How to turn on the keyboard backlight on a laptop
Miscellaneous / / April 23, 2022
Proven methods for devices from different manufacturers.
Advanced laptop models have a backlit key feature that makes it easier to type in low light and in the dark. It is controlled by a special combination of buttons, as well as from the Windows Mobility Center.
For convenience and energy saving, the backlight can have several levels of brightness. In this case, two keys are more often used to decrease and increase the brightness, respectively. A less common option is with a single button that switches brightness levels cyclically.
In some models with a built-in light sensor, the backlight level is adjusted automatically, as is the brightness of the display. Please note that this will prevent the keyboard backlight from turning on when working in a well-lit area.
How to turn on the keyboard backlight on a laptop with a keyboard shortcut
There are usually no separate buttons for activating the backlight; instead, the top row of function keys is used. Each manufacturer uses their own variant, so their selection varies. Usually they are indicated by a keyboard icon, an A symbol, or a line with rays diverging around.
Depending on the settings, the function keys can perform both their main functions and auxiliary actions. Therefore, to turn on the backlight, sometimes you need not just to press one of the indicated F-buttons, but to do this in combination with modifier Fn.
Here are the options used by popular laptop manufacturers.
Apple
- F5 (Fn + F5) to decrease and F6 (Fn + F6) to increase brightness.
Acer
- F9 (Fn + F9), less often F8 (Fn + F8) to turn the backlight on and off.
- F9 (Fn + F9) to decrease and F10 (Fn + F10) to increase brightness.
Asus
- F7 (Fn + F7) to cycle through brightness and turn off the backlight.
- Less commonly F3 (Fn + F3) to decrease and F4 (Fn + F4) to increase brightness.
- On gaming laptops, the ↓ and ↑ keys (Fn + ↓ and Fn + ↑) to decrease and increase brightness.
Dell
- F10 (Fn + F10), F6 (Fn + F6), or → key (Fn + →) to turn the backlight on and off.
HP
- F5 (Fn + F5), F4 (Fn + F4), or F11 (Fn + F11) to turn the backlight on and off.
Huawei Honor
- F3 (Fn + F3) to cycle through brightness and turn off the backlight.
Lenovo
- Fn + Space to turn the backlight on and off.
Microsoft
- F7 (Fn + F7) to cycle through brightness and turn off the backlight.
MSI
- Fn + PgDn to decrease and Fn + PgUp to increase the backlight brightness.
- Models with optional numeric keypad: Fn and - to decrease and Fn and + to increase backlight brightness.
How to turn on the keyboard backlight on a laptop in the Windows Mobility Center
If the laptop keyboard is equipped with a backlight, then quick access to its control can sometimes be obtained from the standard Windows Mobility Center utility. The item "Backlight brightness" will be here along with "Screen brightness", "Wireless interfaces" and other settings.
Press the Windows key to open the start menu, start typing "Mobility Center" and open it from the prompts.
Turn on the backlight by pressing the "Keyboard Background Light" button, or adjust its brightness using the slider, if this function is available for your model.
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Mechanical engineer, well versed in engineering and technology. I have been using Mac and iPhone for more than 10 years, I know everything about the ecosystem and Apple products. Not only do I write, but I also know how and love to work with my hands. I worked as a car mechanic for 3 years, I only fix the car myself. He designed and built a house from scratch with his own hands, having accumulated a lot of experience along the way. I love old-school video games and comics, I play the guitar.
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