Macbook keyboard backlight auto turn-on when room is dark?

I have a late 2013 13" Retina Macbook Pro (running Mavericks) and am a relatively new OSX user. I know that I can modify keyboard backlight settings and have the brightness level adjust automatically (similar to how the screen brightness adjusts) however I don't actually want the keyboard's backlight on when the room is light. The fact that the auto-adjust setting makes the keyboard brighter in a light room is annoying to me.
Is there any way to have the backlight automatically turn on ONLY when the room is BELOW a certain brightness threshold. Perhaps there is a 3rd party app that can add this functionality? Manually pressing F5 and F6 works fine, but ideally I'd like to have this automated somehow.
Thanks!

Billy_budd, Unfortunately it's not even that things are finicky for me. I haven't experienced any auto-turnon functionality at all. Are you running Mavericks? I've seen some older posts referring to this being a possibility. Is there a specific way you've enabled this option? I don't see anything in my settings.
If I select the tickbox I've highlighted in the screenshot below, the brightness of the keyboard mimicks the auto-audjust behaviour of the screen's backlight. With it unchecked, I have to use F5 or F6 to see any keyboard brightness changes. I haven't experienced the keyboard automatically turning on when the lights turn off.

Similar Messages

Keyboard backlight auto turn on (T530)

I often use laptop top in low-light conditions and i`m tired of constantly pressing fn+space combination to turn light on.
Is there any way that turns backlight on automaticly when starting laptop?
Lenovo ThinkPad T530: i7-3520M/16GB RAM/128GB Vertex 4 SSD/1TB Seagate HDD + 8GB SSD Cache/NVS 5400M/FHD 1920x1080/9-cell BAT/ Backlit RU/Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 ENG

The same question was asked in the W series board, I unfortunately don't think the answer is the one you are looking for; the systems use the same keyboards
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/Keyboard-backlight-settings-stay-on/m-p/113413...
Andy ______________________________________
Please remember to come back and mark the post that you feel solved your question as the solution, it earns the member + points
Did you find a post helpfull? You can thank the member by clicking on the star to the left awarding them Kudos Please add your type, model number and OS to your signature, it helps to help you. Forum Search Option T430 2347-G7U W8 x64, Yoga 10 HD+, Tablet 1838-2BG, T61p 6460-67G W7 x64, T43p 2668-G2G XP, T23 2647-9LG XP, plus a few more. FYI Unsolicited Personal Messages will be ignored.
Deutsche Community Comunidad en Español English Community Русскоязычное Сообщество
PepperonI blog

Macbook Pro (10.6.8) keyboard backlight wont turn on

I was reading some articles to try and fix it myself but I noticed a lot of people have problems with their keyboard backlight because they have the box located in
System Preferences > Keyboard > Automatic Illuminate either checked or unchecked. I checked my keyboard settings and I don't have that box at all!
I got my macbook in 2008, 2009 so it's a slightly older version. I need help fixiing my keyboard!
It hasnt worked for awhile now but I just never noticed it.
It never turns on when it's dark either.
When I cover the camera lens the display dims so it pretty much works
The only thing I noticed that no one talked about was that when I press FN + F5 or F6, I hear that sound that indicates you can't use that option. but when I try with the FN + f1 or f2, it works just fine.

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

Backlight Auto Turn Off

When playing music my backlight of the iTouch does not shut off unless I manually press the black button on top...any way to make it auto turn off like my ipod?

Actually...you should Read My Reply’s correctly
I never said PassCode-Lock...actually no one has brought up PassCode-Lock…you’re the first.
My point was even sliding the bar is an extra step I would rather not do while driving, but of course I want the backlight to turn itself off in 1 min…but it seems like the AutoLock MUST be on to have the backlight auto turn off...and that the backlight does NOT work independently from AutoLock…it seems there is a NO backlight setting that controls NOTHING but the backlight, unlike a regular ipod.
I was just asking to be sure I did not overlook something.

Macbook 13 Retina keyboard backlight not turning on

Hi all,
I've had my 13inch MPRr for about two weeks now and whenever it comes out of sleep from a LidOpen the keyboard backlight will seldom turn on. It is pretty inconsistent but I can usually get it activated again when I put it into sleep manually from the menu bar. Has anyone else experienced erratic behavior from the keyboard backlight?

