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The Apple logo on the lid of the new MacBook Pro lights up again, for the first time in years. Not everyone wants this, for example, in a dark lecture hall or meeting. Apple itself explains how to turn off the illumination via the terminal.
The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display brings back not only OLED and touch but also a detail familiar to many from older MacBooks: an illuminated Apple logo on the back of the display. On previous MacBooks, the display's backlighting shone through the logo.
Apple describes how it works and how to turn it off in a support document for the illuminated Apple logo, which is currently only available in English. The process involves using Terminal and takes less than a minute.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The Apple logo lights up as long as the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display is awake, and automatically adjusts its brightness.
- It can be switched off via a command in the terminal; this requires the administrator password.
- This setting applies to all Mac users and also in macOS Recovery.
- The logo lights up again after a second command or a fresh installation of macOS.
This is how lighting works
The logo is always illuminated when the Mac is not in sleep mode. The brightness is determined by two factors: the display's brightness setting and the ambient light measured by the MacBook Pro's sensor.
This results in a simple pattern. At any display brightness setting, the logo appears dimmer in a dark room and brighter in a bright room. It remains completely dark only when the backlight is switched off.
How to turn off the Apple logo: Step by step
To ensure the logo remains dark in all environments, turn off the terminal's lighting:
- Open Terminal: Terminal is located in the „Utilities“ folder within „Applications“. A faster way is via Spotlight: Press Command-Space, type „Terminal“, and press Return to open it.
- Enter command: Type or paste this command and confirm with the return key:
sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0
- Enter password: The terminal will ask for the administrator password. No characters will appear while typing; this is normal. Confirm with the Return key.
The lights turn off immediately; a restart is not necessary.
What the setting includes
The command applies to the entire Mac, not just the logged-in user. Therefore, the logo will remain dark for all users, even if the Mac starts from macOS Recovery.
When moving to a new Mac, the setting is transferred along with it. If you later upgrade to a newer model and use Migration Assistant, you don't need to disable the logo again.
Turn the Apple logo back on
To make the logo light up again, a second command in the terminal, also requiring the administrator password, is sufficient:
sudo defaults delete com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode
The command deletes the previously set setting, after which Apple's default setting is restored. A fresh installation of macOS will also reactivate the lighting. Therefore, anyone reinstalling macOS will need to enter the command to turn it off again.
For whom switching off is worthwhile
I think the logo is a nice detail, but not suitable for every situation. In a lecture hall, a darkened conference room, or while working on a plane, a bright apple attracts attention that isn't always desirable. This is especially true because the logo's brightness can't be completely dimmed; it only adjusts to the display and ambient light.
It's a shame that Apple only provides a Terminal command for this. While the command is quick to enter, it presents a hurdle for casual users. Further articles about the device can be found on the MacBook Pro topic page.
Do you leave the logo lit up on your new MacBook Pro, or would it be one of the first things you turn off? Tell us in the comments in what situations the light would bother you.
Frequently Asked Questions: Glowing Apple logo on MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display. The Apple logo on the back of the display lights up as long as the Mac is awake.
Yes. Apple describes a command for this in the Terminal: `sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0`. After confirming with the Return key and entering the administrator password, the backlight turns off immediately.
The command `sudo defaults delete com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode` in Terminal, also with administrator password, will reactivate the backlight. A fresh installation of macOS will also reactivate it.
Apple does not describe a separate brightness setting. The logo automatically adjusts to the display brightness and ambient light: it is dimmer in dark rooms and brighter in bright ones.
No. According to Apple, the logo only lights up while the Mac is awake. It remains dark in sleep mode.
Yes. According to Apple, it affects all macOS user accounts and also applies when starting from macOS Recovery. It is transferred when moving to a new Mac.
Apple's support document regarding the logo illumination refers exclusively to the MacBook Pro with a PROLED XDR display. On earlier MacBooks, the display's backlighting shone through the logo. Apple discontinued this feature starting in 2015, beginning with the 12-inch MacBook.
