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How to turn off the MacBook Pro logo light

The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display lights up the Apple logo on its lid whenever it's awake. There's no switch for it in System Settings. Here are two ways to turn it off, and how to turn it back on.

The quick way: one click

Backglow is a free menu bar app for the logo light. Click the dot in your menu bar, then Turn Logo Off. No Terminal and no password, and it stays off even after you quit Backglow.

It also lets you set how bright the logo glows, which macOS doesn't let you do at all.

Download Backglow free

Apple's way: a Terminal command

Apple's own instructions use Terminal.

  1. Open Terminal. It's in Applications, in the Utilities folder, or search for it with Spotlight.
  2. Paste this command and press Return:
    sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0
  3. Type your administrator password and press Return. Terminal doesn't show it as you type. The logo turns off right away.

This turns the logo off for every account on the Mac. The setting comes with you when you move to a new Mac, and reinstalling macOS turns the logo back on.

Source: About the illuminated Apple logo on MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, Apple Support.

How to turn the logo back on

With Backglow: click the dot in your menu bar and turn the logo on in the same menu.

With Terminal: run this command and enter your administrator password.

sudo defaults delete com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode

Can I make it dimmer instead?

Not in macOS. It sets the logo's brightness for you, from your screen brightness and the light in the room: dimmer in a dark room, brighter in a bright one. More about the logo's brightness.

With Backglow you set the brightness yourself. You can also make the logo breathe, move to your music, or blink when Claude Code needs you.

Download Backglow free

Questions

Does the logo glow when my MacBook Pro is asleep?

No. Apple says the logo is lit whenever the Mac is awake.

Which MacBooks have the glowing logo?

Only the new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display.

Does Backglow need my password?

Not to turn the logo off or on.

Is Backglow made by Apple?

No. It's made by Juan Buis. See everything it does.