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Why your MacBook Pro logo is so bright, or so dim
The glowing Apple logo on the new MacBook Pro sets its own brightness, and macOS has no slider for it. Here's how it decides, and how to set it yourself.
How macOS sets the logo's brightness
It follows two things: your screen brightness and the light in the room. Turn your screen down and the logo dims with it. At any screen brightness, it's dimmer in a dark room and brighter in a bright one.
Source: About the illuminated Apple logo on MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, Apple Support.
Is there a setting for it?
No. System Settings has nothing for the logo, and there's no keyboard shortcut. Apple's only control is a Terminal command that turns it off completely. How to turn it off.
How to set the brightness yourself
Backglow is a free menu bar app for the logo light. Click the dot in your menu bar and drag the brightness slider. Your screen's brightness doesn't change.
When you quit Backglow, the logo goes back to Apple's settings.
Questions
Why is my logo barely visible?
In a dark room with your screen turned down, macOS dims the logo a lot. Turn your screen up, or set the brightness in Backglow.
Does Backglow change my screen's brightness?
No. It only changes the logo.
Can I turn the logo off completely?
Yes. Here's how, with Backglow or with Apple's Terminal command.
Can it do more than a fixed brightness?
Yes. Backglow can make the logo breathe, move to your music, or blink when Claude Code needs you.