Macbook Pro keyboard backlight not working

[cicloide]

Backlight not working on mac os but does work on bootcamp

My keyboard backlight is not working either - after installing Mountain Lion (10.8.4).

What is interesting is that it the backlight works on the windows bootcamp partition.

So it works in windows but it does not in Mac Os. Any help?

 

[Smallville]

Backlight won't stay off

Here's the issue I'm having since upgrading to Mavericks on a MacBook Pro 13-inch I bought two months ago:

- I never check the box to have the computer adjust the keyboard backlight for me.
- I always use F5-6 to adjust the backlight.

The issue is that I turn off the keyboard light before putting the computer to sleep or shutting the lid. When I open it back up or I wake the computer up, the lights come back on. When I press F5, the screen shows me that the backlight is supposedly off. To turn the lights off, I have to press F6 to turn them on, then F5 to turn them off. It's odd.

Any thoughts?

 

[LAMBP09user]

You guys are lifesavers

Just made an account to say thanks for the advice here. Just upgraded my RAM recently and the backlight wasn't working and it was driving me crazy. The recommendations of re-inserting the cable and re-setting the SMC worked perfectly .

 

[Tunker]

Same here. After almost googling myself to death I ended up here. Earlier today I opened up my mac to clean it out since it was getting hot. After that no more keyboard illumination. Since I recently changed to Yosemite I thought the problem was related to that but it was that teenyweeny contact (close to one of the fans, on an 2011 MBP)

 

[jrdixey]

I joined macrumors just to chime in with an enthusiastic recommendation for LabTick! I installed the utility and as soon as I clicked it, I went from no backlight (and no recognition of the backlight by my MBP), to a normal, functioning backlight. Magical. Before you crack open your case and try to fiddle with tiny cables, I would recommend trying this utility just to see if it's a software issue.

 

[hurahung]

I've had the same issue. Here's the story with solution:
After adding some new RAM I've noticed, that the keys weren't lighting up. Also under keyboard in the preferences the "Automatically..." wasn't there anymore. Exactly as Amanda described. SMC and PRAM resets didn't help.
Long surfing sessions and countless forums later I found a hint guiding my attention to a tiny cable which is easily disconnected working on the RAM. If you're sitting infront of your open MacBook in order to change the RAM, the corresponding cables are on the left hand side. They are really small, bifilar and covered with a small piece of cellotape. This cable was disconnected, so I fiddled it into the right place and covered it again.
I closed the backside and started the Mac Daddy. The keyboard was still not working. This changed after a last SMC reset.

Backlight is back and I am happy. Hope this is going to help you.

Regards from Germany...

Hey man! I spent hours to google about the issue of my macbook pro 13" mid 2009. And with your tip I finally shoot it away, my keyboard are lighting up again. Honestly, I have just registered to the forum to say thanks to you bro. Many thanks from Vietnam.

 

[hurahung]

Thank you all for the hint about that tiny cable, I just upgraded the RAM on my Macbook Pro and had exactly the problem as the OP.

I've attached a picture of the cable for the next unlucky guy who pulls it out, it's the small ribbon cable with the number 1&2 in the image below.

I guess there's usually a small piece of tape holding it in place, in my case it must have fallen off.

View attachment 350805

Thank you bro, your photo help me more confident even the cable in my macbook pro 13" mid2009 name different. It's not just 1&2 but 1-2-3-4. I am so happy to light it up again.

 

[crob13]

I bought a 2008 MBP that has a keyboard with no back light. I found this thread and checked the ribbon cable pictured here but I dont have a ribbon cable anywhere in sight. Do you think it might be pushed under the board? What all do I have to remove to check?

I have the same issue. I can't find the ribbon cable.

 

[Luckymashudu]

Than you Thank you Thank you. I fixed mine by just gently pushing the small cable back.

I also had a RAM upgrade and I tried PRAM and SMC reset but nothing worked

 

[KSipit]

Thank you all for the hint about that tiny cable, I just upgraded the RAM on my Macbook Pro and had exactly the problem as the OP.

I've attached a picture of the cable for the next unlucky guy who pulls it out, it's the small ribbon cable with the number 1&2 in the image below.

I guess there's usually a small piece of tape holding it in place, in my case it must have fallen off.

View attachment 350805

thank you.

 

[dr_qatz]

Backlight not working on mac os but does work on bootcamp

My keyboard backlight is not working either - after installing Mountain Lion (10.8.4).

