How can I force my MacBook Pro to output 1080p on 4K display?

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How can I force my MacBook Pro to output 1080p on 4K display?

I have a 4k display, which has 2 HDMI ports: one is HDMI 2.0 and the other is HDMI 1.4, with the 2.0 port being connected to my gaming PC and the other one being used to connect work laptops.

The problem is when the 1.4 port is connected to a Mac, since Mac seems to handle the downscaling internally and output in the highest possible resolution. Since HDMI 1.4 supports up to 4k 30Hz, no matter what resolution I select in the Displays settings, I am limited to 30Hz because Mac is always sending a 4k signal.

I want to understand whether there is a native way to disable this behavior, and make the Mac output a 1080p signal to enable 60Hz. Sadly, this is a managed company device, and I am limited on what software I can install to it.

Based on my tests:

Windows allows 1080p 60Hz
Linux allows 1080p 60Hz
Android TV allows 1080p 60Hz
Mac always appears as 4k 30Hz to the display

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Make my 4k display work at native 1080p

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Jun 12, 2025 1:07 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 12, 2025 5:53 AM in response to dimitrios24

The regular "1920x1080" mode on a 4K display would be Retina "like 1920x1080" mode, in which the Mac sizes things as though the display had a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, but draws at a 3840x2160 pixel level of detail. Since the purpose of that mode is to take advantage of the monitor's resolution, I don't believe the Mac will have been set up to cut the final resolution to 1920x1080 (throwing away the benefit of the mode), just to get around your display's HDMI v1.4-related refresh rate limitations.

You could try going into Displays Settings, telling the Mac to display all resolutions as a list ("Show resolutions as list" in the "Advanced…" dialog, followed by ticking off a control on the main Displays Settings screen) – and then selecting "1920x1080 (low resolution)". That will tell the Mac to draw at a 1920x1080 level of detail. Whether the Mac will send the monitor's HDMI v1.4 port a 1080p.@ 60 Hz signal, or a 4K @ 30 Hz signal which has only 1080p detail, is something I don't know. But "1920x1080 (low resolution)" would be the mode to try.

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