how to turn on backlight on keyboard

Question

how do i turn on the backlight to my keyboard. i have tried the FN keys and combination of the FN key and the F keys.

Answer 1

Hi David Punzalan,

Thank you for reaching out.

Keyboard backlighting is generally controlled by the device hardware and manufacturer settings, not by a standard Windows setting. If the usual Fn + function key combinations did not work, the next step is to confirm whether the keyboard model actually includes a backlight feature and whether it is managed through the manufacturer’s software or firmware.

You can try these additional checks:

1, Check the device specifications/manual - look up the exact laptop or keyboard model on the manufacturer’s support page and confirm that it includes a backlit keyboard feature.

2, Check for manufacturer utility or firmware settings - some devices manage keyboard lighting through the OEM app, BIOS/UEFI, or bundled keyboard software rather than through Windows directly.

3, Install available firmware/driver updates - if the keyboard is supposed to be backlit, install all recommended system, keyboard, and firmware updates from the device manufacturer.

If this is an external RGB-style keyboard that supports Windows Dynamic Lighting, go to Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting and see whether the device appears there.

If the keyboard is confirmed to support backlighting but the light still does not turn on after these checks, the most helpful next step would be to contact the device manufacturer’s support for the exact key combination or firmware setting used on that model.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction. Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

---

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

Hello

Keyboard backlight is NOT a Windows feature. It is a hardware feature, so different model/brand follows different instruction.

In order for me to tell you what exactly to press, I need to know the exact model of your laptop. If you don't know the info, please type msinfo32.exe in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, then tell me what it says next to "system model".

Answer 3

On many newer Surface and Windows keyboards, the backlight is controlled by a specific top‑row key and may require using Fn, depending on the model.

Try these steps:

1. Locate the backlight key
   • On newer Surface devices, the backlight is usually on the F5 key.
   • On some older Surface models, it may be on F7.
   • The key typically has an icon that looks like a keyboard with light rays.
2. Cycle through brightness levels
   • Press the backlight key (for example F5) repeatedly.
   • This cycles through several brightness levels, including off.
3. Use Fn if needed
   • If pressing F5/F7 alone does nothing, hold Fn and then press the backlight key (Fn + F5 or Fn + F7), especially if the top row is currently acting as function keys instead of special keys.

If none of the F‑keys with a backlight icon change the keyboard lighting, the keyboard may not support backlighting, or the model may use a different manufacturer‑specific shortcut not covered in the provided documentation.

---

References:

• Backlit keyboard - Microsoft Q&A
• Special keys and function keys for Surface Keyboards or Type Covers