Once you've installed XIV on Mac, use this guide to set up optimal graphics settings for the game.

The settings below reproduce quality equivalent to the "High (Desktop)" preset while maintaining a high frame rate.

Approximate performance values for various systems can be found in the Compatibility List.

Before working down this list, please ensure that the "Standard (Laptop)" or "Standard (Mac)" presets are selected. Then scroll down to the settings that match the Apple Silicon chip in your machine.

Recommended Settings for Base & Pro Apple Silicon Chips

The following instructions are designed to guide users on how to achieve the best performance with Base or Pro Apple Silicon Chips.

Open the XIV on Mac launcher.
(If you have automatic login enabled, hold shift to prevent automatically launching the game.)
Select XIV on Mac in your menu bar, and then select Settings.
This will open the XIV on Mac Launcher Settings.

Select the Graphics tab.

  1. Enable MetalFX spatial upscaling: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
  2. Enable macOS Scaling: Recommended (Ticked)

Select the Plugins (Dalamud) tab. If you plan on using plugins, then:

  1. Enable Dalamud: Recommended (Ticked)
  2. Entrypoint: Recommended (Ticked)

Select the Advanced tab.

Keep Patches: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Msync: Recommended (Ticked)
Encrypt Game Arguments: Recommended (Ticked)

Exit out of XIV on Mac’s settings.
Log in to the game.

While logged into the game, open your In-Game Settings Menu.

Select System Configuration. Select Display Settings.

Screen Mode: Borderless Windowed
Frame Rate: None
Limit frame rate when client is inactive: Recommended (Ticked)

Select Graphics Settings.

Select the dropdown menu, choose Standard
Set UI Resolution to “Standard HD/Full HD“
3D Resolution Scaling: 60 (base) 70 (pro)
Enable dynamic resolution: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Use low-detail models on distant objects (LOD): Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Enable dynamic grass: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Real-time Reflections: Off
Edge Smoothing (Anti-aliasing): FXAA
Transparent Lighting Quality: Normal
Grass Quality: Low
Parallax Occlusion: Normal
Tessellation: Normal
Shadows Self: Display
Shadows Party Members: Hide
Shadows Other NPCs: Hide
Shadows Enemies: Hide
Shadow Quality:
Use low-details on shadows: Recommended (Ticked)
Use low-details on distant objects shadows: Recommended (Ticked)
Shadow Resolution: Normal
Shadow Cascading: Off
Shadow Softening: Weak
Cast Shadows: Minimum
Texture Detail: Normal
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Movement Physics Self: Full
Movement Physics Party Members: Off
Movement Physics Other NPCs: Off
Movement Physics Enemies: Off
Naturally darken the edges of the screen: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Blur the graphics around an object in motion (radial blur): Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Screen Space Ambient Occlusion: Off
Glare: Low (Note: This setting is bugged. This is a Square Enix bug. Please don’t report it to us.)
Water Refraction: Normal
Enable depth of field: Not Recommended (Not ticked)

Select Other Settings (Represented by three dots).

Character and Object Quantity: Minimum

Recommended Settings for Max & Ultra Apple Silicon Chips

The following instructions are designed to guide users on how to achieve the best performance with Max or Ultra Apple Silicon Chips.

Open the XIV on Mac launcher.
(If you have automatic login enabled, hold shift to prevent automatically launching the game.)
Select XIV on Mac in your menu bar, and then select Settings.
This will open the XIV on Mac Launcher Settings.

Select the Graphics tab.

  1. Enable MetalFX spatial upscaling: Optional
  2. Enable macOS Scaling: Recommended (Ticked)

Select the Plugins (Dalamud) tab. If you plan on using plugins, then:

  1. Enable Dalamud: Recommended (Ticked)
  2. Entrypoint: Recommended (Ticked)

Select the Advanced tab.

Keep Patches: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Msync: Recommended (Ticked)
Encrypt Game Arguments: Recommended (Ticked)

Exit out of XIV on Mac’s settings.
Log in to the game.

While logged into the game, open your In-Game Settings Menu.

Select System Configuration. Select Display Settings.

Screen Mode: Borderless Windowed
High Resolution UI Settings:

  • If your display’s (Default) resolution is below 1728x972: Standard HD/Full HD
  • If your display’s (Default) resolution is between 1728x972 and 2304x1926: 150% Full HD
  • If your display’s (Default) resolution is between 2304x1296 and 3456x1944: 200% WQHD
  • If your display’s (Default) resolution is above 3456x1944: 300% 4K

Frame Rate: None
Limit frame rate when client is inactive: Recommended (Ticked)

Select Graphics Settings.

Select the dropdown menu, choose Standard
Set UI Resolution to “High WQHD/4K"
3D Resolution Scaling: 100
Enable dynamic resolution: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Use low-detail models on distant objects (LOD): Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Enable dynamic grass: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Real-time Reflections: Standard
Edge Smoothing (Anti-aliasing): TSCMAA
Transparent Lighting Quality: Normal
Grass Quality: Normal
Parallax Occlusion: Normal
Tessellation: Normal
Shadows Self: Display
Shadows Party Members: Display
Shadows Other NPCs: Display
Shadows Enemies: Display
Shadow Quality:
Use low-details on shadows: Recommended (Ticked)
Use low-details on distant objects shadows: Recommended (Ticked)
Shadow Resolution: Normal
Shadow Cascading: Normal or Off
Shadow Softening: Weak
Cast Shadows: Normal or Minimum
Texture Detail: Normal
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Movement Physics Self: Full
Movement Physics Party Members: Simple
Movement Physics Other NPCs: Simple
Movement Physics Enemies: Simple
Naturally darken the edges of the screen: Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Blur the graphics around an object in motion (radial blur): Not Recommended (Not ticked)
Screen Space Ambient Occlusion: Off
Glare: Low (Note: This setting is bugged. This is a Square Enix bug. Please don’t report it to us.)
Water Refraction: Normal
Enable depth of field: Not Recommended (Not ticked)

Select Other Settings (Represented by three dots).

Character and Object Quantity: Low or Minimum