Keyboard backlight setting defaults to off almost every time computer goes to sleep. How can I get setting to stick?

Question

Hi,

I have a Microsoft Surface 4 laptop. Anytime the laptop goes to sleep for any length of time, the backlit keyboard turns off and I have to manually hit the button to get it back to where I want it. I have looked all over to see if I can find anything about this issue and everything I find is just about someone not knowing how to turn it on. I know how to turn it on. I put the settings where I want it and next time I use the laptop, I have to redo the backlight settings. It's a small thing, but pretty irritating. I would like to set it to the highest setting and leave it there and have it stay where I set it. Again, this is NOT about the automatic off feature that turns off the keyboard when you haven't typed for a while. I know all about that. This is about when I go to use the laptop for the first time in a while and the backlit is off and I have to hit the button to get it back on. I want to set it and forget it.

Answer 1

Hi TonyNT,

Thank you for reaching Microsoft Community. We're sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. I'll be asking few questions to help us isolate the issue.

When did this issue started?

Any changes you made on the device prior to this happen?

What build version of Windows 11 are you on?

What troubleshooting steps you have done so far?

Please try run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit , most common issues can be solved by running the Surface Diagnostic Tool. And make sure all updates are installed including optional updates if available.

Also run the system file checker to check if there are corrupted system files that are just looping around causing this kind of issue to exist. 

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,

Lavenia

Answer 2

The build number is 22621.963.

It has been doing this ever since I got it new. No changes made. I just run updates when they're available.

The trouble shooting I've done is just trying to find any other settings that I might have missed. Like I said, this has been difficult to find any information about because any searches only show people who don't know how to turn the backlighting on. I will run the system file checker.

Answer 3

I ran the system file checker and it says that everything is fine.

Answer 4

Please try to restore all power plans and reset all power plans settings to default.

1. Open Command Prompt
2. Copy and paste the command below and press enter.

***powercfg -restoredefaultschemes***3. Once finished, close command prompt and restart your device.

Test or observe your device and see if it makes any changes.

Answer 5

I have the same thing happening with my Surface Laptop 3 and there seems to be no solution from Microsoft. It's such a basic thing and I never had this problem with any other laptop, even cheap laptops have a keyboard backlight that works all the time.