Display settings for your Mac
Use a dynamic desktop. When you use a dynamic desktop picture, the desktop picture automatically changes to match the time of day in your location. Click Wallpaper in System Settings, then choose a picture for Dynamic Desktop. To have your screen change based on your time zone, enable Location Services. If Location Services is turned off, the picture changes based on the time zone specified in Date & Time settings.
Make your screen easier to see. Change the display resolution to make everything on the screen bigger, or increase the size of text and icons to make them easier to see. You can also make the pointer easier to see or quickly locate it with a shake of your mouse. See Make text and other items on the screen bigger in the macOS User Guide.
Stay focused with Dark Mode. You can use a dark color scheme for the desktop, menu bar, Dock, and all the built-in macOS apps. Your content stands out front and center while darkened controls and windows recede into the background. See white text on a black background in apps such as Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Messages, so it’s easier on your eyes when you’re working in dark environments.
![The desktop in Dark Mode.](https://help.apple.com/assets/646BA1F028A6766AF70D82D8/646BE2C59BBA75275D56B321/en_US/f430bf80fca230c2ce4ffb76d734a499.png)
Dark Mode is finely tuned for professionals who edit photos and images—colors and fine details pop against the dark app backgrounds. But it’s also great for anyone who just wants to focus on their content.
Night Shift. Switch your Mac to warmer colors at night or in low-light conditions to reduce your exposure to bright blue light. Blue light can make it harder to fall asleep, so warmer screen colors may help you get a better night’s rest. You can schedule Night Shift to turn on and off automatically at specific times, or set it to come on from sunset to sunrise. In System Settings, click Displays, click the Night Shift button at the bottom, then set your options. Drag the slider to adjust the color temperature.
Connect a display. You can connect an external display, a projector, or an HDTV to your Mac. If you’re not sure how many external displays your Mac supports, check your Technical Specifications. Open System Settings, choose Help > Mac Studio Specifications, then locate Video Support (you may need to scroll). See Connect a display to Mac Studio.
Change the reference mode. Studio Display and Apple Pro Display XDR have several reference modes that tailor the display’s color, brightness, gamma, and white point to match the reference requirements for each media type, including several predefined reference modes for HD and SD video-digital cinema. There are also modes for broader use cases such as photography, internet and web development, and design and print. See the Apple Support article Use reference modes with your display.
Learn more. See Displays settings on Mac and Change Display settings for accessibility in the macOS User Guide.