Can you try one of the testing builds on this repo: https://github.com/jgmdev/lite-xl/releases/tag/v2.1.0 which include the changes on this PR #998 to better handle scaling, and report if it worked better for you?

When opening the application on my MacBook that is connected to monitors, the window opens with a very large scale font:

When moving the window to my secondary monitor, the font looks very squished:

When moving, the window back to my MacBook from the secondary monitor, the font gets fixed:

Note: Tested build from https://github.com/jgmdev/lite-xl/releases/tag/v2.1.0

I am also seeing the same issue. I use my external monitor and the scale is fine, but when I drag it to my M1 the font shrinks like the last image posted here. The official release had this issue and jgmdev's fork is also having the scaling issue.

I wonder if it's a HiDPI/LoDPI issue. On the official build I remember tweaking the scale to look nice on my MacBook Pro (HiDPI retina), then hooking up to an external monitor and dragging Lite-XL over (HiDPI -> LoDPI) the UI and text got even larger than OP's.

Then on jgmdev's fork, I tweaked everything to look right on my external (LoDPI non-retina ) monitor and brought it over to my MacBook Pro and everythink shrunk beyond readability.

• Macbook Pro M1 HiDPI @ 1728 x 1117
• Ultrawide 49" monitor LoDPI @ 4864 x 1368

Yeah, this can be reproduced on Linux too when using the RENDERER backend option.
This happens because it doesn't account for monitor changes, so the scale is never updated.
I have some ideas to improve the situation for scaling changes in general (not only macOS), but it'll have to wait until the next major version.

As a workaround for now you could do a quick restart when you change monitor with the command Core: Restart (ctrl+alt+r on non-macOS).
I'll see if we can get a quick fix in for the next bugfix release.

Ok I have a quick fix in the pipeline.
As a curiosity, what's the scale used by your monitors?

Can anyone check if #1650 actually fixes the issue on macOS?
There should be debug builds in the CI (https://github.com/lite-xl/lite-xl/actions/workflows/build.yml -> Click on the latest with the same name as that PR -> You'll find Artifacts at the bottom of the page).

Can anyone check if #1650 actually fixes the issue on macOS? There should be debug builds in the CI (https://github.com/lite-xl/lite-xl/actions/workflows/build.yml -> Click on the latest with the same name as that PR -> You'll find Artifacts at the bottom of the page).

That fix worked for me!

As a curiosity, what's the scale used by your monitors?

Don't know if I'm calculating scale properly so also listed out numbers.
External = 161.29% (native 3840 x 1080, set res custom 4864 x 1368)
Mac = 100% (native 1728 x 1117, set res 1728 x 1117)

That fix worked for me!

Awesome! Thanks for testing!

Awesome! Thanks for testing!

Slightly off-topic, but do you know why my settings aren't auto applying to this version of Lite-XL? I see the extensions installed but it seems some of the settings (disabled toolbar) and extensions (sticky header) aren't carrying over. Is this due to me previously using the addon variant and this version not? I would like to test again with all my settings applied.

Is this due to me previously using the addon variant and this version not?

Yes, the addons version bundles the settings plugin which saves the changes you do with it in its own file.

I would like to test again with all my settings applied.

You could manually install the settings plugin, or use LPM to install it.