I’ve spent more time than I care to admit digging through System Settings whenever I need to adjust my display resolution for different tasks. Whether I’m screen sharing and need to bump up the resolution for clarity, or working on design work that requires specific pixel dimensions, the native macOS interface requires too many clicks and too much navigation.
DisplayMode Menu puts resolution switching exactly where it belongs: in your menu bar. Developer Ken Ng has created a lightweight utility that does one thing exceptionally well. Click the menu bar icon, and you get instant access to all available resolutions for each connected display, organized cleanly and filtered to show only modes running at 60Hz or higher.
What sets this apart from simply bookmarking System Settings is the favorites system. You can configure up to 22 preset resolutions through the app’s settings, giving you quick access to the specific modes you use regularly. The current resolution displays in bold blue text, making it immediately obvious what mode you’re running. There’s even a thoughtful detail where clicking on a display name copies it to your clipboard, which turns out to be surprisingly useful when you’re managing multiple monitors or documenting your setup.
I’ve been testing DisplayMode Menu on my Mac Mini M4 with two external displays, and it handles multi-monitor setups gracefully. Each display gets its own section in the menu, with all available modes listed separately. For users juggling different display configurations throughout the day, this kind of per-display organization becomes essential rather than convenient.
The real power emerges with Shortcuts integration. DisplayMode Menu registers as a system action, allowing you to trigger resolution changes through macOS Shortcuts. The app accepts two input formats: the settings format like “2560,1440,60,true” or the legacy format “1920x1080@60”. This means you can build automation workflows that automatically adjust your display settings based on which app you’re launching, what time of day it is, or any other trigger Shortcuts supports.
Resource usage is minimal. The app runs quietly in the background, automatically refreshing when you connect or disconnect displays without any manual intervention needed. It requires macOS 13 Ventura or later, which covers any reasonably modern Mac still in regular use.
Being free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license means you can inspect exactly what the app is doing, contribute improvements, or fork it for your own purposes. The source code is available on GitHub, and developer Ken Ng maintains active development with the most recent release (v0.2.1) landing in late December 2024.
Installation is straightforward through the GitHub releases page. Download the zip file, extract it, move the app to your Applications folder, and run a quick Terminal command to remove the quarantine attribute. If you prefer building from source, the repository includes build scripts and clear instructions.
The main limitation is that this is a focused utility tool. It doesn’t include display color calibration, brightness controls, or other monitor management features. Users looking for comprehensive display control might need to pair this with additional utilities. For anyone who simply needs fast, reliable resolution switching with automation capabilities, DisplayMode Menu delivers exactly what it promises without unnecessary complexity.
In a landscape increasingly dominated by subscription-based utilities and closed-source tools, it’s refreshing to find a developer simply solving a problem and sharing the solution. If you regularly adjust display resolutions or want to automate your display settings through Shortcuts, this app deserves consideration for your menu bar.
