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How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

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How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox

In this article, I’m going to show you how to fix macOS Sierra screen resolution on VirtualBox or fix screen resolution of macOS Sierra on VirtualBox. When is this, happening? Or how we should fix screen resolution of macOS Sierra or El Capitan. In our previous topics, we have covered the following titles.

Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox

It is a prevalent and famous problem for those who install a Mac operating system on VMware or VirtualBox. For the first time when you install macOS Sierra or Mac OS X El Capitan on VirtualBox or VMware, the first error that you see is screen resolution and some other problem. By default when you install Mac Operating system on Virtualization software, most of the time the screen resolution is 1024×768, and you can change it on VirtualBox to “640×480, 800×600, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1900×1200“. As an example, I want to change the resolution from 1024×768 to 1440×900. I hope you get something from this pictorial tutorial.

Related Post: Fix macOS High Sierra Screen Resolution 4K, 2K, 1920×1080

Step #1. Play your installed macOS Sierra on VirtualBox and confirm the current and default screen resolution. After that turn off your VirtualBox VM and close all VirtualBox tabs.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Default Resolution of macOS Sierra Installed on VirtualBox

Step #2. Download the macOS Sierra Screen Resolution VBox Code from the link below.

Step #3. Replace and edit the code that is named as “VM Name” to your macOS Sierra Virtual machine name, be sure it’s the same.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Replace VM Name to macOS Sierra(VM name in VB)

Step #4. Choose the resolution of your screen monitor from the list below, to choose one just clean N and type the number of that resolution size.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Choose your Screen Resolution From the List

Step #5. Press Windows button + X and click on Command Prompt (Admin).

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Run CMD as Admin

Step #6. Select the VirtualBox path by the change directory command, so copy & paste the command to Command Prompt(CMD) then hit enter.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Choose VirtualBox Path

Step #7. This time Copy & Paste the fixed screen resolution code to Command Prompt(CMD) then hit enter.

Note: Be sure that you have selected a fix resolution for your monitor screen and choice the amount of N. after copying the code to virtual-box then close all tabs.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Run the Screen Resolution Code

Step #8. Start the installed macOS Sierra virtual machine from VirtualBox.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Launch the macOS Sierra VM

Step #9. Now log in to your account and check the screen resolution to confirm it has worked or not. So was all.

How to Fix macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox?

Fixed macOS Sierra Screen Resolution on VirtualBox

Related: Fix macOS  big Sur Screen Resolution on VirtualBox

Conclusion

In this article, I’ve covered how to fix macOS Sierra screen resolution on VirtualBox, and you saw that I changed the screen resolution from 1024×768 to 1440×900 From the above list that I’ve pointed. I only tested one of those sizes. Now, you can choose according to your monitor. If you’ve any kinds of question regarding this article or our old topics, feel free to share with us in the comment section below. Thanks for being with us.

How to Stop macOS Sierra Startup Apps? Previous post
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I am the CEO of wikigain.com and a network instructor. Here is my online pictorial notebook. I would like to write and share my experience through this website for computer enthusiasts, how to guides and technology geeks.

93 Comments

  1. blankThierry de Coulon Reply

    With VB 5.1.16 (Linux) none of the proposed solution worked. SIP perventing editing of com.Apple.Boot.plist, in the end I found one solution that works for me (El Capitan and High Sierra VB machines on Debian Linux):

    VBoxManage setextradata “” VBoxInternal2/EfiHorizontalResolution 1440
    VBoxManage setextradata “” VBoxInternal2/EfiVerticalResolution 900

    Mabe that can help someone 🙂

  4. blankRonen Reply

    For anyone struggling for a custom resolution, the following worked like a charm on Vbox 5.2.6:
    VBoxManage setextradata “MY OS NAME” VBoxInternal2/EfiHorizontalResolution 1920

    VBoxManage setextradata “MY OS NAME” VBoxInternal2/EfiVerticalResolution 1080

  5. blankcherry Reply

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  7. blankFrancis Vermeire Reply

    Here is my episode :
    ALL VM OFF and VB QUIT !
    1. SET : VBoxManage setextradata “Sierra” VBoxInternal2/EfiHorizontalResolution 1900
    2. GET : VBoxManage getextradata “Sierra” VBoxInternal2/EfiHorizontalResolution
    give me : Value:1200
    3. (same with Vertical)
    4. Run VM > Niiiiiiiiiiit > 1024×768 🙁
    5. stop all
    6. re-run GET : VBoxManage getextradata “Sierra” VBoxInternal2/EfiHorizontalResolution
    give me : No Value Set

    All is done in ADMIN mode 🙁
    VB 5.2.4 r119785
    Sierra 10.12.6
    Windows 10 64 bits

    Any idea ?

