Apple Says Pro Display XDR and 2021 MacBook Pro Can Experience Limited Brightness in High Temperatures

Apple today shared a new support document outlining a warning symbol that can show up on the MacBook Pro with Liquid Retina XDR Display or the Pro Display XDR when the screen is running too hot, leading to brightness being diminished.

macbook pro 4
Apple explains that a caution symbol in the menu bar or Display menu in Control Center on a 2021 ‌MacBook Pro‌ or an Apple Pro Display XDR means the display is in low power mode and "using limited brightness."

This situation can occur if the ambient temperature of the room is high and if bright content has been playing for an extended period of time. Apple offer several solutions for those who see the warning, including lowering the temperature of the room and temporarily putting a Mac to sleep to allow it to cool.

  • On ‌MacBook Pro‌ with Liquid Retina XDR display, quit any apps that could be consuming significant system resources.
  • Use the Apple XDR Display or Pro Display XDR reference mode unless your current workflow requires a specific reference mode.
  • Lower the ambient temperature of the room.
  • Close or hide any windows with HDR content.
  • Choose Apple menu  > Sleep to put your Mac to sleep. Let your display cool down for 5-10 minutes, then press any key on the keyboard to wake your Mac.

Apple says that users who see this problem continually when the ambient temperature of the room is under 77 degrees Fahrenheit should contact Apple Support for help.

Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
Related Forums: Mac Accessories, MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

obamtl Avatar
45 months ago
Only ever got the caution symbol on an Apple device once, and I knew I was torturing the device under direct sunlight in sweltering heat. This is a reasonable precaution for extreme situations, and it’s clear it doesn’t get triggered easily or often.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MJaP Avatar
45 months ago
So Apple now run their processors cool but their screens hot! ?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dammster Avatar
45 months ago
I do not blame them. Running something demanding for longer period of time and also watching some HDR content at 1600 nits and that thing will get hot :-) The same as iPhone and everything else.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stuey3D Avatar
45 months ago
This is just physics, those mini LED’s will generate a lot of heat when at a high brightness and could potentially damage themselves.

LG OLED TV’s are the same you could buy a cheaper model which would be dimmer, or you could buy the more expensive EVO models which have a heat sink attached to the back of the panel allowing the pixels to be driven brighter.

If Apple were to attach a heat sink to the screen the MacBook would probably be too thick and probably top heavy reducing it’s stability.

That being said I bet even at a dimmed brightness this thing is still brighter than most other laptops on the market.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vmistery Avatar
45 months ago
25 centigrade for anyone outside the US. Not particularly warm if you’re in summer with no A/C. Will be interesting to see how bad the effect is and how likely it is to notice, I guess those in the Southern Hemisphere might be able to give us some idea?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7149041 Avatar
45 months ago
Living in a country where ambient temperature never drops under ~30 Celsius / ~90F this is a major PITA with the iPad Pro when trying to use it outside.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)