I'm also experiencing this problem. my 2.6 macbook pro is less than 2 weeks old and the backlit keyboard stopped illuminating a few days ago. it DID work for a time, but suddenly decided to stop working. labtick and preference pane tweaks have done nothing to fix the problem.
Try resetting your SMC, PRAM and run your hardware tester.
Resetting the System Management Controller >>
Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support' (designed exclusively for an iPhone/iPod touch)

Upgraded Cloudon ..now backlight does not auto turn off when not in use. How do I do that

Upgraded Cloudon. Now the backlight does not turn off when not in use. How can I correct this. Using iPad 1sted

Is your question for a MacBook Air like your profile says ? You're in the iPad Forum, I could ask the hosts to move your question.

MacBook Pro (mid 2012) turns on when lid is closed and MagSafe gets attached or detached.

I own a mid-2012 Macbook Pro with the 15" high resolution screen add-on (it's the model that was released alongside the new retina versions). The processor is a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7. I run OS X 10.8.4.
I'd like to know if the following behavior is normal: when the computer is sleeping with the lid closed, and the MagSafe adaptor is either attached or detached, removing it or attaching it (with the lid still closed) will make the computer wake up from sleep. You can easily hear the fans starting when it does so. It'll stay on for 30 seconds to a minute, and then go back to sleep again. The screen doesn't seem to turn on when this happens and the lid is closed. Opening the lid when the computer exhibits this behavior results in a black (and useless) screen. In order to be able to use the pc you need to wait until it goes back to sleep on its own and then turn it back on.
Another (possibly related) issue appears when the PC turns off automatically (either while running or during sleep) because the battery is exhausted. When this happens, I usually attach the adapter (with the lid open, most of the times) and then press on the power button. A black-and-white screen with a loading bar appears for a few seconds, and then the full-color login screen appears (my pc is set to ask for the password every time it wakes from sleep). After the loading bar is gone and the full-color screen is back, I am unable to input my password, even though the password field looks focused. Neither the keyboard nor the mouse are responsive. This often happens in such a way that it is impossible for me to input my password (or interact with my pc) before it goes back to sleep for lack of interaction. Recently I've discovered that randomly pressing the power button and some keys on the keyboard (I still don't know what exactly triggers this) will make it able to receive input and thus I'll be able to type in my password and log in.
I'd like to know if any of you have encountered the two behaviors I've described and if you think they're normal or have any solutions for them.

Hello terabytest,
I would be concerned too if my MacBook Pro exhibiting the behavior you described. For a message like this, I recommend resetting your System Management Controller (SMC) and NVRAM.
Resetting the SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own
Note: Portable computers that have a battery you should not remove on your own include MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and later, all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook (Late 2009).
Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.
You can find the full article here:Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
Resetting NVRAM / PRAM
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
You can find the full article here:
About NVRAM and PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

Macbook Pro won't turn on when scheduled

I recently bought a refurbished macbook pro ad I've set it to shut off at night and then wake up in the morning. Well…it shuts off fine when it's supposed to but it never turns on in the morning. I have no actual problems turning the computer on manually but I'm wondering why it won't turn on when it is scheduled to? Any thoughts…?

First step is a SMC reset:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT3964
Your font is a bit excessive.
Ciao.

Macbook and isight auto-turns on!

Hi
I've bought a new macbook, the middle one, and i don't have reinitialized it, so i have the original tiger installation.
I know which software i have installed, but i don't understand why my isight auto turns on randomly!
Happens some time, i see the green light, but i have not opened any software that use the webcam and, if i try to start ichat, it says that the webcam is already in use....
So, it's an hardware problem? it's happen only to me?
Thanks for your attention.
Luke77
Macbook Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Hi Luke,
check your dock for any application opened that might use your iSight. Any application open will show black arrow/triangle at the bottom of the icon.
Suspected application are iPhoto, Comic Life, Instant messenger, etc.
Also reset PRAM and SMC on your macbook:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319
And repair your permission by opening application folder > utilities > disk utility > repair permission.
Update your software and hardware to the latest and do another repair permission after that.
Good Luck.

