Please help - keyboard backlight not working properly

The keyboard backlighting on my 15in early 2008 macbook pro stopped working properly about two weeks ago. I opened it at night to find that only the middle keys were lighting up. No spills, no drops or anything out of the ordinary. I have already reset the SMC (via sleep/restart/shutdown and shift/control/option/power), but no luck. Currently the only keys being lit are: 6 7 8 T Y U G H J B N. If anyone knows of a fix for this or anything else I should try, please help. Thanks.

You should take your MacBook Pro to Apple for repair.

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Keyboard backlight not working properly

Hi, first of all, thank you for your replies and sorry for the bad grammar (english not my first language).
Background info:
I have a 17inch macbook pro 3.1
Core 2 duo 2.4
Im running Osx 10.7.2
Upgraded HD and memory.
Issue
I had this computer since 07, no problems until about a week.
keyboard back light doens't work properly, I have tried resetting SMC and using an app called LabTick.
ONLY if I press slightly (without actually pressing completly) the keys "F" or "G" the backlight works.
when it does it responds to the F8-F10 keys and goes off on light rooms.
Its pretty annoying, it can be working for hours then it stop working and I have to play with f and g keys to get it working again for a long period of time.
is this a common issue?, is there a quick fix, I really dont wanna pay about $800 to change the whole logic board.
Thank you

Piwy wrote:
emmm... anyone had this issue?
No and don't think you will.
I think you have a problem with your computer. Maybe a clean install of the OS might fix it, maybe not.
If not then there is something wrong internally which can not be fixed without figuring out what internal part is causing it.
That can't be done on this forum.

Macbook Pro 17inch late 2011 keyboard backlight not working

Recently near the end of sum me 2014 I only noticed the backlight keyboard not working at all. I have done the following to try and rectify;
1. Reset SMC
2. Rest NVRAM
3. Disconnected battery and the above
4. hardware test online, result showing no issues found.
with all outcomes proving nil. Pressing Fn + F5 or F6 does show the brightness either increasing or decreasing but with no light. I then opened her up and disconnected a cable that was to the LHS of the RAM boards but this only powers the White Sleep LED and not the backlight keyboard on this 17inch model. My next step is to remove the mother board and find the actual cable that does power the backlight LEDs and ensure that it is connected. Similarly around the same time I noticed this with the backlights the fans were running fast. However the weather has gotten cooler and the mbp is not running fans as it was when it was in the warmer months.
Do I have to remove the motherboard and actually make sure that the connector for the backlights hasn't been dislodged?
Anyone out there with a 17inch mbp late 2011 that has had this problem please help.
keyboard-backlight-less
2.5Ghz Intel Core i7
8GB Ram
OSX 10.7.5
SMC Veresion 1.70f5

Thanks Ogelthorpe, I found an excellent video (not in english but it didnt matter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HNAGodYMNA .
What I found was that the keyboard backlight is intergrated into the black plastic cover that is between the motherboard and the back of the keys/LEDS and its all one piece back to the connector that connects to the motherboard under the LHS fan. I need more details to find out if the LEDS are controlled by a chip or what, but it seems to me that I need to visit an apple store/repairer, however this will be really difficult for me as Im in an isolated location. If there are further tests that I can conduct on my own, I would be grateful. Even if there are tests that Apple themselves conduct to find out what the problem is
Peter

I had a mac pro system..from last 2 days the keyboard is not working properly..if i typed a key but it displayed 2 or 3 keys..what is the problem? is keyboard gone..?

i had a mac pro system..from last 2 days the keyboard is not working properly..if i typed a key but it displayed 2 or 3 keys..what is the problem? is keyboard gone..?

Hey ynareshbabu,
Thanks for the question. I understand you are having issues with your keyboard. The following article provides some great troubleshooting steps:
One or more keys on the keyboard do not respond
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1381
You may want to refer to the "Some keys don't work as expected" section.
Thanks,
Matt M.

Keyboard issue I have a iMac thats about 4 years old, and now the keyboard is not working properly. some keys do not work. Any suggestions ?

I think I may have a virus! My keyboard is not working properly. When I press the zero key, it doesn't appear. Other keys that do not work include the directional keys, delete key, and others. I tried everything that I can think of to fix it, but nothing sesems to be working. Should I bring the keyboard and=/or the entire computer into my local Apple store+? see, the +? appears before the question mark, and I didn't put it there! Thanks!

No need to take the computer at this stage. Just take the keyboard into your local Apple store for examination. If you have another machine, not necessarily Apple, you could try the board on that or perhaps a friend's machine … they are largely universal.
You do not have a virus.

