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MacBook Pro screen goes full brightness

After upgrading to Catalina, MacBook Pro ups its screen brightness to max every time I connect an external monitor (any external monitor). Is there a solution? I am using manual brightness.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Nov 3, 2019 10:53 AM

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Posted on Nov 7, 2019 2:35 PM

I usually do not restart MacOS unless I have an update or something. I connect and disconnect external monitors when needed. Even if I do not physically disconnect a monitor, but turn it off with a button and then turn back on again, the built-in monitor goes into full brightness. This was not the case with OS versions prior to Catalina and is clearly a bug. This is not critical bug and I can live with this. I am a Software Developer and I do this for a living. If Apple pays me to help localizing this bug fix this, I can spend time on this task. But otherwise - no worries.

114 replies

Mar 30, 2020 3:17 PM in response to Hubhal

It really did take far too long to resolve, and it seems as of right now the fix is specifically mentioned for the LG 5K. I know of at least two published reports it also occurs with the new Pro Display XDR on the 2019 Mac Pro.


It might have helped (I hope) that this issue received mention on Lloyd Chambers Mac Performance Guide, John Gruber's Daring Fireball and other places here and there.

Apr 7, 2020 1:02 PM in response to arkady1

Happy News = It's Fixed 😊 after Installing macOS 10.15.4 Update!!!


I did 1 Restart to make sure that this Fix is real! It is 😊 !!!

The Brightness on my MacBook Pro 15’, Late 2017 stayed where I left it off before the Restart 😊 !!!


Thanks Apple  😊 !!!


Below is my Setup:


MacBook Pro 15’, Late 2017, macOS 10.15.4


I use Thunderbolt Display with it, via Thunderbolt 2 to 3 Apple Adapter.


My HDs are plugged in via OWC Thunderbolt 3, 13 Port Dock, which is plugged in via USB-C into MacBook Pro!


MacBook Pro screen goes full brightness

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