Brighten Up
Push your MacBook Pro display beyond its default brightness limit. Code in the park, work in the sun—see your screen clearly outdoors.
MacBook Pro with XDR display (M1 Pro/Max and later) • macOS 13.0+ • Free
Beyond Max Brightness
Unlocks the XDR brightness range on supported MacBook Pro displays. Go brighter than System Settings allows.
Global Hotkey
⌥⌘B toggles extra brightness from any app. ⌥⌘N and ⌥⌘M to adjust the level up and down.
Auto Timer
Set a timer and brightness resets automatically. No need to remember to turn it off—your display is protected.
Battery Aware
Optional battery automation disables extra brightness when your battery drops below a threshold.
Multi-Display
Works with built-in XDR displays and external Pro Display XDR. Toggle per-display or all at once.
Lightweight
Lives in your menu bar. Tiny memory footprint. Uses Apple's native gamma API—no hacks.
How It Works
Install
Download, unzip, drag to Applications. That's it.
Toggle
Click the sun icon in your menu bar or press ⌥⌘B.
Adjust
Use the slider or ⌥⌘N / ⌥⌘M to dial in your brightness.
Relax
The auto-timer turns it off for you. Your display stays safe.
Built With
Code in the park.
Stop squinting at your screen outdoors. Brighten Up unlocks the full potential of your MacBook Pro display.
Download Brighten UpFree. No account required. No data collection.