    Thanks a lot, and Happy NewYear :-p

  8. blankAmr Lotfy Reply

    Hi,

    VirtualBox 5.2.2,
    Host:Win10,
    Guest:Sierra10.12.6

    VBoxManage setextradata “macOS Sierra” VBoxInternal2/EfiGraphicsResolution HxV

    Not working, that happened after updating VBox
    is there a solution ?

    1. blankMukhtar Jafari Reply

      Once follow this steps.
      Open CMD as admin and run the following command.
      VBoxManage setextradata “” VBoxInternal2/EfiHorizontalResolution 1440
      VBoxManage setextradata “” VBoxInternal2/EfiVerticalResolution 900

  9. blankYang Reply

    try this code for Virtual Box 5.2 and works>
    VBoxManage setextradata “macOS Sierra” VBoxInternal2/EfiGraphicsResolution 1440×900

  12. blankPim Reply

    This is not working anymore with virtualbox 5.2
    Tried everything and did not work. I reverted back to 5.1.30 and it works again.

  14. blankzanuh Reply

    Hi, is this still working with version 5.1.26 of VirtualBox? I’ve followed the directions several times now and it will not update my resolution. I have also tried a couple different resolution options listed above.

      1. blankzanuh

        I’ve followed that video step by step multiple times now without any luck. I’ve also tried disabling “max size guest display” in the VirtualBox settings as well as the following command:

        VBoxManage setextradata “vmname” CustomVideoMode1 1550x768x32

        Nothing seems to affect my resolution. Any other ideas or VirtualBox settings that I may need to change? Is there a way to clear out the settings in case something got screwed up?

      2. blankArtem Russakovskii

        Same here. I’m using High Sierra on Virtual Box 5.1.26, and the resolution doesn’t change from the default one.

      3. blankArtem Russakovskii

        Actually, never mind. My problem was that I was putting quotes around VBoxInternal2/EfiGopMode 5. It works now.

  15. blankVoteForPEdro Reply

    It worked!
    I also made the mistake of not closing all the VirtualBox windows before applying the fix. Your code changes the resolution but the fix is still not complete for me. I can`t seem to find the right resolution for my laptop. Some resolutions are too small and others are too big like i have to scroll sideways or downwards. Anyway, thanks as usual.

  17. blankDerek Foulk Reply

    This wasn’t working for me, then I realized that I needed to shutdown all VirtualBox windows THEN run the commands to change the resolution. Maybe this article should be updated to include the “close all VirtualBox windows” as its own step so that others don’t make my mistakes?

    Thanks for the fix!

  18. blankJames Reply

    Hello,
    I have tried this method but it is not working for me, the resolution stay at the 1024×768 resolution. Is there an updated method on how to do this or am I just missing something?

    Thank you

      1. blankJames

        Went through everything to a T, and still doesn’t work. I’ve closed out of vbox completely, ran the commands in Command Prompt with my VM’s name in it and replaced the N with 5, then started vbox and ran the VM and the resolution is still the exact same. I have even tried creating the VM from scratch with a new name and it doesn’t work for that one either.

      2. blankFaiz Orz Post author

        Hello, Close VirtualBox before adding the command in CMD and watch this video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MViezRuuF2I
        Soon I Will create another guide to fix this issue.
        UPDATE: Sorry, the links are removed from YouTube. Sorry for the inconvenience.

  20. blankKlein Reply

    Have problem in virtual Box OS X Sierra 10.12 sound is slow. Soundcard in windows 10 is Intel HD. Can you help

  23. blankPaul Reply

    Hi, You mentioned some time ago that you were looking at how to add custom resolutions, is there any news on this? I would love to be able to set 1920×1080 resolution. Thanks

  24. blankKhan Reply

    Hi

    i am using a spare laptop (HP Pavilion dv6 series) with windows 10 Home ( ver 1511) OS Build 10586.218 , Processor : Intel(R) Core( TM) i5 CPU M430 @2.27 GHz , RAM 2.99GB , System Type : 32-bit operating sytem, x64-based processor.

