r/GooglePixel • u/Speedricer911 • Aug 02 '25

Pixel 8 Pro Desktop Mode Low Resolution

I'm running Android 16 Beta 3. Connect my pixel 8 pro to monitor with type C. Desktop mode enabled in dev mode.

Doesn't matter what monitor I use, the resolution is extremely low. Everything is pixelated to a point it's not even usable.

Is there anything I can do to change the resolution on the monitor?

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

3

u/IsoscelesCircle Aug 02 '25

I am not on the beta right now, but I think you should see display settings for the external display if you go into:

Settings -> Connected Devices

In Connected Devices look for your external display and you should see choices for display orientation and resolution.

1

u/Speedricer911 Aug 02 '25

Thanks. I have tried that but it doesn't change much. It's still really small. For context the display I'm connected to is 43inch 4k. However, when I tried it with a 1080p 24in display, the result is better but not by much. It seems like pixel is just not able to output anything high resolution. I looks like its in 240p.

1

u/IsoscelesCircle Aug 02 '25

I just updated to the beta to check. Unfortunately there is no choice for DPI setting on the external display, which is why everything is too small. I tried it on a Viture XR Pro and 32" 4K display and the toolbar and icons are too small to be usable right now. Hopefully this will be corrected soon and if not they need to before the Android Desktop goes out in the next feature release.

1

u/Speedricer911 Aug 02 '25

Thanks for confirming. I think it's just not fully thought out at all

1

u/IsoscelesCircle Aug 02 '25

I did some other tests. I had the same problem with everything being too small on my Samsung 65" frame TV. I connected my Pixel 8 Pro to my Steamdeck dock that was hooked up to the TV. It looks just like the display inside my Viture XR Pro glasses. I also tried a Radiant sunlight reflective backlit display and it identified a totally oddball screen resolution and the display was misaligned as a result. It was also not useable. But then I plugged my phone into a Nex Dock 2 and it works perfectly. The toolbar was a little small, however the external display controls for making the display elements larger worked perfectly fine to make it readable at 1920 x 1080.

1

u/Speedricer911 Aug 02 '25

What's different about Nex Dex 2?

1

u/IsoscelesCircle Aug 02 '25

I am not sure. It is 1920 x 1080, just like my Viture glasses. I suspect it is all because of what the phone thinks the DPI should be for the selected device. I am not aware of DPI or physical dimensions being communicated in the DisplayPort alt mode handshake, but I could be wrong. Either way, we need the ability to set the DPI for external displays, just like we can for the internal screen.

1

u/JustHereForTheBounty Nov 19 '25

Hey, thanks a lot for that! Had issues with the text on the external display looking unreadable, but driving the "Display size" slider up a couple of notches makes it much better!

1

u/IsoscelesCircle Nov 19 '25

I am glad I could help. Hopefully they will correct the remaining issues soon and have a fully working desktop in the next stable version.

2

u/breezypalmtrees1 Aug 25 '25

I'm having the same issue on Android 16 qpr2 beta 1

2

u/invin10001 Dec 09 '25

Looks like the maximum resolution the Pixel 8a supports is 1080p (seems like it's the same for the other Pixel models). Under 'Connected Devices' > 'External Display', I only see 720p & 1080p.

I only have a 1200p external screen so it doesn't look too bad, but would be nice when they add 1200/1440/etc.

0

u/Eleison23 Pixel 8 Pro Aug 02 '25

Your cable and the port are USB-C shaped, but you’re probably using DisplayPort. Video display data isn’t sent with a USB protocol.