# Apple explains how to turn off the new MacBook Pro’s glowing logo

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-06 05:40 UTC · Category: Technology

## Executive Summary
Apple brought back the glowing logo on the new MacBook Pro, and explained how to turn it off.

## Intelligence Brief
The illuminated Apple logo has returned on the new MacBook Pro models featuring PROLED XDR displays, which launched at the end of October 2026 and began arriving to customers on November 6, 2026, according to GIGAZINE and MacDailyNews. Apple phased out the glowing logo starting with the 12-inch MacBook released in March 2015, with the last models featuring it being the October 2016 MacBook Pro and the WWDC 2017 MacBook Air update. Unlike older models where light passed through from the display backlight, the new OLED-based PROLED XDR display uses a separate illumination system managed in software through the CoreBrightness framework. MacRumors noted that Daring Fireball's John Gruber was told Apple engineered a custom light source so the logo could glow again without adding thickness to the lid, quoting an Apple representative who said, 'Because it's awesome.'


Apple explained that the logo is always lit whenever the Mac is awake, automatically adjusting its brightness based on the built-in screen and ambient light sensor. According to GIGAZINE and MacDailyNews, the logo is dimmer in dark rooms and brighter in well-lit areas, and looks like polished metal when the laptop is closed. Because Apple did not include a toggle in System Settings, users must use the Terminal application to disable it. GIGAZINE and MacDailyNews detailed that users can enter a specific command in Terminal, provide an administrator password, and turn off the illuminated logo immediately. The change applies system-wide to all user accounts and carries over during data migration to a new Mac.


