Turn your Mac keyboard’s backlighting on or off (2024)

macOS Sonoma 14

macOS Ventura 13

macOS Monterey 12

macOS Big Sur 11.0

macOS Catalina 10.15

macOS Mojave 10.14

macOS High Sierra

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See Also

Why illuminating Apple logo disappeared from MacBook | 91mobiles.comHow to use the iPhone Apple logo as a secret buttonHow to Type or Insert the Apple Logo () on an iPhone, iPad, or Machomekit disable adaptive lighting - Apple Community

Table of Contents

macOS User Guide

• Welcome
• • What’s in the menu bar?
  • Work on the desktop
  • Search with Spotlight
  • Quickly change settings
  • Use Siri
  • Get notifications
  • Open apps from the Dock
  • Organize your files in the Finder
• • Connect to the internet
  • Browse the web
  • Preview a file
  • Take a screenshot
  • Change your display’s brightness
  • Adjust the volume
  • Use trackpad and mouse gestures
  • Use Touch ID
  • Print documents
  • Keyboard shortcuts
• • Apps on your Mac
  • Open apps
  • Work with app windows
  • Use apps in full screen
  • Use apps in Split View
  • Use Stage Manager
  • Get apps from the App Store
  • Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
  • Install and uninstall other apps
• • Create and work with documents
  • Open documents
  • Mark up files
  • Combine files into a PDF
  • Organize files on your desktop
  • Organize files with folders
  • Tag files and folders
  • Back up files
  • Restore files
• • Change System Settings
  • Choose your desktop wallpaper
  • Add and customize widgets
  • Use a screen saver
  • Add a user or group
  • Add your email and other accounts
  • Automate tasks with Shortcuts
  • Create Memoji
  • Change your login picture
  • Change the system language
  • Make text and other items on the screen bigger
• • Set up a Focus to stay on task
  • Set up Screen Time for yourself
  • Use Dictation
  • Send emails
  • Send text messages
  • Make a FaceTime video call
  • Edit photos and videos
  • Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
  • Start a Quick Note
  • Get directions
• • Work across devices using Continuity
  • Use iPhone as a webcam
  • Use iPhone with Desk View
  • Stream audio and video with AirPlay
  • Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
  • Hand off between devices
  • Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
  • Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
  • Sync music, books, and more between devices
• • Manage Apple ID settings
  • Set your Apple ID picture
  • What is iCloud?
  • What is iCloud+?
  • Store files in iCloud Drive
  • Share and collaborate on files and folders
  • Manage iCloud storage
  • Use iCloud Photos
• • What is Family Sharing?
  • Set up Family Sharing
  • Set up Screen Time for a child
  • Share purchases with your family
  • Watch and listen together with SharePlay
  • Share a Photo Library
  • Collaborate on projects
  • Find content shared with you
  • Find your family and friends
  • Play games with your friends
• • Play music
  • Listen to podcasts
  • Watch TV shows and movies
  • Read and listen to books
  • Read the news
  • Track stocks and the market
• • Apple Music
  • Apple TV+
  • Apple Arcade
  • Apple News+
  • Podcast shows and channels
  • Manage subscriptions in the App Store
  • View Apple family subscriptions
• • Guard your privacy
  • Use Mail Privacy Protection
  • Control access to your camera
  • Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
  • Set up your Mac to be secure
  • Keep your data safe
  • Create a passkey
  • Understand passwords
  • Keep your Apple ID secure
  • Find a missing device
• • Get started with accessibility features
  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Mobility
  • Speech
  • General
• • Connect an external display
  • Use the built-in camera
  • Connect a Bluetooth device
  • Use AirPods with your Mac
  • Optimize your Mac battery life
  • Optimize storage space
  • Burn CDs and DVDs
  • Control accessories in your home
  • Use Windows on your Mac
• Resources for your Mac
• Resources for your Apple devices
• Copyright

If your Mac laptop has a backlit keyboard, you can manually adjust the level of backlighting or turn it off, or set options to do so automatically.

