Native XDR Brightness Upscaling in 26.3

[waydabber]

Please note that the Native XDR Upscaling feature does not work in macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta with the current stable (v4.1.1) version.

UPDATE: Apple actively prevents this feature from working in macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta3. This seems to be an intentional limitation going forward. No more workarounds expected.

Of course the standard (software) upscaling continues to work and it's a great option for most users.

Those who depend heavily on native XDR upscaling should avoid upgrading to 26.3.

For more info: #4929 and #5049

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The following info is now outdated and does not work since 26.3 beta3:

You need to upgrade to the latest pre-release version (enable Settings > Application > Updates > Receive pre-release updates and then do a Check for Updates).

The release is available here to download:

https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay/releases

Configure the XDR upscaling feature here:

More info: #4929

[stoja88]

Tested in M4 Pro - Problems above 30% brightness :)

[waydabber]

Yes, indeed. I'll check to see what can be done about it. Let's track this further under #4929.

[waydabber]

(fixed in the latest internal pre-release)

[waydabber]

UPDATE: Apple actively prevented this feature from working in macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta3. This seems to be an intentional limitation going forward. No more workarounds expected. Of course the standard (software) upscaling continues to work.

[stoja88]

Yes , 26.3 Beta 3 . totally broke.

[waydabber]

Right. Those who depend heavily on native XDR upscaling should avoid upgrading to 26.3.

I'll remove this feature going forward for 26.3+ installations. The message is clear from Apple, they don't want this anymore. The technique this uses might interfere with some future products (new displays or the OLED MBP maybe? - not sure). I am sure they have good reasons.

#5049

[Simos805]

Ohh this is sooo bad! I installed macOS 26.3 today and was so disappointed that the native upscaling isn't working!! This one was one of the reasons I was so excited when I got my M3 Max MacBook Pro and Better Display maybe the first app I installed on it, and you're telling me that now it can't work?! Just with a f*ckin update?!
Isn't any hope you'll find a workaround? I mean, this is very serious...

[Lucianss]

I see that you managed to fix native xdr , however im unable to update to pre-release even after checking that box.

[Simos805]

What fix are you talking about?

[waydabber]

Sorry, this is probably a misunderstanding. There was a pre-release that fixed the native XDR upscaling in 26.3 beta1 and 2, but then Apple decided to counter that (or make further changes due to unrelated reasons, who knows...). So right now native upscaling is not available, macOS will remove any preset that is out of bounds and this protection cannot is something we have no way of overcoming (in a reasonable way that is suitable for an app geared for normal users).

[Simos805]

It would be nice if you provided a SIP off version that would tweak the frameworks needed to be tweaked so it could work again, for more advanced users who want to do the extra step.
At the same time I totally understand if this is too much work for you and isn't worth your time and effort :/

[teqtic]

It would be nice if you provided a SIP off version that would tweak the frameworks needed to be tweaked so it could work again, for more advanced users who want to do the extra step. At the same time I totally understand if this is too much work for you and isn't worth your time and effort :/

I second this! I disabled SIP (or parts of it can't remember) in order to disable a bunch of unwanted system frameworks. If you could still provide the native XDR brightness upscaling when SIP is disabled, please do!

[Simos805]

It would be nice if you provided a SIP off version that would tweak the frameworks needed to be tweaked so it could work again, for more advanced users who want to do the extra step. At the same time I totally understand if this is too much work for you and isn't worth your time and effort :/

I second this! I disabled SIP (or parts of it can't remember) in order to disable a bunch of unwanted system frameworks. If you could still provide the native XDR brightness upscaling when SIP is disabled, please do!

The thing is, if I'm not mistaken, that even if he eventually find a way to disable the preset validations on ProDisplayLibrary.framework and/or other frameworks and make native XDR upscaling work again, because this will happen by modifying those frameworks that are inside the dyld cache file, which is signed by Apple if I'm not mistaken, every macOS update would brake it and the patch will have to be applied again. Personally, if that's the only way to have back this amazing feature that truly upgrades my MacBook, and if the way to patch it after every update isn't that hard, I totally accept the trade off!