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My MacBook Pro screen constantly dims and brightens. The automatic box is unchecked. The brightness adjustment button is constantly moving back and forth.

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That sounds like a software issue. I would take it to an Apple Store if there is one close to you. If not, you may need to do a re-install. – Zrb0529 Sep 28 '12 at 17:16

3 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

I'd try to reset the System Management Controller (SMC).

Apple's documentation on the SMC states that this may resolve issues related to the power management. The document specifically mentions:

The display backlight doesn't respond correctly to ambient light changes on Mac computers that have this feature.

As the guidelines on how to reset the SMC depend on your kind of Mac, I will not list them all here. Please follow the link and go to the section with the title Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) for more information on how to apply the reset.

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up vote 0 down vote

Might be an issue with the power supply when “Slightly dim the display when on battery power” is checked in Energy Saver prefs. This would dim the display when the power adapter is lost and become brighter again when not running on battery anymore.

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up vote -1 down vote

Maybe the ambient light sensor?

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As the OP states, the sensor is turned off in the System Preferences. – gentmatt Sep 28 '12 at 17:52

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