What is interesting is that it the backlight works on the windows bootcamp partition.

So it works in windows but it does not in Mac Os. Any help?

I have same problem on my macbook pro retina mid 2012, with OS 10.11.4, backlight is also working on bootcamp, but on OSX -is not. Do you found any solution? Also keyboard preferences have not menu item named "automatically illuminate keyboard in low light".
And reseting of SMC and NVRAM not help me...

 

[mochnacs]

Thank you all for the hint about that tiny cable, I just upgraded the RAM on my Macbook Pro and had exactly the problem as the OP.

I've attached a picture of the cable for the next unlucky guy who pulls it out, it's the small ribbon cable with the number 1&2 in the image below.

I guess there's usually a small piece of tape holding it in place, in my case it must have fallen off.

View attachment 350805

You saved me!!!. It was just that after I changed my 2x4GB original memory bank by 2x8GB. When opening a laptop (specially Apple made)....lets better be careful. THANKS AGAIN!

 

[jeffcarlson1]

I've had the same issue. Here's the story with solution:
After adding some new RAM I've noticed, that the keys weren't lighting up. Also under keyboard in the preferences the "Automatically..." wasn't there anymore. Exactly as Amanda described. SMC and PRAM resets didn't help.
Long surfing sessions and countless forums later I found a hint guiding my attention to a tiny cable which is easily disconnected working on the RAM. If you're sitting infront of your open MacBook in order to change the RAM, the corresponding cables are on the left hand side. They are really small, bifilar and covered with a small piece of cellotape. This cable was disconnected, so I fiddled it into the right place and covered it again.
I closed the backside and started the Mac Daddy. The keyboard was still not working. This changed after a last SMC reset.

Backlight is back and I am happy. Hope this is going to help you.

Regards from Germany...

I'm having the same problem. Can you send me a picture of where the cable is I have a late 2011 MBP
[doublepost=1520266542][/doublepost]

Thank you all for the hint about that tiny cable, I just upgraded the RAM on my Macbook Pro and had exactly the problem as the OP.

I've attached a picture of the cable for the next unlucky guy who pulls it out, it's the small ribbon cable with the number 1&2 in the image below.

I guess there's usually a small piece of tape holding it in place, in my case it must have fallen off.

View attachment 350805

I'm having the same issue and it looks like the cable is atttached but still the backlight functions arent working.

 

[visberry]

But late- but thanks!

 

[Darklegendlink]

Try hiding your webcam with your thumb it should light up back on. There is a sensor that detects the ambient light and turns it automatically off if it's too bright.

Have a good day guys

 

[GGJstudios]

Try hiding your webcam with your thumb it should light up back on. There is a sensor that detects the ambient light and turns it automatically off if it's too bright.

It doesn't turn it off completely, and it only adjusts the backlight if that option is selected in System Preferences. That's not the issue, anyway, as the sensor was already discussed and reported that covering it had no effect.

 

[pierox]

I've had the same issue. Here's the story with solution:
After adding some new RAM I've noticed, that the keys weren't lighting up. Also under keyboard in the preferences the "Automatically..." wasn't there anymore. Exactly as Amanda described. SMC and PRAM resets didn't help.
Long surfing sessions and countless forums later I found a hint guiding my attention to a tiny cable which is easily disconnected working on the RAM. If you're sitting infront of your open MacBook in order to change the RAM, the corresponding cables are on the left hand side. They are really small, bifilar and covered with a small piece of cellotape. This cable was disconnected, so I fiddled it into the right place and covered it again.
I closed the backside and started the Mac Daddy. The keyboard was still not working. This changed after a last SMC reset.

Backlight is back and I am happy. Hope this is going to help you.

Regards from Germany...

THANK YOU SO MUCH AHLIMAN! it's been months without seeing the keys at night... thanks for the "light on the problem"!!!

 

[GerTal]

Thank you all for the hint about that tiny cable, I just upgraded the RAM on my Macbook Pro and had exactly the problem as the OP.

I've attached a picture of the cable for the next unlucky guy who pulls it out, it's the small ribbon cable with the number 1&2 in the image below.

I guess there's usually a small piece of tape holding it in place, in my case it must have fallen off.

View attachment 350805

I was having the exact same problem: no backlight on my Macbook Pro mid-2012 after upgrading RAM.
Your suggestion of checking the small cable connection worked for me. No one else was mentioning this 8 years after you posted the solution.
Thank you very much!