Enabling Your Keyboard Backlight: A Step-by-Step Guide for Windows 10
I’m here to help you discover a way to illuminate your keyboard in Windows 10, so you can type effortlessly even in dimly lit environments. Let’s dive right in and learn how to make it happen!
Step 1: Finding the Right Settings
First things first, you need to locate the settings that will grant you access to your keyboard backlight. Here’s how:
1. Begin by clicking on the “Start” menu in the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. From there, select “Settings” – it’s the gear-shaped icon that will take you to Windows settings.
3. In the “Settings” menu, you’ll find a plethora of options. Look for “Devices” and click on it.
4. Inside the “Devices” menu, navigate to “Typing” located on the left-hand side of your screen.
Excellent! We’re on the right track. Keep following along to shed some light on your keyboard backlight.
Step 2: Activating the Keyboard Backlight
Now that we’ve found the “Typing” menu, let’s proceed:
1. Scroll down within the “Typing” menu until you come across the section called “Keyboard” – don’t worry, we won’t miss it!
2. Within the “Keyboard” section, you’ll find an option labeled “Keyboard backlight settings.” Click on it to continue.
3. A new screen will appear, displaying a slider for adjusting the keyboard backlight brightness. Go ahead and use the slider to set your desired brightness level.
4. Once you’re satisfied with your chosen brightness level, click on the “Apply” button to save your changes.
Voila! Your keyboard backlight is now activated and shining brightly. Feel free to celebrate this illuminated accomplishment!
Step 3: Customizing the Keyboard Backlight
But wait, there’s more! You can further customize your keyboard backlight to suit your preferences. Here’s how:
1. Go back to the “Keyboard backlight settings” screen we visited in the previous step.
2. Look for the “Turn off backlight after” option. This allows you to specify how long the backlight should remain active before turning off automatically. Click on the drop-down menu and select your desired duration.
3. If you wish to have the backlight always on, regardless of your keyboard activity, simply choose the “Never” option from the drop-down menu.
4. Lastly, don’t forget to click on “Apply” to save your customized settings.
With these additional tweaks, your keyboard backlight is now tailored to your personal style and needs. Enjoy typing in a brilliantly illuminated environment!
Wrapping Up
There you have it! By following these straightforward steps, you’ve successfully enabled and customized your keyboard backlight in Windows 10. Now you can effortlessly type away, even in the darkest of nights. Keep shining bright!
If you want to get the backlight working on your laptop, there are a couple of methods you can try. The first method involves opening the Control Panel and navigating to the Windows Mobility Center. Here’s what you need to do:
- Click the Start button and type Control Panel in the search bar.
- In the Control Panel, open the Hardware and Sound section.
- Look for Windows Mobility Center and select it. You’ll see a few options there. To enable the backlight, move the slider under the Keyboard backlight tab to the right.
- To access additional options, click on the tab. From there, you can enable Keyboard lighting and choose the brightness level you want.
- You can also set a timer for the keyboard backlight to automatically turn off. You can choose between five seconds and 15 minutes, or select “Never off” if you want the backlight to stay on all the time.
- Once you’re satisfied with the changes you’ve made, click OK.
Method 2 – Use the Native App
Another option is to use the native app that comes with most laptops for managing keyboard backlight brightness. If you’re not sure if your laptop has this app, you can check the system settings.
The Best Cheap Mechanical Keyboards
If you’re connected to the internet, open your browser and search for the name of your laptop. Add the phrase “Enable Keyboard Backlight Windows 10” to your search, and you should be able to find the settings right away.
Method 3 – Light up Your Keyboard Using Your Computer
If you’re using a computer, there’s a handy trick to brighten up your keyboard – just use your keyboard!
For Dell Users:
For Dell users, turning on the keyboard backlight might differ depending on your specific model. Let’s find out how.
Hey there!
Ever wondered how to turn on your keyboard backlight but just couldn’t figure it out? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back! Let me walk you through some simple methods to get that backlight shining again.
