How to Enable Keyboard Backlighting on Your Computer or Laptop

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Illuminate your keyboard and adjust the brightness

Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: December 9, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using the Keyboard

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Using Windows Settings

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Using Windows Mobility Center

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Using Mac Settings

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Troubleshooting

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Video

Keyboard backlighting is a common feature for many keyboards and laptops. It helps you see the keyboard in low light. If the keyboard lighting isn’t turning on, there are a few simple things you can do to fix this. This wikiHow article teaches you how to turn on your keyboard lighting and adjust the brightness.

Turn on Keyboard Lighting

Most keyboards have a keyboard backlight button you can press. It’s usually one of the function (F) keys or the spacebar. You may need to press and hold the Fn button to get it to work. If your keyboard doesn’t have this button, it may not support keyboard backlighting.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using the Keyboard

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1
Locate the keyboard backlight button. It usually has an icon that resembles a button lighting up or a keyboard lighting up. The location varies depending on the make and model of your keyboard or laptop. It may be the F3, F4, F5, F7, F9, F11, or F12 key. On Lenovo laptops, it may be the spacebar.^{[1]
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- Not all keyboards or laptops have backlighting. If you can’t find this button, check the specifications for your make and model in the user’s manual or on the internet. Make sure it supports backlighting.
2
Press the backlight button. Pressing it once will usually turn your keyboard backlight on.
- On some keyboard models, you may need to press and hold the Fn key in order to activate the keyboard backlight button.
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In most cases, pressing the keyboard backlight button will cycle the keyboard through different brightness settings. Pressing it once will turn on the keyboard backlight to dim mode. Pressing it again will increase the brightness to medium, then to bright. Pressing it again will turn your keyboard backlight off.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using Windows Settings

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To do so, click the Windows Start button and then click the Settings/Gear icon.
It’s in the menu to the right on Windows 11.
It’s next to an icon that resembles a sun.
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Ensure “Use Dynamic Lighting” is turned on. It’s the first toggle switch at the top of the page. This allows your computer to control connected devices that have lighting.
- You can also click the toggle switch next to “Compatible apps in the foreground always control lighting.” Your keyboard lighting may be controlled by another app. Clicking this toggle switch will disallow that app to control your device.
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Drag the slider bar next to “Brightness.” This adjusts the brightness of your keyboard and other devices with dynamic lighting.
- If this option is greyed out, then your keyboard doesn’t support dynamic lighting. It will also say “No Dynamic Lighting-compatible devices detected” at the top of the page.
- If your keyboard has RGB lighting, you can adjust the color of your keyboard lighting using the drop-down menu next to “Effects.”

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using Windows Mobility Center

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This displays an alternate menu with your Windows utilities and basic apps.
It’s the second option towards the top of the menu.
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Use the slider bar to adjust the keyboard brightness. Look for a slider bar that allows you to adjust the keyboard brightness. Click and drag the slider bar all the way to the right to increase the brightness.^{[4]
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- If you don’t see this option, your keyboard doesn’t support control through your computer.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using Mac Settings

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To do so, click the Apple icon in the menu bar at the top left side of the screen and then click System Settings (or System Preferences in older versions of macOS).
It’s in the menu bar to the left. You may have to scroll down to find it.
3
Drag the slider bar to adjust the keyboard brightness. Click and drag the slider bar next to “Keyboard brightness” to adjust the brightness of your keyboard backlighting.^{[5]
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- You can also enable or disable the ability to automatically adjust your keyboard brightness to the room brightness or to turn off keyboard lighting after a period of inactivity.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Troubleshooting

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1
Make sure your keyboard or laptop has backlighting. Not all keyboard or laptop models come with keyboard backlighting. Check the user’s manual or manufacturer’s website for your laptop or keyboard model to see if it lists keyboard backlighting in the specifications.
- Some basic versions of laptop models may not have keyboard lighting, while more expensive versions of the same model may have it as an added feature.
Some computer settings may turn off the keyboard lighting when the battery is low. Plug your laptop in and make sure it is charged.
Most keyboards have a button on the keyboard itself to adjust the keyboard lighting. However, more expensive keyboard models may come with their own app or software. Check the manufacturer’s website and see if there are any drivers or software you need to install.
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Check your BIOS settings. To do so, you’ll need to boot into your computer’s BIOS menu. The BIOS menu looks different depending on your computer's make and model. Look for an option for keyboard backlighting or keyboard illumination. Make sure it is turned on.
- There is usually a button you can press to boot into the BIOS menu as your computer boots up. It’s usually one of the F keys (F2, F10, F12, Esc, etc). You can also boot into the BIOS menu from the Windows Recovery menu.
  - To boot into the BIOS menu from within Windows, click the Windows Start menu. Click System > Recovery > Restart Now next to “Advanced Startup.” Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
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Update your keyboard drivers. Check to make sure the drivers for your keyboard are up-to-date. You can do so by updating Windows or macOS. You can also use the following steps to manually update your keyboard drivers in Windows:
- Right-click the Windows Start menu.
- Click Device manager.
- Expand Keyboards.
- Right-click your keyboard drivers.
- Click Update driver.