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How to Adjust Keyboard Backlight Brightness and Color

Tap each step to see it in order.

  1. Adjust brightness with an Fn-key combo

    Most laptops let you turn the backlight on or off and step through brightness levels by pressing Fn along with a function key marked with a keyboard-light icon.

  2. Adjust it in Windows settings

    On supported models, go to Settings β†’ Bluetooth & devices β†’ Keyboard to adjust backlight brightness and the auto-off timer.

  3. Adjust it on Mac

    In System Settings β†’ Keyboard, turn on "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light" for automatic control, or use the F5/F6 keys to adjust brightness manually.

  4. Use dedicated software for RGB mechanical keyboards

    Installing a manufacturer's own software β€” from brands like Razer, Logitech, or Corsair β€” lets you fine-tune per-key colors, brightness, and lighting effects like wave or breathing patterns.

  5. Set an auto-off timer

    To save battery, it's worth setting the backlight to turn off automatically after a period of no keyboard input.

  6. Check these if the backlight won't turn on

    Check whether Fn Lock is enabled, whether a power-saving mode is limiting it, or whether the lighting profile in your dedicated software has been switched off.

Controls vary a bit by manufacturer

Even the same Fn-key combo can sit in a different spot or use a different icon depending on the brand and model, so the fastest way to figure it out is to look for the icon printed on your function keys first.

The same idea applies to pairing new wireless peripherals

If you're setting up a new wireless keyboard or mouse over Bluetooth, the general connection process is very similar to pairing wireless earbuds β€” enable pairing mode on the device, then select it from your computer's Bluetooth list.

Frequently Asked Questions

My laptop doesn't seem to have a backlight function key β€” does that mean it doesn't have one?

Plenty of budget laptop models simply don't include a backlit keyboard at all, so it's worth checking the product spec sheet for backlit-keyboard support before assuming a key is missing.

If I uninstall the RGB software, will my color settings disappear?

Most mechanical keyboards save your last settings to onboard memory built into the keyboard itself, so your chosen colors and effects usually persist even after the software is removed.