Apple has brought back one of its most-loved design touches. The new MacBook Pro with the PROLED XDR display has an Apple logo on the back of the lid that lights up, and many longtime Mac users will feel a little nostalgic seeing it.
However, not everyone wants their laptop glowing in a dark room or a quiet meeting. Thankfully, there’s a way to switch it off, although it’s tucked away where most people won’t find it.
How does the glowing Apple logo work?
As long as your MacBook Pro is in use and not sleeping, the logo on the lid stays lit. You don’t have to fiddle with any settings either, as your Mac handles it on its own by checking how bright your screen is and how much light is in the room.
This means the logo won’t blind anyone sitting across from you at night. It tones itself down when the lights are low and gets bolder when you are working near a sunny window.
Can you turn off the Apple logo light?
Yes, but you won’t find a toggle in System Settings. Instead, you will need to use Terminal. You can open it from the Utilities folder inside Applications, or just search for it using Spotlight. Now, paste this command and hit Return:
sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0
Your Mac will then ask for your password. Type it in and hit Return. It might look like nothing is happening while you type, but that’s just Terminal keeping your password hidden. Once that’s done, the logo goes dark instantly.
Keep in mind that this isn’t just for your account. Anyone who logs into your Mac will see a dark logo too, and the setting will follow you if you ever move your data to a new Mac. Changed your mind? Run this command to bring the glow back:
sudo defaults delete com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode
If you ever do a fresh install of macOS, the glow will return on its own.