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User profile for user: Linus_Richter
Linus_Richter Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Keyboard Backlight not working after Login, missing "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light"

*This is a repost of a prior unanswered question"


I have the exact same issue but the old thread is closed.


I have MacBook Pro 2018 model and it doesn't have "Adjust keyboard brightness", I cannot adjust the backlight keyboard (it is completely off). I have tried pretty much everything (including resetting NVRAM, PRAM, SMC)


here is some info,


  1. The keyboard backlight turns on only at the login screen. Once I enter my password they turn off
  2. The option in the Touch Bar does nothing anymore
  3. the option/controls on the screen do nothing
  4. The option to "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light" disappeared from System preferences


I brought it to the genius bar and they could not figure it out, said it must be a software issue because it lights on startup. They offered to try replacing the whole keyboard for more than the value of the computer. Have already had the keyboard replaced twice on this computer so don't think it's that.


The only thing I haven't tried yet is a clean install of macOS but that will likely be my next step.


This screen shows the missing "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light", showing the computer doesn't even think a backlight in plugged in.


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Sep 22, 2022 7:32 AM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
61,538 points

Sep 22, 2022 5:44 PM in response to Linus_Richter

You can first try booting into Safe Mode in case some third party software is interfering with the normal operation of macOS. You can also try creating a new macOS user account, log out of the main user account, then log into the new user account to see if you can adjust the keyboard backlight. If so, then you have some sort of issue with the main user account which may be as simple as a bad .plist preference file that may need to be deleted.


The Ambient Light Sensor may not be working which will prevent the laptop from being able to adjust the Keyboard's backlight. Usually covering the camera area of the Display should cause the Display's backlight to dim and you should be able to adjust the Keyboard's backlight. If neither of these things happen, then the Ambient Light Sensor is not working and would likely need to have the Display Assembly replaced. Apple or an AASP should run their service diagnostics as they will many times identify a faulty Ambient Light Sensor. I believe one of our organization's laptops failed the TouchID & Touchbar service diagnostic due to a faulty Ambient Light Sensor (not sure why this test found it, but a keyboard or Display test did not -- in fact the Apple service Keyboard diagnostic passed the backlight test).


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Keyboard Backlight not working after Login, missing "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light"

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