Keyboard Brightness Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

Is your keyboard brightness not working? This can be really annoying, especially if you work in a dark room. The good news is, you can often fix this problem yourself. In this article, we will explain why your keyboard brightness might not work and how to fix it step by step.

What Is Keyboard Brightness?

Keyboard brightness controls the light under the keys on your keyboard. It helps you see the keys in low light or dark places. Many laptops and some desktop keyboards have this feature. You can usually adjust the brightness using special keys on your keyboard.

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Why Is Keyboard Brightness Not Working?

There are several reasons why your keyboard brightness might stop working:

1. Function Key Issue : Sometimes, the keys to adjust brightness don’t work because of a function key problem.
2. Keyboard Backlight Disabled : The keyboard backlight might be turned off in your settings.
3. Driver Problems : Your keyboard driver might be outdated or corrupted.
4. Hardware Issue : The keyboard backlight hardware could be broken.
5. Power Settings : Some power-saving modes turn off keyboard lighting.
6. Software Bugs : Sometimes, software or system updates can cause issues.

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How to Fix Keyboard Brightness Not Working

Use the Keyboard Shortcut

Most laptops have a function key to control keyboard brightness. This is often marked with a small light or sun icon on the keys. Usually, it is one of the F1 to F12 keys. To adjust brightness:

1. Press the Fn key and the key with the light icon at the same time.
2. Try pressing it multiple times to increase or decrease brightness.

If this does not work, move to the next step.

Check Keyboard Backlight Settings

Some laptops let you control keyboard brightness in the system settings.

1. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Typing or Settings > Keyboard (depends on the laptop brand).
2. On some brands like Dell or HP, use their custom software like Dell QuickSet or HP System Event Utility.
3. Make sure the keyboard backlight is enabled and brightness is set properly.

Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

Drivers control how your keyboard works. An outdated or broken driver can cause problems.

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Find Keyboards, then right-click your keyboard device.
3. Choose Update driver and follow the steps.
4. If updating does not help, try Uninstall device, then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

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Check Power Settings

Sometimes, power-saving modes turn off the keyboard backlight to save battery.

1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.
2. Tap on Change plan settings beside the power plan you are currently using.
3. Then click Change advanced power settings.
4. Check any setting related to keyboard backlight or adaptive brightness and make sure you turn it on.

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BIOS or Firmware Update

Your laptop’s BIOS controls hardware settings. An outdated BIOS might cause keyboard backlight issues.

1. Visit your laptop manufacturer’s website.
2. Look for BIOS or firmware updates for your model.
3. Follow the instructions carefully to update the BIOS.

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Hardware Check

If none of the above works, your keyboard backlight hardware might have a fault.

1. Try shining a flashlight under the keys to see if any light appears.
2. If the light never comes on, hardware repair may be needed.
3. Contact the laptop manufacturer or a repair shop.

Extra Tips

Make sure your laptop is not too hot. Overheating can disable the backlight.

Restart your computer after making changes.

Check your laptop manual for specific keyboard backlight controls.