MacBook Air Backlit Keyboard Issues

Hey ChristopherSims,

This is what I was able to find about the ALS adjusting keyboard brightness, and it's worth a read:

By default, the portables with ambient light sensors (ALS) automatically adjust the brightness of the keyboard backlight based on the ambient light in the environment. The ALS, located to the left of the FaceTime camera, evaluates the level of light for this feature. While in the default mode, the F5 and F6 keys will function only while the light levels are low enough for the ALS to trigger the backlight keyboard. By covering the ALS, you can test the backlight keyboard feature and adjust it with the F5 and F6 keys.

via: Portables: Adjusting the keyboard backlight

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4882

If your MacBook Air appears to behave differently than that, then I would reset the SMC, which you can learn how to do here:

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

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

Take care,

David

I've tried reset pram, smc, checked preferences, ran extended hardware test, nothing worked, any ideas would be much appreciated.

I have same problem and have done same 'solutions,' with no luck. I also would like further advice.

Hi, maybe this can be helpful: http://osxdaily.com/2013/11/22/fix-keyboard-backlight-not-working-macbook/

Thanks but didn't help, at least in my case. I can still control the light level with F5 / F6, it still appears on the screen, but no light on keyboard. I need to know which hardware part to change so I can order it, I am far away from any apple service centre.

there is a light sensor on top of the laptop if you put your finger in it it will turn the back light on if its day it turns off to save power and at night it turns on or in the dark

You may want to ring Apple Service in your area. Is your computer still under warranty?

Hi ChristopherSims, I had the same problem with my Macbook Air Mid 2011, but I've solved it by doing this:

Check 'Adjust keyboard brightness in low light'

Choose 'Never' for 'Turn off when computer is not used for:'

Uncheck 'Adjust keyboard brightness in low light'

Use F5 to turn the light to zero (no light)

Check 'Adjust keyboard brightness in low light' again.

If you cannot use the F5 and F6 keys for adjusting the light anymore, then it's done.

I don't have to reset or do anything else.

It works for me, hope it will for you.

It used to work properly: turned on when it's dark, turned off when it's light, even when I was in a room. After upgrading to my current OSX 10.9.4, it didn't do anything:

If I ticked the 'Adjust keyboard brightness in low light', I was still able to adjust the light with F5 and F6 keys. It was always on or it wasn't even when I sat in a dark room after using F5 key to turn the light off

Now, it works properly. It's not on when I sit in a bright room or outside during daytime, it's only on when I sit in a dark room.

Hi VietN207, I am facing the same problem and I followed your advice but it still didn't work 😟 Do you have any idea how to solve it?

After I did all the steps you said, I was still able to adjust the keyboard light with F5 and when the light is off it doesn't light up automatically.

I am currently on OS X Yosemite 10.10. Macair mid 2013

Hi Otabek,

same with my 2008 MBA 1.1, running Snow Leo - the keyboard-backlight is missing, though hitting F5/F6 is acknowledged by the appropriate icons showing up on the screen.

I've tried all the solutions proposed above, but nothing fixed it.

Meanwhile I've even performed a complete / clean re-install of Snow Leo to make absolutely sure it isn't just some corrupted plist or so - but no change.

Therefore, I meanwhile assume it's a hardware-Issue, also because some days ago, it still lit up shortly, when I was folding the LED a bit up, or a bit down. But now it's constantly dark.... And where should I start hunting?

As far as I remember from earlier trouble-hunting, the LED's for the keyboard-backlight are attached to the small interconnector-board just below the mainboard, that also transmits the keyboard- and the touchpad-signals to the mainboard. But since keyboard, touchpad, and also my ALS are all working just fine, I wonder if I will find any loose connector there....

Any useful ideas will be highly appreciated! 🙂

I had exactly the same problem, and the steps above didn't fix it.

However, after turning the lights off in my room and playing with these setting it started to work. Now, finally, F5 and F6 are disabled when 'Adjust keyboard brightness in low light' is checked.

Try going to a dark place, then playing with these settings again.

Edit: Hmmm. Not so fast. After waking from sleep it now wants the keyboard illumination on all the time again. I think the problem is just that it gets confused about what is dark.

Had the backlit issue. Tried all of the above and still didn't work. Then I did a restart and it works now.

Great the first solution was the problem 😉