How to turn on laptop keyboard light, activate Keyboard Backlight on Windows 10

Turning on the keyboard backlight will make the keyboard glow, useful when operating in low light conditions, or making your gaming corner look cooler. There are 4 ways to turn on the laptop keyboard light for you to choose from below.

4 ways to turn keyboard light on/off

• 1. Turn on keyboard light with shortcut key
• 2. Turn keyboard light on and off using Windows mobility center
• 3. Adjust keyboard light settings via BIOS
• 4. Use dedicated integrated software
• If you encounter problems while activating Keyboard Backlight
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Can the keyboard backlight be turned off when the computer is idle?
  • Is it possible to change the keyboard backlight color?
  • Is it possible to install backlight on keyboard?
  • How to know if the keyboard is backlit?

1. Turn on keyboard light with shortcut key

On laptops equipped with keyboard backlights, there will usually be a shortcut key to turn the light on and off.

How to turn on keyboard backlight on Dell laptop

Depending on your Dell laptop model, you can turn on the keyboard backlight using different shortcuts. Refer to the list below for more details:

• Dell Inspiron 15 5000, Dell Latitude series: Press Fn + F10
• Dell Inspiron 14 7000, 15, 2016, 17 5000 series: Press Alt + F10
• Dell XPS 2016 and 2013: Press F10
• Dell Studio 15: Press Fn + F6

How to turn on keyboard backlight on HP laptop

HP laptop owners can enable backlight by following these steps.

• Most HP laptops: Press Fn + F5
• Some HP models may use other keyboard shortcuts to control the keyboard backlight. In this case, you can try Fn + 11 or Fn + 9 . You can also try Fn + Space if none of the mentioned keys work.

How to turn on keyboard backlight on Asus laptop

Press Fn + F3  or Fn + F4 .

Asus users will be able to find this feature based on the symbols on the keys. If there is no light icon anywhere on the keyboard, it means it is not equipped with this feature.

How to turn on keyboard backlight on Acer laptop

Press Fn + F8 .

2. Turn keyboard light on and off using Windows mobility center

Step 1:

Click the Start button , then type cp in the Search box and press Enter.

Step 2:

At this time, the Control Panel window appears on the screen, here you navigate to Windows mobility center , click on it to open the application.

Step 3:

In the Windows mobility center window, find the item named Keyboard backlight. Click the Keyboard backlight icon.

Step 4:

At this time, the Keyboard Backlight popup window appears on the screen. In the Keyboard lighting section , set it to ON . If you want to adjust the keyboard brightness, you can choose Bright or Dim.

In addition, in this window there are many available options that you can customize.

Step 5:

Finally click OK to apply the changes.

3. Adjust keyboard light settings via BIOS

You can enable the keyboard backlight feature through the BIOS . Navigate to the following location by accessing the BIOS on startup :

BIOS > System Configuration > Keyboard Illumination

Now, you will be able to see the Keyboard Illumination settings on the right side. It also explains in detail what each setting will do to the backlight and also a secondary method to manage it directly from the keyboard.

Select your desired brightness level from the radio buttons at the top and click Apply. Once done, click Exit and wait for the system to reboot.

4. Use dedicated integrated software

Many companies manage Keyboard Backlight settings through a built-in application, so you can check if the application exists on your Windows computer.

Step 1:

Click the Start button , then type the keyword Keyboard backlit in the Search box and press Enter. And you will see the settings related to the option.

Step 2:

Each computer brand will have its own application to adjust Keyboard settings. Therefore, you need to find the right application to enable Keyboard Backlight on your Windows 10 computer. Here are some suggestions:

• On Asus gaming laptops, a software called " Armoury Crate " is used to turn off the keyboard backlight.
• On Dell laptops, the software is called " Dell System and Device Manager ".
• On Sony laptops, the software is called " VAIO control center ".
• On HP gaming notebooks, the software is called " HP OMEN Control Software ".

If you are unsure what software comes pre-installed on your laptop, download it from the laptop manufacturer's official website.

If you encounter problems while activating Keyboard Backlight

If you are having trouble enabling Keyboard Backlight, or Keyboard Backlight is not working properly on Windows 10, then you will need to troubleshoot the keyboard.

Step 1:

Open the Start Menu, then type troubleshooting into the Search box and press Enter.

Step 2:

On the window that appears on the screen, select the View all option in the right frame to open the list of available Troubleshooters displayed on the screen. Now you will see Keyboard on the list.

Step 3:

Click Keyboard from the Troubleshooter list.

Step 4:

The Keyboard Troubleshooter window will now appear on the screen. Your task is to click Next.

Step 5:

The process will scan your system for errors and display the errors found on your system. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the Keyboard Backlight enable or disable errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the keyboard backlight be turned off when the computer is idle?

If you don't want to turn off the keyboard backlight when idle, you can change the light settings using Windows Mobility Center and change the options for how the backlit keyboard behaves when the computer is idle.

Is it possible to change the keyboard backlight color?

Some laptops, especially gaming ones, allow users to change the backlight color using a hotkey or a dedicated app on Windows 10. Typically, you can change the keyboard backlight color by pressing Fn + C on the keyboard. However, the hotkey may vary depending on the laptop you are using.

On Windows 10, manufacturers include a separate application to test the backlight colors of colored keyboards.

Is it possible to install backlight on keyboard?

There is no simple answer to this. If your laptop does not come with a backlit keyboard, then chances are you cannot install a backlight on it. The main reason is that the keycaps on laptops are not transparent, making the backlight useless even if you try to install it.

However, if you know your way around computer boards and circuits, you can try installing a backlight, but this will be a very time-consuming process and can damage your laptop if you don't do it properly.

How to know if the keyboard is backlit?

If you are unsure about the features of your laptop, you can check the manual to see if it has a backlit keyboard. Alternatively, you can look for the backlight symbol on the keyboard functions. You can even look up your laptop model online to see its specifications and features, which is easier to access than using a manual.

Good luck!

See more articles below:

• How to change Windows password without remembering the old password
• Instructions for setting BIOS and UEFI passwords on Windows 10 computers
• Your computer asks for a password after waking up from Sleep, here's how to fix it