My keyboard does not work properly when texting etc

Hi All
My keyboard does not work properly on my Iphone 4 when texting, it brings the wrong letter or wont let me choose the one i want. Anything i can do to correct this or is it a visit to apple?
Cheers for any support in advance.

I have rebooted and synchronised it with the mac. I dont even have to touch the screen now and some letters get picked up.

My keyboard is not working properly. To get an a i have to type a q

my keyboard is not working properly. To get an a i have to type a q. To get a w I must type a z. M is the semicolon. Period is less than sign. I have turned off the computer and unplugged the keyboard and it still does not work. Running OS 10.6.8 Just noticed I have to use caps to get numbers.

Somehow I had gotten my keyboard preference changed to French.
If you have more than one keyboard layout enabled (checkmarked in the Input Sources section of the Language & Text control pane in System Preferences), then pressing Command-Spacebar or Command-Option-Spacebar will switch the active layout from one to the next.
You can prevent that from happening by either -
• Reducing the number of enabled keyboard layouts to one; or
• Turn off those two keyboard shortcuts. You can do that in Syatem Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts; click the Keyboard & Text Input in the left pane, then uncheck the two "select" items in the right pane.

Bluetooth, iSight and Keyboard Backlight not working. Please help!

My Bluetooth stopped working along with my iSight and Keyboard Backlight. I first noticed the weird sign over the bluetooth icon, and it read "Bluetooth not available". I payed no attention to it for a while until I tried to take a picture with Photo Booth and I read "No camera found", for some reason I tried to dim the backlight on the keyboard and a blocked sign appeared under the brightness level, not letting me do anything (Later I was able to use the backlight with the LabTick app). I have tried everything. SMC, PRAM, NVRAM, logging as diferent and new users, booting in safe mode... every solution I have found on the internet has been tested by me. Then I read this about the Hardware Test solution, and surprisingly after performing the Hardware Test no problems were found! So basically my MacBook Pro (mid 2010) is not having any trouble of any sorts with anything. Then why can't I use Bluetooth, iSight or Key backlighting (which only works through LabTick). Given the fact that the hardware test shows no problems I am not comfortable with the idea of taking it to repair. There MUST be something I can actually do to fix these issues.
Does anybody have any idea? I repeat, these are NOT WORKING, NOT FOUND AND NOT AVAILABLE.
- Keyboard Backlight (Only works through LabTick)
- iSight Camera (Not found by any software)
- Bluetooth (No info appears on the system profile, the icon on the menu bar is completely gone)
All three issues happened at the same time, the night before everything was working perfectly fine.
If anyone could help... please!!!
Summary:
MacBook Pro Mid 2010 (http://support.apple.com/kb/SP583) Unibody, can't take out the battery.
Solutions tried:
- Reset SMC: Turning on while holding Shift + Ctrl + Option + Power Button (This makes my MacBook forget about the battery and start up with really loud fan noise, battery icon appears with an X on it, keyboard backlight buttons work, they show brightness level on screen, but the actual light won't work, no bluetooth, no isight)
-Reset PRAM and NVRAM: Turning on while holding Option + CMD + R + P (I have waited for 2 chimes, 3 chimes and 4 chimes at different times, nothing happens. Light, bluetooth and isight are still gone)
-Holding Power Button for 10 seconds, 20 seconds, longer... nothing changes.
-Creating and logging in as new admin user, nothing changes.
-Deleting the bluetooth.plist file and powering off and on again, also rebooting
-Deleting the SystemConfiguration folder, powering off and on again, also rebooting
-Installing "blueutil", didn't help at all, turned it off via terminal with command blueutil off.
-Performing Apple Hardware Test - Shows no erros or problems on any area after one full hour of testing (Performed the extended testing)
-Leaving it powered off overnight
Please anyone help meee!! I can't afford going crazy!
Thank you so much in advance!
Alvarock.

****UPDATE***
Hi guys i got across this forum after searching for bluetooth, front camera and the most ANNOYING no lost keyboard backligth.
After run all the test, procedures, tweeks and, and everything i remenbered that once i sent my MBP to repair at you bring i break, turns out that the little ribbon flex connector coming from the mother board ( from the rigth to left) was loose since the adhesive wich they used shrink do temp changes, anyhow y popped out the glas and found the flex cable totally sticked to the glass pulling out of the pcb board connector, reinstalled it smoothly and that FIXED the camera, bluetooth and keyboard backlight!..
thats it. hope i helped some frustraded owner.

Keyboard Backlight not working anymore.....please help.

After installing Boot Camp 2.1, I can't get the keyboard backlight to work anymore. I am in the darkest of dark rooms. Pressing F8 just shows an attempt to turn it on but it has a circle with a line through it.
I am running Windows Vista 32-bit SP1.
Are there drivers I can install manually?
Thanks.

