BatmanAndTori wrote:
Hi,
I really hope somebody can help me..
Back in December I noticed my keyboard backlights wouldn't work, they turned on when I first turned my Mac on but once I logged in they'd go off, when I press F1/F2 nothing happens, also in control centre if I control the lights there nothing happens. In keyboard settings I don't have a tick button which says "adjust keyboard brightness in low light".
I have also noticed now that the screen brightness doesn't brighten / dim depending on the light and I also don't have a tick button to automatically adjust brightness.
I have reset the SMC and also the PRAM, updated and even completely wiped the mac and started from scratch but I cannot fix it!!!
I had an appointment back in December but I had to cancel due to COVID, the warranty expired in January so I'm worried if I sent it off I'll be charged lots, just hoping I can fix it without having to send it off, I've had nothing but problems with it!!
Thank you so much in advance for any advise/ help.
Tori
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/d526a85e-2a77-4509-8ee8-067fd3caf6fe
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/e29b2f62-8be7-4697-8cd6-e50b0dd1aef1
It always helps to state —
what exact Mac you are using ...
and what exact MacOS...
Well, it does not sounds like a hardware issue— if the back light works when you turn on your Mac.
Typically you have to log into your account to read your system preferences for the back light to come on.
If the Ambient light is strong enough the back light will be off by default—taking your hand and covering the Facetime camera/light sensor is a test.
To trouble shoot further you can:
—Try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc.
Login and test. Reboot as normal and test as caches get rebuilt.
In Safe mode third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled, it removes malware, etc hampering smooth operation, however a reboot will put it back to normal mode.
This test will tell you if third party interference; extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.
—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204443
This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account.
General rule of thumb—Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus
Not seeing the "Adjust Keyboard brightness in low light" option is a bit disturbing in your
>System Preferences>Keyboard>Keyboard which may well indicate you have an hardware issue.
Intel Mac—(does not apply to the SoC M1 Macs)
resetting the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
