Typing in a dark room is significantly easier when your Mac’s keyboard is glowing. Most modern MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models feature an illuminated keyboard, but if yours isn’t lighting up, the brightness may simply be turned all the way down, or a system setting might be overriding your manual controls.
Method 1: Using the Keyboard Shortcuts
If your Mac keyboard has a dedicated row of function keys at the top (F1, F2, etc.), look for keys with icons resembling a glowing sun with dots or rays around them.
- Press the Increase Brightness (F6) key repeatedly to turn the keyboard light on and make it brighter.
- Press the Decrease Brightness (F5) key to dim it.
Method 2: Using the macOS Control Center
If your Mac does not have dedicated function keys (for example, newer models or setups using the Magic Keyboard without Touch ID), you can adjust the light via the software:
- Look at the top-right corner of your screen (in the menu bar) and click the Control Center icon (it looks like two toggle switches).
- Click on the Keyboard Brightness module.
- Click and drag the slider to the right to turn the lights on.
Method 3: Fixing the “Adjust in Low Light” Bug
If your keyboard light refuses to turn on, your Mac’s ambient light sensor might be confused.
- Go to the Apple menu () > System Settings.
- Click Keyboard in the left sidebar.
- Look for the setting called Adjust keyboard brightness in low light.
- If this is turned on, your Mac will completely disable the keyboard backlight if it detects you are in a brightly lit room (like sitting near a window). Turn this feature Off to regain manual control and force the lights to stay on all the time.