The 2-minute checks
The decisive test
Go to the Apple menu on your Mac › System Settings › Keyboard, turn off ‘Adjust keyboard brightness in low light’, then push the ‘Keyboard brightness’ slider all the way up.
- If the keyboard lights up: the backlight is working. If the automatic adjustment no longer works, the ambient light sensor is probably no longer reading correctly: check that it isn’t covered by a case, a sticker or dirt.
- If the keyboard stays dark, even at maximum: it’s most likely a hardware fault. The possible causes are explained below.
Hardware causes
The backlight is a thin light panel that sits underneath the keyboard. Its small ribbon cable, which is part of the panel, plugs directly into the logic board. Here are the possible causes, from the most common to the rarest:
- Connector not properly reconnected: this is the most common cause after a repair (battery, keyboard, trackpad). The connector is very thin and comes loose easily. If the ribbon cable is creased or torn, the entire backlight will need replacing.
- Liquid damage: even once dry, liquid corrodes the backlight and the logic board, sometimes several weeks later. See our article on what to do after liquid damage.
- Worn or broken backlight: the light panel itself no longer works.
- Logic board: it no longer powers the backlight, often following liquid damage.
Repair: which part to replace
- Backlight only: on Unibody MacBooks (aluminium MacBook A1278, MacBook Pro 13″ A1278 and MacBook Pro 15″ A1286), the backlight panel is sold separately. You’ll easily find it among our keyboards and backlights by selecting your model.
- Top case keyboard: on other MacBooks, the backlight isn’t sold separately: it’s replaced along with the top case keyboard (the upper case with the keyboard). Here are all the keyboards and top cases available.
- Logic board: if the problem persists after replacing the backlight or the top case keyboard, you’ll need to replace the MacBook’s logic board.
- After liquid damage: the liquid usually affects both parts. In that case, we recommend replacing the backlight (or the top case keyboard) and the logic board at the same time.
Find the part for my Mac
Not sure which model you have? Quickly identify the parts you need for this repair without making a mistake.
Need help with the repair? We offer tutorials to guide you step by step through replacing the part. Our team of technicians is also on hand if you need advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my keyboard only light up in the dark?
It’s the automatic ‘Adjust keyboard brightness in low light’ setting: the backlight only comes on when the ambient light sensor, next to the camera, detects low light. Turn it off in System Settings › Keyboard to adjust the brightness yourself.
I can’t find a keyboard brightness key on my MacBook.
That’s normal on recent MacBooks (Apple silicon): the F5 key is used for Dictation and F6 for Do Not Disturb. Use Control Centre › Keyboard Brightness instead, or the slider in System Settings › Keyboard.
The backlight switches off by itself after a few seconds. Is it faulty?
Probably not. It’s the ‘Turn keyboard backlight off after inactivity’ setting in System Settings › Keyboard: choose a longer delay or ‘Never’.
Will an SMC reset fix the backlight?
Sometimes. It can clear a temporary glitch on an Intel-based Mac. If the keyboard stays dark even at maximum after the reset, it’s most likely a hardware fault.
Can I repair the backlight myself?
Yes, in most cases: reconnect the connector, replace the backlight panel on Unibody MacBooks, or replace the top case keyboard on other models. If the keyboard still stays dark afterwards, the logic board will need replacing. Follow the tutorial for your model and always disconnect the battery before you start.
