MacBook M5 Pro, Neo Image adjustments issue

[waydabber]

There is a macOS issue that affects software dimming, brightness upscaling and image adjustments on the new MacBook M5 Pro and M5 Max and Neo models. All Tahoe versions have this problem.

Based on the latest feedback from Apple (as of jun 18, 2026) the issue is sitting unsolved with the engineering team - see https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/819331?answerId=894330022 .

UPDATE: In latest v5.x internal pre-release if you turn "color table adjustments" off, a new, improved compositor filter will take over which has all the controls of color table adjustments (+ more) and is also upscaling capable (and also there is the option to use direct brightness upscaling for built-in XDR displays).

As a workaround:

1. Please update to the latest version of the app (enable under Settings > Application > Updates)
2. For brightness upscaling on the M5 Pro/Max, use "Direct Brightness Upscaling" (available in the latest app version). - here is how to set it up: Direct Brightness Upscaling in macOS 26.3+ #4983
3. For image adjustments configure the affected display(s) like this:

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The issue was reported to Apple. More info:

https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/819331

[rrisk93]

FYI, brightness upscaling and image adjustments does not work well at built-in display too. M5 MAX Macboo Pro.

[rrisk93]

@waydabber
Thank you. I tried, but it still didn't work well on the built-in display...

brightness goes up once, but i cant adjust it. adjusting brightness was buggy.
image adjustment(ex. color temp) didn't work.

Maybe I just did something wrong....

[waydabber]

Yes, the M5 Pro/Max has an issue with color table adjustments, so upscaling won't work properly. Let's hope Apple fixes this soon. You can try using Metal instead of color table upscaling - it should work. As for other image adjustments with Metal, make sure you are running the latest internal pre-release (v4.2.4).

[rrisk93]

@waydabber
Thanks for you advice. Using Metal actually worked!
But the GPU usage is pretty high...

I really hope they fix the bug soon, too.

[waydabber]

I think they will as it's an important API, having this broken messes up some important Pro workflows (like all color calibration software) - which is a problem considering we are talking about MacBook Pros.

[waydabber]

@rrisk93 - can you try whether this upscaling method works on your M5 Max? #5242

[rrisk93]

@waydabber
I gave it a try, and while I managed to make it brighter than the default setting, adjusting the brightness is nearly impossible, and the entire screen looks slightly washed out.

[waydabber]

Hmm. This is an unrelated issue, but for whatever reason keyboard control is not taking place (both without upscaling and with upscaling the app OSD should show with nits counter present if keyboard configuration is working).

I suppose controlling the external display with keyboard does not work either, right?

Can you maybe remove and add-back the app under System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard? Are you using the built-in keyboard?

[rrisk93]

@waydabber
I'm using the MacBook's built-in keyboard.

I removed and re-added the app in Privacy & Security > Accessibility settings, but it still isn't showing up.

I also couldn't control the other monitor using the keyboard. When I focus on the other monitor and try to adjust it with the keyboard, the brightness of the MacBook's display changes instead.

[waydabber]

Hmm. Has no idea why though. Did keyboard control ever work with BetterDisplay? Are you using any other app that might interfere or grab keyboard control (Karabiner, BetterTouchTool, notch apps etc)?

[rrisk93]

@waydabber
Yes, I’m definitely using Karabiner and BetterTouchTool, so that could very well be the cause...

Just in case, I tried reinstalling version 4.2.3, closing both apps, and restarting my Mac, but the “nit” message didn’t reappear...

If other M5 users aren’t experiencing this issue, it’s most likely my problem.

[waydabber]

It's not an M5 problem I think. Karabiner can for sure mess things up - even if Karabiner itself is not running, it has components that interfere with any app that tries to take hold of native media keys.

Anyway, for upscaling then you can use the app menu slider or you can try defining custom shortcuts in the app for brightness, that might not be blocked by Karabiner. Sadly both direct upscaling and external display support is incompatible with Control Center / standard macOS keyboard control so for the proper experience it is essential that the app can capture brightness keys or have some other shortcut key defined.

[rrisk93]

I think this is not fixed in MacOS 26.5...

[waydabber]

Yeah, among a lot of other things... :( Let's hope macOS 27 will be better.

Anyway, for upscaling one can use direct upscaling in v4.3.0, for image adjustments, Metal can be used as a workaround.

[waydabber]

Based on the latest feedback from Apple (as of jun 18, 2026) the issue is sitting unsolved with the engineering team - see https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/819331?answerId=894330022 .

In latest v5.x internal pre-release if you turn "color table adjustments" off, a new, improved compositor filter will take over which has all the controls of color table adjustments (+ more) and is also upscaling capable (and also there is the option to use direct brightness upscaling for built-in XDR displays of course).

[alistairholt]

Thanks for all your work on this!

Still seeing this on macOS 27.0.1, so it doesn’t look like Apple fixed it in 27.

• MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro (Mac17,8)
• BetterDisplay 5.1.1 (installed with Homebrew)
• Built-in XDR display, auto-brightness off

With the default settings, upscaling made almost no difference. Going from 100% to 160% gave a barely visible change, even though BetterDisplay reports 1600 nits.

Turning off Settings > Displays > Overview > Allow color table control fixed it. The display is now visibly brighter at 160%.

[waydabber]

Yes, Apple still did not fix it, they just recently confirmed it in the Developer forums. The app will do upscaling just fine with color table adjustments turned off or by using direct brightness control on the M5 Pro/Max.