Why is my Magic Keyboard backlight not turning on?

You may want to try turning low-power mode off if it is on, to check if that helps:

Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on iPad - Apple Support

There is a third-party (non-Apple) article online that gives a series of trouble-shooting tips for this issue. You may want to try working through any steps you haven't already tried.

Hi smaker.

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Support Community!

Re: "Backlight on magic keyboard" "The manual adjustment on keyboard back lighting does not work."

Am no expert in this area, yet your questions deserve some response.

Wondering if this is the manual setting you have been using:

"If you want to manually adjust the brightness of the keys on your Magic Keyboard,

go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard."

(Above is from: Set up and use Magic Keyboard for iPad - Apple Support)

________________________________________________________________

Re: "When I increase the brightness of the screen, the back light goes off".

You might want to try restarting your iPad (Eg: Deletes temporary files, re-establishes connections, may update recent setting changes, and often restores order if something is not working as expected.)

If needed: See how to: Restart your iPad - Apple Support

__________________________________________________________________________________

re: "It would be nice if the accessibility option included, turning on the back lighting all the time."

If the issue continues, you may want to send feedback to reach the Accessibility Support Team:

They will likely not reply, yet your feedback will reach those whoi could make changes if others also experience similar situations.

To provide feedback about an accessibility feature on an Apple product,

email the Accessibility team: accessibility@apple.com.

All the best :-)

Are you sure you are selecting - Hardware Keyboard?

Settings > General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard

brbo wrote:

Re: "Backlight on magic keyboard" "The manual adjustment on keyboard back lighting does not work."

Am no expert in this area, yet your questions deserve some response.

Wondering if this is the manual setting you have been using:

"If you want to manually adjust the brightness of the keys on your Magic Keyboard,

go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard."

(Above is from: Set up and use Magic Keyboard for iPad - Apple Support)

Smaller, have you tried this suggestion? I found it helps for me and my "not so young" eyes.

This tip is also helpful if the keyboard does not automatically light up.

Wake your iPad with your Magic Keyboard

To wake your iPad, press any key on your Magic Keyboard. 

I am also having this issue with 18.1.1

When I try to manually increase the brightness through the settings or control centre, there is an animation of resistance and it goes back to off without ever turning on.

Super frustrating.

I have tried turning on and off but nothing.

Thank you, Carol B. Good tip that I didn't mention. :-)