Why does an old custom EDID return when BetterDisplay starts?

Check whether Automatically apply custom EDID upon detection of this display is enabled on a saved display record. That rule can reapply an earlier override when BetterDisplay recognizes the display again, changing its reported name and available modes.

An EDID that changes the vendor ID, model ID or serial number can make macOS recognize the result as a different display. In that situation, the record with the new name may not be the record that owns the automatic rule. Resetting only the new record can leave the original rule intact.

Open Settings > Displays > Overview and enable Show currently offline displays in Settings if you need to find the original record. Inspect the original record’s Display EDID > Load Custom EDID… settings and turn off Automatically apply custom EDID upon detection of this display. Then use Reset Factory EDID (Unapply) on the connected display that currently has the override. Loading and applying are separate operations. Simply loading a different file does not remove another record’s automatic rule.

Before applying an EDID that changes identity, enable Preserve continuity in case of an EDID display identity change. It tracks the original and alternate identities during the current app session. Keep Restore factory EDID on quit enabled when appropriate, particularly for identity-changing overrides. These EDID application features require Pro and a supported connection.

If the picture is unusable, start BetterDisplay while holding Shift to avoid automatic EDID application in safe mode. See EDID loading and recovery and resetting app settings before using broader resets. Export preferences first if you need to preserve your other configuration.

If different physical displays keep receiving the same saved settings, inspect their identification information and the available identification methods under Additional Settings…. An alternate method should be chosen from actual identity differences. Changing the visible name alone does not repair an identity collision. See Display EDID for continuity and quit behavior.