NoBrainer Res

Lightweight macOS menu bar app for quick resolution switching. Built for remote Mac users who need custom display modes.

🎯 Why NoBrainer Res?

When you connect to your Mac Mini or Mac Studio remotely via Screen Sharing, macOS limits available resolutions. This app helps you:

• ✅ Access hidden resolutions not shown in System Preferences
• ✅ Force custom resolutions via displayplacer integration
• ✅ Quickly switch between display modes from the menu bar
• ✅ Support for HiDPI modes even on headless setups

Perfect for:

• Remote Mac Mini users connecting via Screen Sharing
• Developers working with headless Macs
• Anyone needing precise resolution control without dummy HDMI plugs

🚀 Features

Standard Mode

• List all available display modes
• One-click resolution switching
• Show only HiDPI modes option
• Current resolution highlighting

Advanced Mode (via displayplacer)

• Force custom resolutions not listed in System Preferences
• HiDPI mode support
• Quick preset buttons (1920×1080, 2560×1440, 3840×2160, 5120×2880)
• View all available modes for each display

📦 Installation

Option 1: Download DMG (Recommended)

1. Download NoBrainer-Res-1.0.0.dmg from Releases
2. Open DMG and drag NoBrainer Res.app to Applications
3. Launch from Applications folder

Option 2: Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/nobrainer-tech/NoBrainer-Res.git
cd NoBrainer-Res
xcodebuild -project NoBrainer-Res.xcodeproj -scheme NoBrainer-Res -configuration Release build

🔧 Setup for Advanced Resolution Control

To use the Advanced Resolution features (force custom resolutions), you need to install displayplacer:

brew install displayplacer

How It Works

NoBrainer Res integrates with displayplacer - a command-line tool that can set resolutions even when they're not visible in system preferences.

Note: For best results with remote Mac access, consider using a headless HDMI adapter (dummy plug) which makes macOS think a 4K display is connected.

🖥️ Use Case: Remote Mac Mini with Screen Sharing

Problem: You're connecting to your Mac Mini via Screen Sharing, but:

• macOS only offers 1920×1080 or lower
• You need 2560×1440 or 4K for your workflow
• System Preferences shows limited options

Solution with NoBrainer Res:

1. Install displayplacer on your Mac Mini:

   brew install displayplacer

2. Open NoBrainer Res on the Mac Mini (via Screen Sharing)

3. Go to Settings → Advanced

4. Enter your desired resolution (e.g., 2560 × 1440)

5. Click Apply

Your Screen Sharing session will now use the custom resolution!

Alternative: Headless HDMI Adapter

For the best experience, use a 4K HDMI dummy plug (~$15-30):

• Makes macOS think a real 4K monitor is connected
• Unlocks all native resolutions (3840×2160, 5120×2880)
• Works without any software
• Recommended for permanent remote setups

🛠️ Technical Details

Built With

• Swift 6.0
• SwiftUI
• CoreGraphics (for native display control)
• KeyboardShortcuts for global hotkeys

Requirements

• macOS 14.0+
• Apple Silicon or Intel Mac
• For advanced features: displayplacer (brew install displayplacer)

🤝 Support Development

If you find this tool useful, consider supporting development:

Pay What You Want on Gumroad

Your support helps maintain and improve the app!

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE file

🙏 Credits

• displayplacer by Jake Hilborn - the CLI tool that powers advanced resolution features
• KeyboardShortcuts by Sindre Sorhus - keyboard shortcut management

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Made with ❤️ by NoBrainer.tech