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Unibody keyboard lights getting weak

VSMacOne

VSMacOne

macrumors 603
Original poster
Oct 18, 2008
6,139
3,211
I just noticed this the other day when my friend had his day old MacBook out and I was helping him set it up. When I sat it next to mine, I noticed that his keyboard lights are WAY brighter than mine. Then I started realizing that they used to be brighter back in the day. What could be causing this? Could it be from an application?
My MB is only 5 months old, and I've had the Moshi Clearguard for about 3 months now. Do you think the cover would have anything to do with the lights being weaker?

This is puzzling...:confused: Has anybody else noticed this?
 
yeah trust me, I double checked the light, the level, everything.
 
Try the simple things first. When the keyboard is lit, press and hold F6 and see if this helps. After that, if you have a desk light and a dark room handy, try moving the desk light away from the MacBook, to activate the ambient light sensor. The keyboard should initially start off bright, then get dimmer when the light drops further. If it remains at the same dim level, you may have an ambient light sensor problem unless the screen dims in the same correlation as above, in which case it'll be a voltage issue.
 
ya its probably just the auto dimming. mine does not light up on the battery in well lit rooms its probably just not getting the same light .
 
Illicit said:
If they can't reproduce it, it doesn't get fixed.
Record it!
Click to expand...
Nothing to record. It's how they are all the time now.

Skeletal-dæmon said:
Try the simple things first. When the keyboard is lit, press and hold F6 and see if this helps. After that, if you have a desk light and a dark room handy, try moving the desk light away from the MacBook, to activate the ambient light sensor. The keyboard should initially start off bright, then get dimmer when the light drops further. If it remains at the same dim level, you may have an ambient light sensor problem unless the screen dims in the same correlation as above, in which case it'll be a voltage issue.
Click to expand...

First things that I tried...

Darkroom said:
is auto dimming turned on under System Preferences > Keyboard?
Click to expand...

I don't think it has anything to do with the dimming, as I am physically turning the lights up with F6 and they won't get any brighter.

sosaysiburke said:
ya its probably just the auto dimming. mine does not light up on the battery in well lit rooms its probably just not getting the same light .
Click to expand...

Again, it doesn't seem to have anything to dow with the auto dimming.
When I have the lights turned all the way up, they are much weaker compared to my friend's MB.
 
do the backlit keys also dim a bit when running off of battery power much like the screen isn't as bright on battery power as opposed to being plugged in? if so, could that be the cause?
 
Darkroom said:
do the backlit keys also dim a bit when running off of battery power much like the screen isn't as bright on battery power as opposed to being plugged in? if so, could that be the cause?
Click to expand...

Don't think so. It makes no difference if i'm plugged in or running on battery.
 
J&JPolangin said:
...well if you've "tried" everything...take it in to get checked:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well, I've tried EVERYTHING that I can think of, you don't have to be a smart alec.
I want to see if anybody else has noticed the same thing, or if anybody is aware of an application or different setting that would do this. That's why they call this a forum, right? :rolleyes:
 
VSMacOne said:
Well, I've tried EVERYTHING that I can think of, you don't have to be a smart alec.
I want to see if anybody else has noticed the same thing, or if anybody is aware of an application or different setting that would do this. That's why they call this a forum, right? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Lol, I found that somewhat ironic considering your avatar.:p

You haven't installed any software that allows you to turn your keys on/off regardless of the light, have you?
 
Press fn+F6 to make sure the backlight is on as powerful as possible and then cover the iSight of your mac with your hand and see if the light dims on your macbook. Might be a sensor problem, Also clean your keys, that's all I can think of
 
Can somebody post a picture of their keyboard light set on max?
 
because of exposure, contrast, and white balance, a photograph captured in low light and displayed on a computer screen (assuming Macbook LED backlit) is going to be a poor basis for comparison.
 
Darkroom said:
because of exposure, contrast, and white balance, a photograph captured in low light and displayed on a computer screen (assuming Macbook LED backlit) is going to be a poor basis for comparison.
Click to expand...

I think the only meaningful photo would be another comparison from someone who had a macbook of similar age and a new one as well, so at least they would be in the same conditions.
 
Well, I just looked some up on Google, and it's very obvious from the right angle that my lights are much weaker. I'm not trying to be nit picky about it, but I'm just concerned that at this rate, they might die out in a few months... :(
 
Keyboard light very weak

Same problem here on a macbook pro A1278 mid 2010 . The keyboard light is very week even set on maximum . Compared with another macbooks mine is very weak . like 30% from another macbook.
 
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