Keyboard backlighting not only makes your keyboard look cooler in low-light environments, but it's also an essential feature for working or gaming at night. However, different brands and types of keyboards have different ways to enable backlighting — some use shortcut key combinations, some require driver software, and others are hidden in system settings. If you're staring at a dark keyboard in frustration, this guide will help you find the right way to turn it on.

1. Laptop Keyboard Backlight

The vast majority of laptops come with built-in keyboard backlighting, but the method to enable it varies by brand. Typically, you can control the backlight on/off and brightness adjustment through the Fn key combinations on the keyboard.

  • Lenovo / ThinkPad: Press Fn + Spacebar to cycle through backlight modes (Off → Low → High). Some ThinkPad models use Fn + Esc or a dedicated key with a backlight icon (usually near the arrow keys).
  • Dell: Use Fn + F10 (or the F key with a keyboard backlight icon) to cycle through brightness levels. Some Alienware laptops use Fn + F6 or Fn + F7 to adjust brightness.
  • HP: Most models use Fn + F5 (or the F key with a backlight icon) to turn on and adjust. OMEN series gaming laptops can customize backlight effects in OMEN Gaming Hub.
  • ASUS: Use Fn + F7 (or the key with a keyboard backlight icon) to adjust brightness. ROG series supports RGB lighting customization in Armoury Crate software.
  • Apple MacBook: Use the F5 / F6 keys on the keyboard (or brightness adjustment buttons on the Touch Bar) to decrease or increase keyboard backlight brightness. In "System Settings → Keyboard," you can also enable "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light."
  • Xiaomi / Huawei / Honor, etc.: Most use Fn + F10 or the F key with a backlight icon to switch. Some ultrabooks support management through the manufacturer's pre-installed control center software.

2. External Gaming Keyboards and Mechanical Keyboards

External keyboards offer more diverse backlight control methods, typically divided into direct shortcut key control and driver software management.

2.1 Direct Shortcut Key Control

  • General Method: Most external keyboards with backlighting have backlight adjustment keys located near the top-right corner or arrow keys, usually marked with a sun or light bulb icon. Press them to cycle through brightness levels or toggle the backlight on/off.
  • Fn Key Combinations: Many compact keyboards (75%, 87-key, etc.) integrate backlight control into the F-key row, used in combination with the Fn key. For example, Fn + ↑/↓ to adjust brightness, Fn + ←/→ to switch lighting effects.
  • Common Brand Shortcut References:
  • Razer: Fn + F11 / Fn + F12 to adjust brightness
  • Logitech: Fn + F5 / Fn + F6 (or a dedicated backlight key)
  • Corsair: Dedicated backlight key or Fn + Arrow Keys
  • HyperX / Kingston: Fn + F11 / Fn + F12 or a dedicated backlight key
  • Dareu / AULA and other domestic keyboards: Most have a dedicated lighting key or Fn + Arrow Keys

2.2 Brand Driver Software Management

Gaming keyboard RGB lighting effects often require the brand's companion software for full control. If your keyboard supports RGB or complex lighting effects, it's recommended to install the corresponding official driver tool.

  • Logitech G HUB: Manages lighting effects, brightness, and custom zone colors for Logitech G series gaming keyboards.
  • Razer Synapse: The lighting management hub for Razer keyboards, supporting Chroma RGB ecosystem integration.
  • Corsair iCUE: Controls RGB lighting effects, macros, and performance modes for Corsair keyboards.
  • ROG Armoury Crate: Unified management software for ASUS ROG peripherals, supporting Aura Sync.
  • Dareu / AULA / VGN, etc.: Some domestic brands offer dedicated drivers available for download on their official websites to manage lighting effects and key mapping.

If you're unsure whether your keyboard supports software control, consult the product manual or search for "keyboard model + driver" to find the corresponding tool.

3. What to Do If the Backlight Won't Turn On?

If the keyboard backlight still won't turn on after following the methods above, you can troubleshoot from the following aspects.

  • Confirm whether your keyboard supports backlighting: Not all keyboards have backlighting, especially entry-level membrane keyboards and some office keyboards. Check the product specifications or manual to confirm.
  • Check if USB power supply is sufficient: RGB backlit keyboards typically require higher USB power output. If plugged into an older laptop or USB hub, insufficient power may prevent the backlight from turning on. Try plugging directly into a USB port on the computer's motherboard.
  • Check system power-saving settings: In Windows "Device Manager → Universal Serial Bus controllers → USB Root Hub → Power Management," uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" to prevent the system from automatically cutting off keyboard power.
  • Update keyboard drivers and firmware: Check for firmware updates in the brand's driver software. Some keyboards require a firmware update for the backlight function to work properly.
  • Test on another device: Connect the keyboard to another computer or phone (via OTG). If the backlight still doesn't turn on, there may be an issue with the keyboard's internal LEDs or circuitry. It's recommended to contact after-sales service for repair.

4. Backlight Notes for External Keyboards on Mac

macOS has limited support for external keyboard backlight control. Apple's own Magic Keyboard has no backlight, while third-party RGB-capable external keyboards on Mac typically can only use hardware shortcut keys to adjust brightness or toggle on/off. Lighting customization features require the keyboard to support onboard memory, or you need to preset lighting effects on a Windows system before connecting the keyboard to a Mac.

If you're using a Mac laptop's built-in keyboard, simply use the F5 / F6 keys to adjust. If F5 / F6 doesn't work, check "System Settings → Keyboard" to see if "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" is enabled — if so, you need to press Fn + F5 / F6 simultaneously.

Summary

The methods for turning on keyboard backlighting may seem varied, but they essentially boil down to three approaches: Fn key combinations, dedicated backlight keys, and brand driver software. First, look for keys with lighting icons on your keyboard and try them. If that doesn't work, search for your brand's shortcut keys, and finally consider installing drivers. Most backlit keyboards can be quickly lit up using the first two methods.