On most Windows 11 laptops, you turn on the keyboard light with a key, not a Windows setting. Look for a key with a small keyboard or light icon, usually one of the F keys or the Space bar, and press it while holding Fn. Press it again to make the light brighter or turn it off.
Not every laptop has a backlit keyboard. If you can’t find the key, check your model’s specifications before you spend time troubleshooting.
Applies to: Windows 11 laptops and keyboards that have a backlight. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 24, 2026.
Turn on the keyboard backlight
- Find the backlight key. It shows a keyboard with light rays, or a light symbol with a plus or minus sign. It’s usually on an F key or the Space bar.
- Hold Fn and press the backlight key. On some laptops, the key works without Fn.
- Press the key again to step through the brightness levels. Laptops with two keys use one to brighten and the other to dim.
A key with only a sun icon usually changes the screen brightness, not the keyboard light.
Common backlight keys by laptop brand
These are the usual keys, but they vary by model. Look for the backlight icon on your keyboard to be sure.
- Lenovo: Fn + Space.
- Dell: Fn + F10, or F5 or F6 on some models. See how to turn on the keyboard light on a Dell laptop.
- HP: F5, F4, or F9, sometimes with Fn. See how to turn on the keyboard light on an HP laptop.
- ASUS: Fn + F3 to brighten and Fn + F2 to dim on many models, or F7 on newer ones.
- Acer: Fn + F9 on many models. See how to turn on the keyboard light on an Acer laptop.
Use your laptop maker’s app
Many laptops come with a settings app that controls the keyboard light, including how long it stays on after you stop typing. Examples include Lenovo Vantage, Armoury Crate on ASUS gaming laptops, OMEN Gaming Hub on HP gaming laptops, and NitroSense or PredatorSense on Acer gaming laptops. On some Dell and HP laptops, the timeout is set in the BIOS or UEFI settings instead. Select Start and type the maker’s name to see which app you have.
Control an RGB keyboard with Dynamic Lighting
If you have a color (RGB) keyboard that supports Windows Dynamic Lighting, you can control it from Settings:
- Select Start > Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting.
- Turn on Use Dynamic Lighting on my devices.
- Use Brightness to set how bright the keys are, and Effects to choose a color or pattern.
If your keyboard isn’t listed on this page, it doesn’t support Dynamic Lighting. Use the key on the keyboard or the maker’s app instead. If a gaming app such as the keyboard maker’s lighting software fights with Windows over the colors, turn off Compatible apps in the foreground always control lighting or turn Dynamic Lighting off.
If the keyboard light won’t turn on
- Try the key with and without Fn. Some laptops have an Fn Lock that swaps what the top-row keys do. See how to turn off Fn Lock in Windows 11.
- The light turns off after a few seconds: the backlight timeout is too short. Change it in the maker’s app or, on some laptops, in the BIOS or UEFI settings.
- The key shows the light level on screen but nothing lights up: check the maker’s app for a backlight switch that’s turned off, or a battery saver mode that disables the light.
- Update the hotkey and keyboard drivers from your laptop maker’s support site, using your exact model number. Hotkeys often stop working after Windows is reinstalled without them.
- Restart the laptop. A restart clears a stuck hotkey service.
- Check your model has a backlight. Search for your exact model number and backlit keyboard on the maker’s site. If it isn’t listed, a backlight can’t be added with a setting.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a keyboard light setting in Windows 11?
Not for most built-in laptop keyboards. Windows only has a setting for keyboards that support Dynamic Lighting. Everything else is controlled by the backlight key or the laptop maker’s app.
Does the keyboard light drain the battery?
A little. Turning it down or letting it switch off after a few seconds of no typing helps a laptop battery last longer.
Can I change the keyboard light color?
Only if the keyboard supports colors (RGB). Use Dynamic Lighting or the maker’s app. Single-color backlights can only be turned up, down, or off.
To switch the light off again, see how to turn off the keyboard light in Windows 11. Using Windows 10? See how to turn on the keyboard light in Windows 10. Microsoft’s guide is Control Dynamic Lighting devices in Windows. More help is on our Windows 11 Help & Guides page.
If your keys type the wrong letters or symbols, see how to change the keyboard layout in Windows 11.
If your keyboard has RGB lights, see how to change the keyboard light color in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.