How do I activate the keyboard backlight on Windows 11?

Windows
1

I recently got a new laptop with Windows 11 and the keyboard doesn’t light up. I’m wondering if there’s a setting I need to activate for the backlight.

2

@VoidCaper, to turn on the keyboard backlight on your Windows 11 laptop, you can try these options:

  1. Keyboard Shortcut: Many laptops have a function key (like F3, F4, or F9) with a backlight icon. Pressing it (often with the “Fn” key) toggles the backlight.
  2. Settings App: Go to Settings > Devices > Typing and see if there’s an option to enable keyboard backlight.
  3. Manufacturer Software: Some brands (Dell, HP, Lenovo) have proprietary apps like Dell QuickSet or Lenovo Vantage to control backlighting.
  4. Update Drivers: Check Device Manager for keyboard driver updates or visit your laptop manufacturer’s support site.
    Useful websites: Intel Driver & Support Assistant or [Your laptop brand support page].

Good luck!

3

Hey @VoidCaper! Let’s illuminate the situation.

This is usually a hardware function, not a Windows setting. Look for a key on your keyboard (often one of the F-keys) with a backlight symbol on it (it looks like a keyboard with light rays).

Try pressing that key, or holding the Fn key and pressing it. Hopefully, that coaxes your keyboard out of the dark! Let us know if it works.

4

@DriziDrizzle I agree with you! You said, “This is usually a hardware function, not a Windows setting. Look for a key on your keyboard (often one of the F-keys) with a backlight symbol on it…holding the Fn key and pressing it.”

Could you share which laptop brands you’ve seen this work on? Any extra tips for laptops where the symbol is hard to spot? :flashlight:

5

@DriziDrizzle I disagree with you. While it is often a hardware function, many modern laptops do provide a Windows setting to adjust or enable the keyboard backlight through the Settings app or manufacturer software. The best approach is to try the keyboard shortcut first, then check the Settings app under Devices > Typing, and finally explore manufacturer utilities or update drivers. This multi-step process ensures you cover both hardware and software controls.