac?
Changing the screen size may affect the performance of your Mac, especially if you use a higher resolution or scale.
10. Can I customize the screen size options?
No, you cannot customize the screen size options as they are predefined by Apple.
11. What is the difference between screen resolution and screen scale?
Screen resolution refers to the number of pixels on your screen, while screen scale refers to the size of the objects on your screen.
12. How do I change the screen resolution?
You can change the screen resolution by going to the “Displays” setting in the System Preferences menu and selecting a different resolution from the list.
13. Can I adjust the screen size for my external display?
Yes, you can adjust the screen size for your external display by going to the “Displays” setting and selecting the external display.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can easily make your screen smaller on Mac in various ways. You can use the zoom feature, change screen resolution, use the split-screen mode or various other third-party applications. You just need to choose the method that suits your preferences best and get started. It’s essential to remember that using a smaller screen on Mac can help improve your productivity by reducing distractions and keeping your focus on important tasks.
Closing
Thank you for reading this article on how to make the screen smaller on Mac. We hope that this guide has been informative and helpful for you and you have found the solution to your problem. If you have any doubts or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below, and we will try our best to help you. We also encourage you to share this guide with others who might be facing similar issues. Remember, a smaller screen can help improve your productivity, so go ahead, try out these methods, and enjoy working on your Mac. Until next time, happy productivity!