Keyboard backlighting - manually turning it on

Is there a way (short of putting a piece of tape over the camera) to manually turn the keyboard backlighting on? I'm regularly finding that the machine's idea of how dim the ambient light needs to be is different from mine - increasingly so as my eyes get older
thanks...Bob

That did the trick! Too bad this kind of control is not built into the machine as it comes from Apple.
Thanks...Bob

Macbook pro has trouble turning on when battery is fully charged

I have fixed the logic board of my MacBook Pro through Apple service care around a month ago due to liquid damage. It has been working perfectly fine until reccently it has been having problem turning on when battery is fully charged to 100%. The laptop automatically shuts down and is unable to turn on again unless I unplug the charger. It still works perfectly fine when the battery is not 100% and the battery is still able to charge properly.
I still have 90 day warranty for my service repairment but I'm currently on vaccation and will not be back on time. Wondering if anyone had the same situation or solutions to the problem! Thank!

Thanks for the help!
I have tried SMC and it doesnt seem to respond in any way. I'm not really sure what the PRAM test is.
I've tried calling Apple in the states but it requries me to pay 49 USD in order to get a tech person to talk to me.
I'm currently in Asia and we don't have any Apple Stores, we do have Authorized dealers here but I'm not sure if they will be able so assist me without asking me for service charge. Do you happen to know if there's any contact I would be able to phone without being transfered?
By the time I get back to the states I'm going to be 2 days after the 90 days warranty (August 16th) and I don't know if I should wait and risk it?

HP Pavillion dv3: Volume Icon on keyboard doesn't turn on when touched

Hi guys!
I have an HP Pavillion dv3 notebook and it has touch sensitive volume and wifi controls at the top of the keyboard. when you touch it and it turns blue, then it's on, when you touch it and it turns red, then its off.
recently though, the volume control on my keyboard has been red, and even when I click it it's still red. it doesn't turn on. I checked the volumes on the screen and they're all alright, the sound card is fin, only problem is the volume button on the top of my keyboard doesn't turn on.
how do I fix this? I can't hear any sounds because of this.
thanks. God bless

Hi undignified,
Welcome to the HP Consumer Support Community! It looks like this message was accidentally posted twice. I am going to lock this instance of the thread and redirect everyone to this thread, or the one posted first.
Thanks!
Clicking the "Kudos star" to the left is a great way to say thanks!
When your problem has been solved, accept the solution by clicking the "Accept as Solution" button to help other members in the future!
Rules of Participation

Possible Retina Macbook Keyboard Backlight Issue?

This just happened to me about 20 minutes ago.
I was sitting in my room reading up on some news articles when I noticed that some of my keys on the keyboard were dimmer than the rest. I turned the backlight off and back on again but the problem persisted. I then whacked (Not too hard) the keyboard and noticed they flashed back to their original brightness and then went back down. After a few more hits they came back on. Should I be concerned about this issue?
~Connor

Reset SMC. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Choose the method for:
"Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".
If this does not help, contact Apple.
MBP is in warranty for 1 year from the date of purchase.
Any hardware related issue should be brought to the attention of Apple.
Best.

MacBook Air won't turn on when connected to power adapter.

When the power adapter is disconnected and my MacBook Air runs on battery, it turns on normally. Any idea what might be wrong. I've tried all kinds of different system resets but no luck. Thanks

Reset SMC. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Choose the method for:
"Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".

My MacBook screen will not turn off when closed.

I replaced the screen on my 13.3 MacBook, but now when I close the it, the screen does not enter sleep mode like it is supposed to (the Apple logo is still lit, and light can be seen inside the laptop. Also when it is closed, and music is playing- the music does not stop.) I have not called Apple yet (because it is Xmas Eve) but I will as soon as possible. I did a PRAM zap, and tried going through the system preferences. Any help would be great, thank you.

There is supposed to be a small magnet in the lid that triggers the sleep switch when the lid comes down. It sounds like it wasn't installed as part of the screen swap. You can confirm this using a fridge magnet. Place the magnet on the edge of the palm rest just above the Kensinton security slot and it should trigger a sleep response. If it does, that confirms the magnet is missing from the lid.

Macbook keyboard backlight auto turn-on when room is dark?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for