    1. blankFaiz Orz Post author Reply

      That’s okay
      I am not sure but you can give a try to install that on your laptop but if you want to install on VirtualBox or VMware the recommended version of OS is 64.

  25. blankKhan Reply

    thanks a lot Faiz ,

    Can we install macOS Sierra on 32 bit laptop with windows 10 and i5 processor ? if yes , how ? please reply

  26. blankKhan Reply

    Hi

    Did you find a way to change custom resolution yet , i need this resolution for my monitor “1920×1080”,
    the closest available by your code is “1900×1200” but screen scrolls downwards in that resolution. Please let me know when you can write an article about custom resolution ?

  27. blankChamp Reply

    How about Screen Resolution on Mac OS X El Capitan on VirtualBox? I have tried same method instructed above, however no improvements. Please advise.

  28. blankChyeaBoi Reply

    This worked perfectly. If you want to copy paste the syntax for 1080P without having to click that google doc link:

    VBoxManage setextradata “YourVboxName” VBoxInternal2/EfiGopMode 5

    Thanks again!

  29. blankTerry Piercson Reply

    Hi! I’m in urgent need of help.

    I was able to change the resolution but not the actual window size. When i scale it up to higher percentage such as 200%, it pixelates and makes the resolution blurry. When I check the setting in the SierraOS it says 1900/1200.

    Please help change the actual window size accordingly to 1900/1200! Thanks.

      1. blankWolfgang Porcher

        i use virtual box last version 6.1.22
        and by this it does not work
        you have idea to look more why ?
        vboxmanage setextradata “MacOsMojave” VBoxInternal2/EfiGopMode 4

        also the other way not success
        vboxmanage setextradata “MacOsMojave” CustomVideoMode1 1920x1080x32
        vboxmanage setextradata “MacOsMojave” “GUI/CustomVideoMode1” 1920x1080x32

        Best regards Wolfgang

  30. blankBen Reply

    How would I change the (as mac OS sees it) “projected” second display’s resolution from (what it’s at now) 1280×1024, to 1920×1080? That wasn’t one of the listed resolutions in your guide/tutorial.

    1. blankFaiz Orz Post author Reply

      When you install macOS on VirtualBox the default resolution is set to 1024×768. So by the help of this article, you can change it to this resolution: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1900×1200. Now for other screen resolution, there is another way that we are going to cover it as soon as possible.

  32. blankVasyl Marchuk Reply

    How about those 3 megabytes of vram? Switching different EFI GOP modes to bigger resolutions does invrease the vram used by OS X, but only up to 8 or 9mb. Has anyone been lucky to get El Capitan or Sierra to actually use allocated 128mb? It immediately works in VMWare (after installing the guest additions), but no matter what I tried has worked for VirtualBox. I guess it is the matter of guest additions?

      1. blankVasyl Marchuk

        Well, even in your last screenshot, the “Displays” tab of the “About this Mac” dialog shows: 23.5-inch (1440 x 900) Display 4 MB. If you switch between different values for `EfiGopMode`, effectively choosing different screen resolutions — then the shown value will go up to Display 5 MB, or even 8 MB. But I was never able to make it show (and, apparently, use) all the 128 MB of vram that is allocated to the VirtualBox virtual machine in it’s settings.

      2. blanksaintd

        Hey Vasyl, did you find any solution to this? I need my 128M vram but I’m having exactly the same problem you described.. :/

  33. blankVasyl Marchuk Reply

    What about those 3mb vram? Switching different EFI GOP Modes makes OS X use more than 3mb, but only up to 8 or 9 mb. Was anyone lucky to get it to use 128? It does use 128mb in VMWare (although, only after installing the guest additions), but no matter what I tried — not in VirtualBox…

    2. blankFaiz Orz Post author Reply

      Hello Dear Tom,
      yes, there is a way but it’s not that much easy and so we will have an article about how to set your custom resolution on VB. Until that time you can use the methods mentioned above.

      1. blankCROS

        Hello,
        I’m also looking for setting the resolution to “1366*768”. Any news on your article about how to set custom resolution ?

        Thanks

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