Code found by 9to5Mac points to new keyboard shortcuts that will allow iPad owners to change their screen brightness or adjust the keyboard backlight. The code is present in iPadOS 13.5.5 beta but it is likely that Apple will announce this feature as a part of iPadOS 14 which should be unveiled at WWDC 2020 later this month.
The keyboard backlight on your MacBook is, without a doubt, one of the greatest features on the system. Since the keyboard backlight doesn’t consume much battery power, many users tend to keep this feature on their MacBook on at all times. The backlight also provides an aesthetically pleasing look. This feature was created to allow users to use their MacBook in the dark or in low lit settings, however, it’s evident that even when you’re not in such a setting, it’s nice to have the backlit keyboard on.
Although the backlit keyboard can easily be activated through your Touch Bar or a keyboard shortcut, sometimes this beloved feature stops working, for seemingly no reason at all. No matter which method you use to try to turn the backlight on, the feature won’t turn on, at times. This can occur for various reasons, such as bright lights or glares blocking your Mac’s light sensor.
There can also be more complicated hardware issues, which can be solved by resetting the System Management Controller on your Mac. There’s no need to worry if your keyboard backlight isn’t turning on, as usually this problem can be resolved in a few simple steps. There are a few methods you can carry out. In order to get started and fix the keyboard backlight on your Mac, follow the instructions below.
Adjust the Mac and Light Sensor on Your System
It’s possible that your Mac is being exposed to bright lights, sunlight or a glare. This may cause problems on the light sensor associated with your Mac. When your light sensor becomes impaired, the illumination indicator on your Mac will become locked, which will prevent your backlight from turning on. Luckily, you can easily solve this problem.
All you need to do is adjust your Mac in order to remove the bright light shining on your display and near your web camera. The fact that your backlight stops working in brightly lit areas isn’t a problem. Apple has caused this to occur intentionally since your backlight won’t be seen in brightly lit areas anyways. If you’ve never experienced this, you can try it out by going to a dark room and shining a flashlight or other source of bright light on your camera. You’ll notice then that your backlight won’t turn on.
Manually Adjust Backlight via Keyboard Shortcut
If the first solution didn’t apply to your situation, and your MacBook’s backlight doesn’t respond to external situations, then you should try manually adjusting the backlight on your keyboard. While this solution may seem silly, it often works. In order to manually adjust the backlight on your keyboard, follow the instructions below.
1. Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
2. From the drop-down menu that appears, click on System Preferences.
3. Click on the Keyboard preference panel.
4. There will be a checkbox labeled Automatically illuminate keyboard in low light. Please disable this option by clicking on the checkbox. The check should disappear when the option is disabled.
5. Use the F5 and F6 keys in order to manually control the backlight on your keyboard.
You’ve now ensured that the function keys are the only way to adjust the backlight on your keyboard. Now you can control your backlight, regardless of external conditions. Please be aware that if you notice the backlight is taking up too much battery, you must lower it on your own, as it won’t lower automatically.
Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
The System Management Controller on your Mac is a piece of hardware on your Mac’s motherboard. This piece of hardware controls many functions on your Mac, including, but not limited to, Bluetooth, fans, USB ports, Wi-Fi hardware, battery, and more. The System Management Controller was made to prevent your Mac processor from having too many responsibilities. In other words, the processor won’t have to take care of simply hardware functions, thanks to the System Management Controller.
Since the System Management Controller controls various hardware functions on your Mac, it can be helpful to reset the System Management Controller, if you’re experiencing problems on your Mac. Please note that the process to reset your System Management Controller will depend on the type of Mac computer you possess. If your Mac has a removable battery, the process will be different, when compared with Mac’s that have a non-removable battery.
Nonetheless, whichever type of Mac computer you have, it’s fairly easy to reset the System Management Controller on your computer. Follow these instructions in order to reset your System Management Controller. After resetting your System Management Controller, it should be working as usual, and your problem should be resolved. Try turning on your backlit keyboard manually, and see if the problem has resolved.
I'm going to give you the best advice you will ever get about these 'support' forums. When someone says reset your SMC or your NVRAM just say, 'LOL!' Then move on to someone who has actual knowledge about your question, such as myself.....
Given your 'issue' I can 100% say that you have FileVault enabled. 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'
Best Backlit Keyboard For Mac
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.
Macbook Keyboard Backlight
STEP 9- IF IT DIDN'T WORK BRING YOUR COMPUTER INTO APPLE. PROBLEM IS NOT FIXABLE.