Many laptop models come with backlit keyboards, providing a convenient way to type in low or no light conditions. From enabling and customizing these keyboards to troubleshooting if they don’t work properly, it is important to familiarize yourself with the various ways to control your laptop’s keyboard backlight.
There are four main methods used to adjust laptop keyboard backlights: through keyboard shortcuts, within the operating system, with hardware switches, and third-party software. Depending on the laptop model, some of these methods may be available while others are not.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts allow you to quickly adjust your laptop’s keyboard backlight without having to navigate through complicated menus. To use keyboard shortcuts for adjusting your backlight, you’ll first need to know which keyboard keys access the backlighting controls.
Most laptops from Dell, HP, and Lenovo have a dedicated backlight key that can be found along the top row of Function keys. On the Dell XPS 13 and 15, it’s the F10 key; on the HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2, it’s the F11 key; and on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, it’s the F8 key.
When you press the backlight key on your laptop, you should see a menu pop up on your screen that allows you to adjust the brightness, turn off the backlight, or cycle through different levels of brightness. Some laptops also support other keyboard shortcuts, such as adjusting the brightness by holding down the Fn key and pressing the up and down arrows on the keyboard at the same time.
Adjusting Settings Within the Operating System
If your laptop doesn’t have shortcut keys for controlling the backlight, or if you’re using a new laptop and don’t yet know what keys to press, you can also adjust the settings within the operating system.
On Windows 10 laptops, start by opening the Settings menu. Then select System > Display > Brightness and Color. Within this menu, you should see an option to adjust the brightness of your laptop’s keyboard backlight.
On Mac systems, you can open the System Preferences menu and select Keyboard > Keyboard. Here you’ll find an option to adjust the brightness of the built-in backlight.
Using Hardware Switches
Some laptop models, particularly gaming laptops, feature dedicated switches to adjust the brightness of their backlit keyboards. These switches, typically located toward the top of the laptop, will allow you to quickly toggle between different brightness levels.
Third-Party Software
If your laptop doesn’t have a dedicated switch for its keyboard backlight, you might be able to find third-party software that adds this functionality. One popular example of such software is Intel’s Smart Connect Technology, which supports backlighting adjustments on compatible laptops.
Troubleshooting
If your laptop’s backlight is not working properly, there are a few possible causes. The first thing to check is whether the laptop’s battery is fully charged. If it isn’t, try plugging in the power adapter.
If that doesn’t work, try resetting the laptop’s SMC (system management controller). On MacBooks, use Apple’s instructions for resetting the SMC. On Windows laptops, try shutting down the laptop and then disconnecting the power adapter, removing the battery, pressing the power button for 30 seconds, and then reconnecting it all and restarting the laptop.
If none of the above solutions work, then your laptop’s backlight may need to be replaced. Contact an authorized repair center to find out what your next steps should be.