Apple has introduced a new feature that improves video conferencing with macOS Tahoe 26.2: Edge Light. This smart lighting feature turns your Mac’s screen into a virtual ring light, so you look better in video calls, even in the dark.
It is a useful feature that many users are happy with. The light around the edge of your Mac makes video calls brighter and helps people see you better, even in poor light. We explain how it works.
Edge Light for Mac
Edge Light is essentially a virtual ring light that appears around the edges of your Mac screen when you’re videoconferencing. The feature works with all major video calling apps – FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet and WebEx – and provides soft, even lighting to your face. Instead of having to purchase and set up a physical ring light, the Edge Light does the work virtually through your Mac’s screen technology.
The great thing about Edge Light is that Apple has made it much more intelligent than a regular ring light. The feature uses the Neural Engine in your Mac to detect your face, estimate its size, and determine your position in the video frame. In this way, Edge Light ensures that the lighting reaches exactly the right point.
At the same time, the Image Signal Processor adjusts the brightness of the light based on the ambient lighting in your room, so that the effect always looks natural.
Compatibility and system requirements
Edge Light can be used from macOS 26.2 and only works on Mac models with Apple Siliconwhich means you need an M1 chip or newer. It works with built-in and external MacBook cameras. The Studio Display also works with Edge Light when connected to an Apple Silicon Mac.
Activate Edge Light
When lighting conditions are poor, Edge Light will activate automatically. You can also manually turn the light on or off using the steps below.
- Start a video call with FaceTime or another supported app.
- Activate the camera for a video call
- A green video call button (camera icon) will appear in the menu bar
- Click on this green button
- Activate the ‘Edge Light’ option by clicking on the text
By clicking the option again, you can adjust the brightness and color temperature, so that you can adjust the light intensity in detail. Handy if the light is too bright in a dark environment. This way you can also enable portrait mode, studio light and a background or disable the relevant options.