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No keyboard light on startup?

Since I've installed yosemite on my Macbook Pro, when starting up my keyboard doesn't light up. After I type in my password then the keyboard lights up. Prior to yosemite as soon as the area for typing in my password came up my keyboard was lit so I could see the keys in the low morning light just to sign on. Anyone else have this problem?

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7AMDRadeon6750

Posted on Dec 11, 2014 4:58 AM

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Posted on Jan 23, 2017 11:43 AM

I still don't understand the logic of not allowing the keyboard light to be activated at startup because of the encryption. If the screen can be activated in order to enter the password, why can't the keyboard light be activated along with the screen.

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Jan 23, 2017 11:43 AM in response to bobeides

I still don't understand the logic of not allowing the keyboard light to be activated at startup because of the encryption. If the screen can be activated in order to enter the password, why can't the keyboard light be activated along with the screen.

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Jan 23, 2017 10:35 AM in response to intellogo

EXPLANATION AND SOLUTION TO KEYBOARD BACKLIGHT AND TOUCHBAR ON STARTUP

When FileVault is enabled it encrypts EVERYTHING on the SSD and doesn't allow even the computer to have access to that data until you enter your password. That includes the software that loads during startup which would normally activate such things as the backlighting on your keyboard and the touch-bar. Which is why, with FileVault enabled, the login screen you get at startup is stored on Apple's version of their BIOS chipset, NOT on the SSD. After you enter your password on startup the decryption process begins and all of those necessary pieces of software start to load. Making your keyboard backlight turn on and your touch-bar activate. This is not a flaw or an oversight. It is how FileVault was built and how it protects against ALL AVENUES of data breech/intrusion. You'll be amazed at how hackers can devise code to use the backlight of the keyboard to hack into data on the storage device. So, now that you know why. Here are are your choices.....


1) IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN FILEVAULT'S SUPERIOR ENCRYPTION(RECOMMENDED BY ME)

STEP 1- DO NOTHING

2) IF YOU WANT TO HAVE KEYBOARD BACKLIGHT & TOUCHBAR FUNCTIONALITY

STEP 1- OPEN 'SYSTEM PREFERENCES'

STEP 2- CLICK 'SECURITY AND PRIVACY'

STEP 3- CLICK 'FILEVAULT' TAB

STEP 4- CLICK PICTURE OF LOCK (Located on lower lefthand side of current window)

STEP 5- ENTER 'PASSWORD'

STEP 6- CLICK 'TURN OFF FILEVAULT'

STEP 7- CLICK 'RESTART & TURN OFF ENCRYPTION'

STEP 8- YOUR BACKLIGHT AND TOUCH BAR SHOULD WORK ON STARTUP FROM NOW ON.

STEP 9- IF IT DIDN'T WORK BRING YOUR COMPUTER INTO APPLE. PROBLEM IS NOT FIXABLE.

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Feb 25, 2017 3:50 PM in response to Lawrencedc

This insane!

I'm using a lot my MacBook Pro at night with the light off, so backlight on my MacBook is essential so that I can see when I'm typing my long user password!


What has to do the security vault with backlight on when starting the mac on?

Does some how blind the non-authorised person to type in my password or hacking my macbook!!??

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Jan 30, 2017 2:50 PM in response to alphalobo

As I partially mentioned in my previous post. With FileVault enabled the password screen at startup is not loaded from the SSD. It is loaded from a separately embedded chip on the logic board, Apple's version of a BIOS chipset. The display is powered by another embedded chip which isn't encrypted and not linked to the SSD. Basically imagine the display as simply being a desktop monitor with an HDMI cable going to it. Can Apple find a way to have the necessary software for the keyboard backlight and touch-bar load from the BIOS? Yes. Will they? Who knows. If you use FileVault, no keyboard backlight at startup has been the tradeoff for years. If you were to buy a Windows PC with similar encryption capabilities, the same backlight tradeoff would occur. The simple fact is, for now, if you want FileVault you don't get keyboard backlight. If you want keyboard backlight, turn off FileVault and your data will be just as secure as any other laptop out there with a password. Full disk encryption like FileVault is overkill for most everyone. A simple password is sufficient and the data is still secure if stolen. Even without FileVault enabled, a person would need quite a bit of knowledge about computer software and hardware. As well as, well over $100,000 in equipment to leech the data off the SSD.

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Sep 15, 2017 10:28 AM in response to macguysfsu

Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.


Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem or a suggestion for change. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem/suggested change solved sooner.


Click here to send Feedback

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Jan 22, 2017 9:45 AM in response to intellogo

I have the same exact problem with the keyboard backlight and the touch-bar. I use File Vault and that isn't going to change. Since it is vital for my line of work. Yet, that seems to be the only solution. Which is a major problem when I'm out in the sun trying to login for the first time in the morning. Especially, if I happen to have been in a dark room the night prior with my brightness set to minimum before I shut down. After reading here this seems to be something Apple considers a 'feature' LOL!

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Aug 24, 2017 10:40 AM in response to bobeides

Thanks Bob for a clear explanation. While I disagree that having the BIOS able to turn on the keyboard backlight is a flaw, that is an Apple decision. Clearly they see fit to turn on the screen lighting.


To be clear ...


* Option 1 above maintains disk/SSD encryption with no boot time keyboard backlight.
* Option 2 turns on the keyboard backlight at boot time ... and you give up storage encryption.


I am struck by comments saying "Turned off FileVault and everyone is working". I hope you understand the implications of turning off FileVault. Indeed, it is more difficult to get data off of a SSD than an internal hard drive, but it can be done without too much trouble - a soldering iron is all you need. Better that the data they get is worthless by being encrypted if you ask me.

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Sep 15, 2017 7:55 AM in response to USV Apple Developer

I find this to be very inconvenient. A backlit keyboard is essential for entering a system password on reboot. Can we get an explanation as to why enabling the backlight before login is a security issue? Does it have to do with the secure bootstrap process? Thanks.

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No keyboard light on startup?

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