Studio Display XDR dimming problem

[kwokamole]

I've got the new Apple Studio Display XDR. Using it with a 16" Macbook Pro /w M4 Max.

When I have my Macbook closed in clamshell mode so that only the Studio Display XDR is on/active, I'm getting this problem where once any sort of HDR content is shown on the screen, for example playing an HDR video on YouTube or even opening an HDR photo in Finder Preview with the spacebar shortcut will significantly dim my screen. I'm aware that MacOS is supposed to dim the rest of the screen so that the HDR content part of the screen is the only thing that is shown in HDR and brighter but it seems like everything is just significantly dimmer overall.

After I close the HDR content it will take about 15 seconds before it fades into the previous full brightness again. It's super annoying and making me purposely avoid HDR content so that I don't have to wait for my screen to brighten back up.

The thing is, this problem doesn't happen when I use both my 16" Macbook Pro screen together with the Studio Display XDR in Dual Screen mode. The brightness stays consistent and HDR content does not dim the rest of my screen at all.

It feels like a MacOS or Display Firmware problem? I'm on the latest Display Firmware and it's happening on Tahoe 26.5 and previously 26.4 as well.

Anyone else have this problem or know a fix for this?

 

[alfogator]

I'm not seeing anything like that. When I start an hdr video in youtube the rest of the screen stays the same.

Do you run any software that raises the max SDR brightness by any chance?

 

[kwokamole]

I have MonitorControl installed as I was recently testing out the Kuycon G32P and using it to control the brightness before I returned it for the Studio XDR. It hasn't been running but I just uninstalled it to see if it would fix it but no, it's still doing the same thing. Wonder if the install has messed with some settings?

 

[rnb2]

I haven't seen anything like this with my XDR - it brightens HDR content without dimming everything else. Would you be able to exchange it, to at least establish whether the issue is that unit or something with your Mac?

 

[alfogator]

I have MonitorControl installed as I was recently testing out the Kuycon G32P and using it to control the brightness before I returned it for the Studio XDR. It hasn't been running but I just uninstalled it to see if it would fix it but no, it's still doing the same thing. Wonder if the install has messed with some settings?

Not sure about that, maybe try power cycling the monitor (unplug it from the power socket so it reboots).

Also try switching monitor profile to one of the fixed brightness ones, like HDR Video and see how it behaves that way.

 

[kwokamole]

Tried power cycling, didn't help. As far as other monitor profiles, the top 2 "Apple XDR Display" ones and anything that has "HDR" in the profiles seem to cause the dimming of certain content whereas the other one's stay consistent as it should.

I tried plugging in my M2 Macbook Air and I don't have this problem, so i'm guessing it has to do with software and it's not the monitor itself?

 

[rnb2]

Certainly sounds like software on the MBP if the Air doesn't cause the display to dim with the same content. I'm suspicious of MonitorControl, given its intended use was connected with display brightness. When you say you uninstalled it, how did you do that? Does it have a built-in uninstall or uninstall script that comes with it? It sounds like something might have been left behind that is still modifying brightness.