Apple just confirmed MacBook Pro 2021 screen can’t stand the heat

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Apple explains that 2021 MacBook Pro’s screen brightness will drop if it gets too hot

MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch) sitting on a table showing two webpages side by side
(Image credit: Future)

Apple has published a new support page explaining that the 2021 MacBook Pro’s mini-LED display will automatically limit its brightness if it gets too hot. 

The automatic safeguard also applies to the Pro Display XDR monitor, and when it kicks in, users will see an on-screen warning with an explanation mark in the menu bar. “This can occur if the ambient temperature of the room is high and you've been playing very bright content for an extended period of time,” Apple explains.

How bright is “very bright”? Well, the newest MacBook Pros are capable of displaying 1,600 nits of peak brightness, and up to 1,000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness for HDR content, though SDR seems to be limited to 500 nits. As such, it doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, with very few reports online at the time of we published this story.

Nonetheless, if you do find yourself faced with the brightness warning, Apple does have some tips to make it go away. 

As heat is the trigger of the brightness limiter, Apple also suggests you reduce the ambient temperature of the room — or presumably just move your MacBook Pro somewhere cooler. Finally, Apple advises that if you put your MacBook to sleep for five to ten minutes, it may have cooled sufficiently to restore full brightness.

If these problems persist, and your house isn’t perpetually a 77°F or higher hothouse, Apple advises you to contact support, as it could be indicative of a deeper problem.

The appearance of this support page now is slightly curious timing from Apple. As mentioned, it doesn’t appear to have been triggered by widespread complaints, and while the 2021 MacBook Pro is still quite new, the equally impacted Pro Display XDR has been around for two years now. 

Perhaps as we approach the end of winter, Apple is bracing itself for the problem to become more widespread as North American temperatures slowly edge closer to the 77°F danger zone.

Alan Martin
Alan Martin

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. He also handles all the Wordle coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game for the last several years in an effort to keep his streak forever intact.