Apple has published an official support document detailing how the illuminated logo on the newly released MacBook Pro functions and providing instructions for users who prefer to disable it, according to Tech Times. The feature marks the return of the glowing Apple emblem to the laptop lid after a ten-year absence. This follows its removal during a redesign in 2015 and 2016 when thinner lids could no longer house the necessary light pipe and backlight, as reported by Tech Times. The illuminated design is exclusive to the latest MacBook Pro equipped with the PROLED XDR Display, which also introduced touchscreen capabilities to the Mac lineup, as noted by Tech Times and MacRumors.
How the Illuminated Logo Operates
Unlike older legacy MacBooks that relied on light passing from the display’s LCD backlight through the outer casing, the new OLED-based MacBook Pro utilizes a separate lighting system, as outlined by 9to5Mac. According to Apple’s support documentation titled About the illuminated Apple logo on MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display,
the emblem stays lit whenever the computer is awake and active, as reported by Tech Times and 9to5Mac.
The brightness of the logo adjusts automatically based on two primary inputs: the active brightness level of the built-in screen and ambient light levels detected by the laptop’s ambient light sensor, according to 9to5Mac. Developer Guilherme Rambo noted on social media that the software interaction involves CoreBrightness managing the relationship between the screen and the logo. This software operates with 25kHz PWM and per-device calibration that shifts depending on the specific enclosure color, as cited by 9to5Mac. Consequently, regardless of the chosen screen brightness, the logo dims in darker environments and intensifies when working near a sunny window, as detailed by Digital Trends and 9to5Mac. When the laptop lid is closed, the logo appears as polished metal, according to 9to5Mac and News Minimalist.
The glowing Apple logo on the new MacBook Pro is controllable by software. It has 25kHz PWM and per-device calibration. CoreBrightness controls the relationship between screen and logo brightness. The brightness of the logo is adjusted differently depending on the enclosure color pic.twitter.com/baqBEkzJUo
Disabling the Glowing Logo Requires Terminal Commands
While the glowing feature offers a nostalgic touch for longtime users, Digital Trends and Absolute Geeks point out that individuals working in quiet meetings, dark studios, or cinemas may prefer to deactivate it. Because Apple did not include a dedicated toggle switch within standard System Settings, turning off the illumination requires utilizing the Terminal application located in the Utilities folder within Applications, as reported by Digital Trends and Absolute Geeks.
To turn the logo completely dark, users must input a specific command into Terminal and provide an administrator password, according to 9to5Mac and News Minimalist. The command execution applies system-wide. It does not apply to a single profile, meaning the dark logo remains active for any user who logs into the machine, and the preference transfers if data is migrated to newer hardware, as noted by Digital Trends and Absolute Geeks. Reverting the setting to restore the glow or performing a clean installation of macOS will return the logo illumination to its default active behavior, as confirmed by Digital Trends, 9to5Mac, and News Minimalist.