Alt+F10
- If you have a Dell 14 Inspiron 7000, 15, 2016, 15, 17 5000 Series, this is the key combination for you.
Fn+F10
- For those with an Inspiron 15 5000, Latitude E5550, Latitude E7450/E7470, press these keys to light up your keyboard.
F10
- Dell XPS 2016 and 13 users, this is the magic key combination for you.
Fn+F6
HP users
Fn+F5
- For some models, it might be Fn+11 or Fn+9.
- But wait, some models have a simple Fn+Space combo that does the trick too.
Method 4—Update Keyboard Drivers
An outdated keyboard driver could be the culprit behind your keyboard backlight woes. Drivers are essential for your operating system to communicate effectively with your hardware. So, updating your keyboard’s Windows 10 driver might just fix the backlight issue.
- Click on the Search icon on your taskbar and type Device Manager in the search bar.
- Select Keyboards and right-click on your keyboard’s name.
- Click on Update driver.
Now, you can either let Windows search for the latest driver or download it yourself and use the Browse my computer for drivers option to manually install the driver. And hey, if your PC is running low on storage, check out ways to free up disk space on Windows 10.
How to Fix Keyboard Backlight Not Working on Windows 10
So, you’re facing problems with your keyboard backlight after upgrading to Windows 10? You’re not alone! But fret not, I’ve got some troubleshooting steps for you. Follow these instructions carefully:
- Open the Search window from your taskbar and type Troubleshooting in the search bar.
- Select the Keyboard option from the menu.
- When the troubleshooter pops up, select Run the troubleshooter.
- The system will then check for possible issues with your laptop’s keyboard. You should see the keyboard backlight option. Just follow the instructions to enable it.
Your keyboard backlight may also stop working due to hardware issues or recent software updates. If it stopped working after a drop, it could be as simple as a loose cable. However, if you’ve recently performed an update, try power cycling your computer to see if it resolves the issue.
If you’re having trouble with the dark theme not working on your PC, check out our troubleshooting guide on Dark Mode not working in Windows 10.
Type in the Dark Like a Pro
Windows 10 might sometimes block the keyboard backlight feature on certain laptops for reasons unknown. But fear not! With the simple methods I’ve shared above, you’ll be able to turn on the backlight and adjust its brightness level whenever you want, just like a pro.
The process is quick and takes just a minute or two. Now you can finally type like a pro even in the dark!
So, which method do you prefer to change the brightness of your keyboard’s backlight? How bright are your keyboard lights, and how long does your laptop stay on before it shuts down automatically? Share your methods with me in the comment section below.
FAQs
Q. How can I check if my laptop has a keyboard backlight?
A. One of the easiest ways to know if your laptop has a keyboard backlight is by looking at the keyboard itself. If you see any of the symbols shown by the manufacturer in the pictures above, then you can turn on the backlight.
Q. Can I use an external keyboard with a laptop?
A. Definitely! Most wireless keyboards can connect to laptops using Bluetooth or a USB port.
Q. How can I turn on the keyboard light without the Fn key?
A. If your keyboard doesn’t have the Fn key, you can use the Windows Mobility Center to activate this feature. Go to Control Panel, then Hardware and Sound, and open the Windows Mobility Center. From there, you can turn on the Keyboard Backlighting.
Q. Does the keyboard backlight drain the battery?
A. Yes, the keyboard backlight uses power from your laptop’s battery to keep the lights on. Therefore, turning it off or lowering the brightness will help save battery.
Q. How do I change the color of my keyboard backlight?
A. First, check if your keyboard supports RGB backlighting. If it does, refer to the user manual or search online to find out which keys allow you to change the backlight color. Additionally, some keyboards have a dedicated app that lets you control the brightness and colors.
Furthermore, some keyboards come with a special application that allows you to adjust the brightness of the backlight and change the colors.
Q. Is it possible to install a backlit keyboard?
A. Unfortunately, you cannot install backlighting on a keyboard that doesn’t have it.
Q. Do all laptops come with a backlit keyboard?
A. No, not all laptops have a backlit keyboard.