Third-party software has also emerged to offer alternative controls for the logo. Designer Juan Buis created a free app called "Backglow" that allows users to manually set the logo brightness, turn it off with one click, or use a "Breathe" mode, as reported by MacRumors. The Pro version of the app costs nine dollars for a limited time or fifteen dollars later, and includes a "Music" mode that pulses the light to the beat and an "Agents" mode that blinks when Claude Code needs attention. MacRumors stated that the logo is lit by a white LED that does not change colors.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Gadget Hacks | Backglow MacBook Apple logo music pulse: what it does | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxPWG1oVVVpeXJKRkVHdENQTFZ0OU5raS1pb2dkdEpOOEdRbFdIUmdsUGVqemtYazBjLUpCcExaRk9Zd0FfZ3Jsd2xnMmU5T0otcTNBTVFXS0tyQ0hucmttZEQ1NFJ2bFVKUDhLak1DdnRFUmdIMHhLUnhuUngzV1h0MTBoUFRHa1VId19BMTJ4ZWszQQ?oc=5) |
| The Mac Observer | Glowing Apple logo on MacBook Pro: how to turn it off with one Terminal command | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxObUp2elkxX0VkUjQ2Tm1QNDEyZ0wwSkUxQkN2bTVnQWpsbHUzOXFlNmNyUFR0WS1JblBWdjc5RGVEU2RZVmtNZ2YxS2hvOS1xWVlyckFXYWNvNFBqUmtlRENqZEd4UTIwMEVUcjRUTjNNem5ZZ19VdHlpSjZ0eTNHVHAxaERtY0k?oc=5) |
| The Mac Observer | Backglow lets you dim the MacBook Pro’s glowing logo, and $9 syncs it to music | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie0FVX3lxTE83RG52SmVSM3VoWVItTjROWVB1RXJEbldfWjF4T2lybXFxSzFXUzZaRGdHbmhRVnNqQnVPeGZjRC1xTUJEbE1uZ0N5YW5VVmFyNFNvLWxrNmFwM2ROVDFoVVNJLXJFRWQ3WDJ2a3dBLXVoYlBSTURNQXJZOA?oc=5) |
| GIGAZINE | The 'glowing Apple logo,' which made a comeback after 10 years on the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display, can also be turned off. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxQYnZnZU83WjNqZXVONnhVN1lKSGRMcXQ2eWR0VE9KNGNlQU5zNE14WWVZS3ZLVGtuUUEtRVlNREg1cmRNQ2dJU2gxdVBvRGV4WDBubndhMUJmWEpUdWpubXA5VVREcS1sVnQyc2dVNXlJQV9ZeEdqNVdWa01QT3FWcEZDVDBnaHNScGc?oc=5) |
| MacDailyNews | Users can turn off the new MacBook Pro’s illuminated Apple logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxPU1YxZ1ZaUEJWM3pNSXEwcUU4d2xVNlRVbnhxUU1Ib2p5RnJkNnRNeGNUUFB4V1M5M0RIRzlSSVE0Y1pRaTZ4NWdJRU55M0o0ZTZSMFRxaG9pYlV2bmY3Nk9aeEJWMUswalZpMzZUTzF6d3FmODBKRXY1NGlDNlZ5djNHYm5qd09oS3VQYlRUYTNxOTRrQ20wR29ZYllJWkpr0gGmAUFVX3lxTFBocGFMUF9DSlh0OXp4OEprQ016SmRwTjhvRW9HUGNoQ0FiYXp1ZjNFZGpiTjFKM0NPQnNZTUwyMkZ4aEZlaHJiLVZ4ampkN3N3cENSRm80cVctTTJCc2ZQWi1kV2FJVks0cE03aFd6cVB2ZEFyQkxYS1N3TE1qODFYZ2lEWWJzcENLYXN5dWJXSUo3YUE5NlhrLXhGUUYxRWEzLTZYYlE?oc=5) |
| GIGAZINE | The 'glowing Apple logo,' which made a comeback after 10 years on the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display, can also be turned off. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxOZUpxQUUwVTBKaWVLSHZ3M0pub2N2X0t1YUlPN2VMMjNORW50Z3RIanFJamJNcjJWODRXZzhwUkFzUkFfOWVOWHFIam1NM2VLakxPY2toV0UxZGI4QUZLb1ppVTI0TEU4azFoSUtGOHRCV0hmbmFMLUpyZ2I1V2J2QWJ0ZDNPc1NL?oc=5) |
| MacRumors | 'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxPOWRhSDRpM2hkZTZxaFZ0R1Nmb3otb1ZheWx3Zl9wRGtMd181VE4yNEwxTS0yZS00N2dtall6a2MzdVN4WlVpMjBDQ3pyUFBKTzRVeGZxWXltekx4MnJsY05kMTRUOEN6NndMTE0xbXFmdkptZUE4R3p6ZC1fY1NRNm9yN3Vxdw?oc=5) |
| Mezha.net | Backglow Lets You Customize the New MacBook Pro’s Glowing Apple Logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTE9TNU5FeVdHZTIyVnFEdU5VNUd5NFdrV2NhVmlsWE9NbUotd0FJNE1YeE5sY0trZ3BtcjZDNDhCbTVXQWZFNFlvdUJSRFZJOC1mM3ZLSmNjTU93b2FVRDZKSmFfTl9rUHRaM2c?oc=5) |
| Kursiv Media Узбекистан | How to stop MacBook Pro's glowing logo from using battery | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE5UN1B5ZzlsOU1nOXFQcE4zSHkxdFdxWE1UbXd6aFR6UDRlZDdDNUxhSzVPeW01OWNwSjZWaGFwRi1ReDIxbnQtWndKT0pMQzlRRUxTVWZPOVJtUkxYNGVtOU9wRWZ0bzBJNWItbGp1T2Zjdw?oc=5) |
| Computerworld | Apple VP Tom Boger on MacBook Pro weight, design, and the return of the glowing logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxQRWx6VkppMjlMRjI4YjJ3cnc3UDc4VWQ5MU1KZHB4LURtNUdiR1F1TTJvTlVoQkE3R3lGeWlmaXg2WGFwQkRkblZ0WWNlRGgtbnVpOE1XalA0T3VmQXMtVzhwbFVOeU5oQWVjNXgwTmdLa2h3MUZlZUxEN2c4WTZwaU1EdERnWk5Zbi03WEVsN2JuREsxT3hfSHF4eVp2NFEzOHk0bUVkSk1Zek16Z3VmeUJMT2s1MElYU3hUWmNfMjVsTlVzTnZ6NkNSTWxkZw?oc=5) |
| MacRumors | Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieEFVX3lxTFBmam5BdWhEY2txenBEcV9yeV9CVnB6TXFUcjdEZENBOExnNlRMRHlpcW9oRUxpTlNtcjUtMFNURFg1SW9wajdiQVRhdnJVRERJcDNMblpiLWhheWw2X3VzSUdBcWQzVVA0dnIwY0lFT1g5aU8tSjVicA?oc=5) |
| Trend Hunter | Illuminated Laptop Logos: Apple Restores the MacBook Pro's Lit Logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMia0FVX3lxTFBmWWhGbEhWdTZDbWplNnFpT3hwVVd4RnpDQ2RCNXFCUVBDdGNxNGxJdWVnWjRxT3hVcU5yaWY3aTlWS1NvU3lBNUVzU2w1bGdSa055Q0FmVE02ejNSa2R3aTd1VTFMU19mZk5R?oc=5) |
| Digital Trends | Apple explains how the glowing Apple logo works and how you can turn it off | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxOOF9BVXlVakh4UzZZZlBXUHFHN250T0pzNDdlX2xITWUybTNzOU5JTkVjZzFiWm5FQUxCUDFkTmFPUkd4enFFWUxybXRlN05aZDVfZk0wMEp5bS1OS0lNWnQ4d2k2V2VrOGctX2R3SDhacXN3Qk14azJGQ0VjenhyYW5xOXJiY0RNOFgwMlpLYXJnODhmcXBBR1lLNUROYnJlZVR1NkwtVV8zS19IRGRNeHVWdk9Oc1E?oc=5) |
| Chrome Unboxed | Early reviews panned the Googlebook Glowbar, but adore Macbook’s glowing logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxObG82S1djMWlQSkxzamRHQlNETHowVEx0REdhd1Y4NDBPMWdSb0gtakdWWFBpeDV2WHFMSTYwNHRpc19nYlc0dTJWdWJxTmtjdmw0OWJudlFGUUVUcFpOLTdQN0JVNUZMaGFERVlTUFJmTi1KUnltXzhnMXhSdmVra05GaWpqTUNtazB3WHJoOEdPbFd4WVJwWVh6bVl4UURa?oc=5) |
| Creative Bloq | The real star of the new MacBook Pro is the Apple logo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxQaW1jcTVpcnRCd2ZMWkpEb2l0TERXNWV2cjRJdk9VWEJLWk9wU2hVZFgydkhEdXBGanFHaGJmbS02aFhQYnNSY0lpMnZYU3pzYl9KTmYtZ1gyREdRb0lOVXZTaWRNODVBU0pINnNyWGs5SWRfTEJ4S3p1S0pocnBoQ3BvcEZUVWRtQ2twbEhJcC1xdw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoaiapps.com/trend/2026-11-06/apple-explains-how-to-turn-off-the-new-macbook-pro-s-glowing-logo*