MacDisplay 2.1.0: smoother visuals, less strain on your older Mac
MacDisplay 2.1.0 is our biggest update yet. It was shaped by feedback from the people who use the app every day, starting with a fix for the issue you reported most often.
This release grew out of your messages. Every improvement below began with someone who had purchased MacDisplay, noticed that something wasn't working as it should, and took the time to explain the problem to us.
So, before we get into the details: thank you. Today's release is better because of your input.
The biggest improvement: automatic display detection
Automatic display detection. MacDisplay identifies which Mac you're using as a monitor and automatically selects the best resolution for it. There's nothing to configure manually and, in most cases, everything looks right from the very first session.
Previously, you had to open Settings, select a resolution, and check the result yourself. Now MacDisplay recognizes both Macs when the session begins and chooses the best display mode for the Mac acting as your second screen. The feature behind this is called Fit to Display, and it's enabled by default.
Everything that's changed
- Black screen issue: fixedWe've resolved the problem most frequently reported by MacDisplay users.
- Smoother visualsWindows, videos, and moving content now appear noticeably smoother and more natural.
- Far less strain on the Mac used as a monitorMacDisplay now uses significantly fewer resources, with the difference especially noticeable on older models.
- Wi-Fi is no longer experimentalWireless connections have been improved to provide better stability and more consistent image quality.
- Visual artifacts have been virtually eliminatedImage quality has improved significantly. In our Thunderbolt tests, the picture now arrives with almost no visible loss in quality.
- Version
- 2.1.0
- Release date
- August 29, 2026
- File size
- 12 MB
- Requirements
- macOS 11 or later on the Mac used as a display · macOS 12.3 or later on the primary Mac
- Price
- €29.99 + VAT, one-time purchase · free trial with no expiration date
Why reducing the load matters most
MacDisplay was created first and foremost to give an older Mac a second life — one that might otherwise sit unused. And in most setups, that Mac is the older of the two.
Previous versions of MacDisplay could place more strain than necessary on the Mac being used as a monitor. With version 2.1.0, we focused on making the app much lighter, even during longer sessions.
It's the kind of improvement you may not immediately notice by looking at the screen, but you'll feel it in everyday use: your Mac has less work to do, its fans stay quieter, and if you're using a MacBook as a second display, it consumes less battery power.
How to update
If you already use MacDisplay, the app will update automatically. Simply open it and accept the update when prompted. Alternatively, you can download MacDisplay again from the website — your existing license will continue to work.
Once you've installed version 2.1.0, we recommend leaving Fit to Display enabled in Settings. This is the feature that handles automatic display detection, and it's switched on by default. If anything doesn't work as expected, the live diagnostics can automatically check your permissions, network, and firewall settings.
Gaetano Andrea Biocca MacDisplay Published 29 August 2026