Here is something funny. I rebooted with the room completely dark. When Windows came back, the keyboard was backlit. But, when I turned the lights on, the keyboard stayed backlit. And, even better (or worse), when I rebooted again, the keyboard just stayed backlit even to the point where I was choosing between booting into OS X or Windows. That is crazy! I don't know what is going on anymore.

Problem with Macbook Pro early 2011, webcam not working in any apps and windows 7 or 8 on bootcamp, keyboard backlight not working?

Hi Guys
I recently bought a second hand early 2011 Macbook Pro 15 inch and are having 2 problems. The first is that none of the apps detects my webcam at all, the second is, i have Windows 8 installed on bootcamp but are unable to get the keyboard backlight to work in 7 or 8. The backlight works perfect in os x 10.8.5 though. I need a little bit of help guys.....

Go to Apple Menu / About This Mac. Click on More Info ... next on System Report. In the left hand column, under Hardware, select USB. The right side will show the USB Device Tree. Look through that and check for "Built-in iSight". That is your camera. If it is not listed the camera is not working.
For backlighting, try this: go to System Preferences / Keyboard. Uncheck "Adjust keyboard lighting in low light".

My built in keyboard is not working properly on my iPhone4S

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Macbook pro (retina) keyboard backlight not working after Yosemite update

Help,
My keyboard backlight stopped working when I upgraded my Macbook pro (retina) from Mavericks to Yosemite. Nothing in System Preferences -> Keyboard makes a change. This is a feature I use a lot. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

Try a SMC reset:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT3964
Ciao.

Keyboard backlight not working...

Hi everyone!
I am having a problem that appears to be shared by other Powerbook users who have the luxury of a backlight for their keyboard: I have updated OSX and now the option of automatic illumination has gone from the Keyboard and Mouse preferences window?
Does anyone know how this can be fixed? I have only had my laptop for 13 months and so far my hard drive has died and the system has crashed completely three times, I would be devistated if this is the logic board now? If you think it is please lie!? Only joking of course, but if anyone has a neat solution I would love to know!
I have already tried to set-up a new user, and have removed the com.applebezelservices.plist from the library, but no joy so far.
I use this luxury lots, since I work at night. Any help would bring festive cheer to me and my children to be!!!
Regards,
Simon

Same problem here with my powerbook 15" 1.5ghz.
It seems that this problem is common with a lot of people as I can see from the forums that I went on.
The ambient light sensor seems defective since a software update (probably the 10.4.7). Results are that the auto-dim of the screen does not work all the time, the keyboard no longer backlight up in dark condition and the sleeping status light blinks for no reason or it stays on when computer is open.
I've tried to zap de PRAM and reset PMU with no results.
I've read that some people has a loose connection between logic board ans ambient light sensor... could that be the reason as you mention taht they told you so?
I've read that some people with the same problem had their Logic Board changed as they were under warranty... but for the rest of us that are not on the warranty anymore... no answers from Apple. I think that they should open a repair ticket and that everybody who has this problem should contact Apple

DEll Inspiron 15z 5523 keyboard backlight not working

hi,
Yesterday I bought Dell Inspiron 15z 5523.The keyboard backlight does not work. I have tried the following:
OS (Windows 8 64 bit)
1) Fn+ F6 -- > Nothing happened
2) Opened Windows mobility center --> Keyboard back light option not available
3) c:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\BacklitKB -- > Unable to detect the backlight keyboard
Please Help .. Thank you

Hi haseebanwar,
I am sorry about the situation, Please send me the system service tag or express service code through a private chat, I will see what best can be done.
Click on my username select start a private conversation and send me the details. Please refer to the link below where to locate the service tag or express service code.
http://dell.to/162b3za
Let me know about the progress

Screen backlight and keyboard backlight not working

Yesterday I turned on my old but proud PowerBook17" and the *screen was black*, but you could barely see everything. *Also keyboard backlight is not working.*
I read many many forums and all say that black screen caused by inverter failure, but in my case keyboard lighting is also dead, so I wonder *if this is something different* and not the inverter.
I would appreciate any advises or ideas cause I love this machine..
Thank you in advance!

Same problem here. I initially thought the auto-brightness problem had been fixed in 10.7.3, but sadly it hasn't. The auto-brightness works when the Mac starts, but I find it loses control and fails after wake from sleep.
I have telephoned AppleCare several times but they are not aware of this bug. They think a PRAM reset cures it, but it doesn't. As soon as the machine goes to sleep then auto-brightness fails on wake.
I have used the Apple Form to report the bug. It might eventually get fixed if others would kindly report it as well please. Here is the link:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Please help - keyboard backlight not working properly

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