This service release focuses on bug fixes, minor improvements, and compatibility with macOS 27.2 (currently available as beta), including its new rounded on-screen display (OSD) style. It improves display recovery after sleep, brightness and volume key handling, native audio control, picture-in-picture positioning, and makes the BetterDisplay Guide easy to access from Settings.
BetterDisplay 5 is a free upgrade for Pro licenses purchased on or after January 1, 2025.
- Updating through the built-in updater preserves an already completed activation with an older Pro license, but displays an outdated-license notice. A current license removes the notice.
- An outdated license cannot activate a new or deactivated BetterDisplay 5 installation. Do not deactivate your existing installation if you intend to continue using it with an older license.
- Free features remain available without a Pro license for non-business use. Business use beyond the trial requires a license.
Read the BetterDisplay v5 upgrade FAQ and for details about license coverage, existing activations, and upgrade options.
BetterDisplay 5 supports Apple silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 26.3 or later, including macOS 27 Golden Gate. Users running an earlier version of macOS should continue using BetterDisplay 4.
BetterDisplay Guide
Explore betterdisplay.pro/guide for a detailed App Menu reference and Settings reference, step-by-step tutorials, and answers to frequently asked questions. Learn what each feature does, set up your displays, and find practical troubleshooting advice.
You can now open the Guide directly from the Settings sidebar, or use the help button at the bottom of each Settings pane to jump to the relevant documentation.
Changes
- Updated OSD appearance for macOS 27.2. Added the new rounded OSD with a segmented bar, enabled by default on macOS 27.2. Customize it under Settings > Keyboard > OSD, enable the new look on earlier macOS versions, or restore the previous look on macOS 27.2. (#5836)
- Clearer OSD value feedback. Native audio controls now show volume values while dragging the OSD slider. (#5840)
- Improved native USB audio control. Volume adjustments now respond more quickly with slow USB audio devices, and no longer get stuck above approximately 50% on some USB devices. (#5842, #5841)
- Faster brightness and volume key handling. Optimized key-event processing to improve responsiveness and reduce interference from macOS Control Center when the app is busy. (#5847)
- Volume feedback for sliders. Adjusting volume through app menu and OSD sliders now plays feedback when enabled in macOS Sound settings. (#5467)
- Better volume feedback routing. Keyboard adjustments using DDC volume control now play feedback through the affected display's audio device when it can be unambiguously identified. (#5466)
- More reliable brightness control after wake. Fixed brightness jumping to minimum or maximum and the macOS Control Center OSD remaining visible after wake on macOS 27. (#5846)
- Built-in display recovery after sleep. Fixed a case where the built-in display remained disconnected after waking the Mac when an external display had been unplugged during sleep. (#5854)
- Stable picture-in-picture positioning. Fixed PIP windows gradually shifting upward after each activation when the title bar and window controls were hidden. (#5849)
- Correct display corner rounding. Fixed rounded display corners rendering incorrectly after app-initiated layout changes. (#5869)
- Help directly from Settings. Added a prominent Guide link to the Settings sidebar and contextual help buttons at the bottom of Settings panes. (#5867)
- Clearer licensing errors. Improved explanations of network errors affecting activation and license management, with direct links to licensing FAQs and troubleshooting. (#5868)
- Updated built-in updater. Upgraded the Sparkle software update framework. (#5866)
View all enhancements and bug fixes
Included Localizations
Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, English (British), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
Contributors: @afkeceli, @aldoraibi, @AndryTi, @andrwmai, @BingoKingo, @brzenio, @cfuentea, @chihuahua-experience, @cristianritco, @dimaitre, @dotWee, @DrRoglaa, @dvanzoerlandt, @enormous-rat, @giulianopires, @gpnunes75, @HaiBliss, @hshsilver, @hw0603, @ibrayd, @jacktechstudio, @JulyIghor, @Kcraft059, @MapleLeaf14, @marcinkardas, @MazlumSerbest, @mickimnet, @mikevic18, @MonolitheMedia, @moriLiu, @niklasbogensperger, @old-cookie, @PatrykM13, @pavlik000-collab, @PuzzledUser, @SakiPapa, @shpokas, @skantek, @stonkol, @sup3rb3ar, @yeager, @waydabber.
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