About this version
This beta release (first of the v1.4.x dev cycle) contains the initial implementation of a new experimental feature - display connection management for Apple Silicon Macs. This feature lets you turn off and on both your internal and external displays from the app menu. Turning off a display removes it from the display layout completely and puts it to sleep while turning back on powers the display on and adds it back to the display layout.
Warning: the feature is experimental and not tested on all possible configurations - risks may be involved! I welcome your feedback both in the GitHub Issues section and the BetterDisplay Discord channel!
You can fine-tune the feature under Settings/Advanced. Turning the displays on/off can be done from the app menu (Disconnect Display and Connect Display). You can also configure keyboard shortcuts (Settings > Keyboard) to turn on/off displays or use the Tools > Manage Displays menu to connect and disconnect all displays.
The app is trying to make sure you don't end up with all displays disconnected (unless you deliberately modify safety settings), but if something goes wrong you can always simply power off/on your external display manually to force them to be reconnected or close/open your MacBook lid to bring the built-in display back.
The connection management feature is only available for Apple Silicon Macs at this time and requires a Pro license.
Changes in this version:
Enhancements
- Turn off a display and fully remove it from the display layout with the option of turning it back on from the app ("Disconnect Display", "Connect Display") - #1396
- Add various precautions (with option to disable) for display connection management - #1407
- Add various auto-connect precautions for display management - #1414
- Add various keyboard shortcuts to connect/disconnect displays- #1415
- Add generic a Manage Displays item to the Tools menu - #1416
- Add option to disconnect reconnected displays after wake - #1413
- Add warning for disconnected displays before turning off connection management feature - #1423
- Make connections management an Apple Silicon feature only - #1426
- Order of displays changing randomly based on connection id - #1421
Fixed
- Typo on Settings -> Displays -> Retrieve display EDID: "attemtps" instead of "attempts" - #1425