Just recently, Apple has shared a support document that explains the details on how the XDR Displays found on the 2021 MacBook Pro and Pro Display XDR can throttle the brightness.
According to the article, when you see a caution symbol on the menu bar or Display menu in Control center, that means the display on any aforementioned models is in low power mode and “using limited brightness.” This can happen if the ambient temperature is too hot or the display plays HDR for a long time. To help alleviate this situation, Apple has offered the following situations to keep the display from overheating:
- 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.
Worst case is that you should contact Apple Support for help if the problem exists when the room’s ambient temperature is less than 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you own a 2021 MacBook Pro or even the Pro Display XDR, have you encountered an issue like this? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us at @Appleosophy.
