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MBP Backlit Keyboard and Lion

Greetings, I'm having a problem with my brand new MBP and it's backlit keyboard. It won't ever go out. I can be in a bright sunlit room and it still won't go off. if I uncheck the box "automatically illuminate keyboard in low light" it still won't go off. it's ALWAYS on!!

Now, if the screen goes dim, based on the energy saver, then the keyboard will go out. If the timer adjustment, in the keyboard preferences pane, is set to something other than never, when the timer hits that limit, the backlight will go out. However, during normal operation, the ambient sensor seems to do nothing. Also, as I mentioned, it seems to work this way whether or not the check box is checked or not for automatic illumination. It works like it's always checked and like it's always in a dark room.

I first thought it was a hardware issue, but now realize it's a problem with Lion. I created a partition on an external drive and reloaded Snow Leopard on that partition. When I boot up into Snow Leopard I don't have any issues with the backlight working correctly.

Any thoughts from the Lion experts? Anyone else having similar issues?

Thanks, Scott

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 30, 2011 12:00 AM

35 replies

Wabler

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2012 4:44 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

I was able to get it to work for me, but it was only after something really weird.

I tried using my F5 key to turn down the backlight as much as possible. It said "-" but the light was still on.

I went to keyboard preferences, turned on the checkbox that says "Use all F1, F2..." then hit F5. It beeped at me. I then unchecked that checkbox and hit F6 then F5 and the keyboard backlight turned off.

I am not able to turn this backlight on and off.

Apr 18, 2012 10:37 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

Same issue here, MBP with LION

Hurry up Apple

May 7, 2012 7:51 AM in response to Scott Loeffler

f5 turns it down, f6 turns it up on mine. Maybe just keep pressing f5 and it'll go off. 🙂

May 9, 2012 11:50 PM in response to Adam's Macintosh

updated to 10.7.4 and still no solution to this problem.😠

gonna switch back to 10.6

May 10, 2012 10:39 AM in response to chiaihuang

10.7.4 did fix this problem for me. The keyboard now illuminates according to the room brightness ("Automatically illuminate keyboard in low light" is checked in the keyboard system preferences). This is with an early 2011 15" MBP. Before this update the keyboard would stay illuminated no matter what the room brightness was.

May 10, 2012 2:43 PM in response to Michael Ramirez

Mines like I have to shine a lamp straight on the sensor to activate it, no matter how bright the room is. It's an early 2011 13" MBP. 10.7 is good, but many things are not robust enough, such as memory management, safari and stuff. I believe there's something going on at Apple, and I believe Lion is a transient product.

tk_y10

Level 1

10 points

May 10, 2012 5:09 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

The Keyboard Light Ghost is still alive on my Mac. Unfortunately no fix with the recent Lion Update.

The setting is activated again and set to "switch off after 5 sec when keyboard is not used", just like it was before the update to 10.7.4

After (and obviously by) the update, the setting was reset to "never switch off", which i have checked and changed again according to my personal preference.

Yes, I am wearing glasses, but even if I put them away and strictly control the light that shines on the sensor which is placed next to the camera on my 2010 15'' MBP, the Ghost keeps doing his weird business.

I was thinking about installing 10.6 on a new HD and update to Lion, installing all programms manually again, copying my data in order to avoid migrating the error through the migration assistant.

But meanwhile, I have to admit, somehow I would miss the Ghost if an update would bust it...

The Ghost reminds me of the risks that come along with the world that is growing constantly into a place that is driven by technology. We, staring at our display... at work, at home and of course at our smartphone when we are outside...

*Think different*

Baritech

Level 1

0 points

Jun 6, 2012 6:35 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

Weird problem here, last week I updated to Lion and then no backlight on my keyboard at all, even I don\t have acces to anything from sys preference on keyboard control, the backlight options dissapeard.

Check this

Any one?? Any help?? PLEASE!!!

ilgaar

Level 1

14 points

Jun 12, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

Hasn't this issue been fixed yet? I got the same problem.

tk_y10

Level 1

10 points

Jun 29, 2012 12:36 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

After installing Lion on a brandnew SSD the issue was gone.

Until today!

Only one week after I intstalled a brandnew system on that SSD, and strictly not using the Migration Assistant to avoid migrating the error - except for the Programs - the Ghost is back !

The Ghost only shows up when Safari is running...

I am going to try the secure startup of the system (Hold Shift + Press Power Button / Release Shift when Progress Bar shows up), to check on that.

⚠ I'll be back with the results soon.

tk_y10

Level 1

10 points

Jun 29, 2012 1:13 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

OK, as far as I can say now:

It's the Safari Flash Plug In !

tk_y10

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2012 5:30 AM in response to tk_y10

After un-installing Flash from Lion, the Ghost disappeared and did not show up until now.

I installed Flash again - of course from the Adobe Website - and if I don't get back to this discussion, you know what to do to get rid of the Ghost.

1. Un-install flash, using the official Un-Installer from Adobe (there is also a Version for older Mac OS)

2. Restart

3. If you like, Install Flash again and wait for it... the Ghost will show up again very soon !

Jul 15, 2012 6:41 PM in response to Scott Loeffler

Turn on your automatic dimming then shine a small pen light/mag light in the the camera at the top of display both my MacPro's keyboards dim but that seems to be the only way to they really want a bright light to dim lights. Like sunshine or something , try the flashlight into the camera...

Jul 15, 2012 6:42 PM in response to Baritech

Did you recently replace or upgrade your RAM ? If so or did something else under the hood (took bottom cover off) right next to the ram slots is a tiny ribbon strip an 1/8" wide . this powers the keyboard light. I knocked it out when i did my ram and went crazy doing all the steps apple suggested, reseting my SMC caused f5-f6 to be dead and no lighting options under preferencs-keyboard, they just disappeared from options I took cover back off and that ribbon strip was popped out. Took two jeweler flat tips to push it back in...

Jul 15, 2012 6:48 PM in response to tk_y10

Lights

The keyboard backlight appears to behave incorrectly (on Mac computers that have this feature).

The Status Indicator Light (SIL) appears to behave incorrectly (on Mac computers that have an SIL).

Battery indicator lights, if present, appear to behave incorrectly (on portables that use non-removable batteries).

The display backlight doesn't respond correctly to ambient light changes on Mac computers that have this feature.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

reset your SMC System Management Control

Note: Portable computers that have a battery you should not remove on your own include MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and later, all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook (Late 2009).

Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

MBP Backlit Keyboard and Lion