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HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Using the backlit keyboard

Use the backlight on the keyboard in low-light environments.

Note:

Not all HP notebooks have a backlit keyboard. To confirm whether your notebook has a backlit keyboard, go to HP Customer Support. Search for your notebook model, and then click Specifications. Review the product specifications for your notebook model. To find your notebook model, see Find product and serial numbers for HP PCs, printers, and accessories.

If you have a gaming notebook, such as an HP OMEN notebook, see HP PCs - OMEN Gaming Hub for more information about the backlit keyboard and other features.

How do I turn the backlight on or off?

On most notebooks with a backlit keyboard, you can press the f5 or f4 key on the keyboard to turn the light on or off. It might be necessary to press the fn key at the same time.

If the backlight icon is not on the f5 key or f4 key, look for the backlit keyboard key on the row of function keys.

Backlit key on keyboard

What if I cannot find the backlight key?

Check the entire row of function keys. The backlight key might be in a different place or on a different key such as the f5, f4, or f11 key.

If there is no backlight key on the notebook, confirm that your notebook has a backlit keyboard. See HP Customer Support. Search for your notebook model, and then click Specifications to review the product specifications for your model. Some models do not ship with a backlit keyboard.

What if nothing happens when I press the backlight key?

In Windows, press the fn + backlight key press combination. If nothing happens, check the BIOS settings.

In the BIOS, click BIOS Setup or BIOS Setup Utility, and then use the arrow keys to navigate to the System Configuration tab. Enable Action Keys Mode if it is not already enabled.

Note:

Your BIOS version and screens might vary.

Action keys mode selected

What do I do if the backlight turns on for only a few seconds?

If the backlight turns on for only a few seconds, the backlight timeout setting might need to be configured in the BIOS.

Note:

If there is not a setting for the backlight timing in the BIOS, this behavior might not be supported on the notebook. Check your notebook model's product support documentation to confirm support.

  1. Restart the notebook, and then immediately press f10 repeatedly until the BIOS opens.

  2. When the BIOS opens, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Advanced tab.

  3. Navigate to Built-in Device Options, and then press enter.

    Built-in device options

  4. In Built-in Device Options, select Backlit keyboard timeout.

  5. Press the spacebar to open the keyboard backlight settings, and then select a timeout setting.

    Note:

    If you select Never, the backlight remains on indefinitely, which can quickly drain the notebook battery power.

What if the backlight turns off after I turn it on?

Depending on the timeout setting, the backlight turns off after a set period of inactivity. To turn on the backlight again, press any key on the keyboard or tap the touchpad, depending on your model.

How do I adjust the brightness of the backlight?

To adjust the brightness of the backlight, it might be necessary to press fn at the same time as the backlight key to dim or brighten the backlight.

You can also press the key with the backlight icon two or three times in a row. The keyboard dims and brightens.

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