Manually adjust keyboard backlighting or turn it off

Do one of the following:

• On all Mac computers: Choose Apple menu> System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) On the right, drag the “Keyboard brightness” slider to adjust the brightness. Drag it all the way to the left to turn backlighting off.

• If your Mac has keyboard brightness keys: On the keyboard, press the increase brightness key or the decrease brightness key . To turn backlighting off, keep pressing .

• If your Mac has a Touch Bar: In the Touch Bar, expand the Control Strip, then tap the increase brightness button or the decrease brightness button . To turn backlighting off, touch and hold .

Tip: You can also adjust keyboard brightness right from the desktop by adding the Keyboard Brightness module to the menu bar or Control Center. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Control Center in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Go to Keyboard Brightness on the right, then turn on Show in Menu Bar or Show in Control Center. To adjust the brightness, click the Keyboard Brightness icon in the menu bar or in Control Center.

See Also

Don't close your MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro with a cover over the camera - Apple Support

Automatically adjust backlighting in low light conditions

1. Choose Apple menu> System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

2. Turn on “Adjust keyboard brightness in low light” on the right.

Automatically turn backlighting off after a period of inactivity

1. Choose Apple menu> System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

2. Click the pop-up menu next to “Turn keyboard backlight off after inactivity” on the right, then choose a time.

Tip: The light sensor is located at the top of your computer near the camera; make sure that area isn’t covered when you use your Mac in low light conditions.

See alsoUse Control Center on MacUse the Touch Bar on Mac

Helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Certainly! The information you've shared revolves around various versions of the macOS operating system, spanning from macOS High Sierra to macOS Sonoma and Ventura. Each version has introduced new features and improvements to the user interface, functionalities, and system settings.

To break it down:

macOS Versions:

1. macOS Sonoma (14): As of my last update in January 2022, this version might have been the latest iteration following macOS Ventura (13). Sonoma was anticipated to introduce enhancements over its predecessor, possibly focusing on performance, security, and user experience improvements.

2. macOS Ventura (13): Likely an intermediate version between Monterey and Sonoma, Ventura would have brought about refinements, feature updates, and potentially new functionalities.

3. macOS Monterey (12): Introduced in 2021, macOS Monterey included features like Universal Control, Focus mode, improved FaceTime capabilities, Live Text, and enhanced Continuity features for seamless cross-device experiences.

4. macOS Big Sur (11.0): Released in 2020, Big Sur marked a significant visual overhaul, aligning more closely with iOS design principles. It introduced Control Center, updated Notification Center, Safari enhancements, and improved Messages.

5. macOS Catalina (10.15): Known for its enhanced security measures, Catalina replaced iTunes with dedicated apps for music, podcasts, and TV. It also introduced Sidecar for using an iPad as a secondary display.

6. macOS Mojave (10.14): Mojave brought Dark Mode, Stacks for desktop organization, a redesigned Mac App Store, and improved privacy features.

7. macOS High Sierra: High Sierra emphasized under-the-hood improvements, like the APFS file system, improved graphics, and Safari updates for enhanced browsing.

Functionalities Covered:

The article touches on various aspects of using macOS, from basic navigation like working on the desktop, using Spotlight for search, changing system settings, using Siri, managing files, connecting to the internet, to more advanced tasks like using Continuity features, managing Apple ID and iCloud, multimedia consumption, privacy settings, accessibility features, and utilizing external devices.

It even delves into specific tasks such as adjusting keyboard backlighting, controlling accessories in your home, optimizing battery life, burning CDs/DVDs, and using Windows on a Mac.

This breadth of topics covers everything from basic user navigation to more specialized tasks, ensuring users are well-equipped to utilize their Macs effectively across different versions of macOS.

If there are specific features or functionalities you're interested in within this spectrum, I can dive deeper into those!