Most recent Dell Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS and Alienware laptops have a backlit keyboard, but Windows 11 has no keyboard light switch in Settings. On a Dell, the backlight is controlled by a function key, and its behavior can be adjusted in the BIOS. This guide shows which key to press, how to change the brightness and timeout, and what to check if the light will not come on.
Quick answer
Look for a key with a small keyboard-and-light icon, usually F10, F5 or F6 on Dell laptops. Press it, or press Fn plus that key. Press it again to cycle through brightness levels and off.
Step 1: Find the keyboard backlight key
Look along the top row of function keys for an icon that shows a keyboard with rays of light. Common locations on Dell laptops:
- F10: many Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro and XPS models.
- F5: some Inspiron and Vostro models.
- F6: some older Inspiron models.
- Right arrow: a few older Latitude and Precision models, used with Fn.
If none of your keys has this icon, your laptop probably does not have a backlit keyboard. You can confirm by checking your model’s specifications on Dell’s support site using the Service Tag on the bottom of the laptop.
Step 2: Turn on the keyboard light
- Press the backlight key on its own.
- If nothing happens, hold Fn and press the backlight key.
- Press it again to step through the levels, usually Low, High and Off.
Whether you need Fn depends on the Fn lock setting. On many Dell laptops, pressing Fn + Esc toggles Fn lock, switching the top row between media keys and F1–F12. If the key does something else, such as opening help or changing volume, try toggling Fn lock and pressing it again.
Step 3: Adjust brightness and timeout
By default, Dell keyboards often turn the light off after a few seconds of inactivity to save battery. You can change this:
In the BIOS
- Restart the laptop and press F2 repeatedly when the Dell logo appears to open BIOS Setup.
- Look for Keyboard Illumination under System Configuration (or under Keyboard in newer BIOS layouts) and choose a brightness level or Disabled.
- Look for Keyboard Backlight Timeout on AC and on Battery, and choose a longer time or Never.
- Save changes and exit.
Only change the settings named here. If you are unsure about anything in the BIOS, exit without saving.
In Dell software
Some Dell laptops let you set the backlight timeout in Dell Optimizer, Dell Power Manager or the Dell Feature Enhancement Pack, depending on the model. Alienware laptops control lighting, including colors, in Alienware Command Center. For RGB keyboards on other brands, see how to change keyboard light color in Windows 11.
Keyboard light not working?
- Check that it is not set to Off or Disabled in the BIOS Keyboard Illumination setting.
- Check the ambient light sensor. Some XPS and Latitude models turn the backlight off automatically in bright rooms. Try it in a darker room.
- Increase the timeout. If the light comes on but goes off quickly, the timeout is short.
- Update the BIOS and drivers. Use Dell SupportAssist or Dell Command | Update, or download them from Dell’s support site for your Service Tag.
- Run a hardware reset. Shut down, unplug the charger, and hold the power button for about 15–20 seconds, then start the laptop again.
- Run Dell diagnostics. Restart and press F12, then choose Diagnostics to test the keyboard.
How to turn the keyboard light off
Press the same key until the backlight switches off. To keep it off permanently, set Keyboard Illumination to Disabled in the BIOS. See how to turn off the keyboard light in Windows 11 for other brands.
Using Windows 10?
The keys and BIOS settings are the same. See how to turn on the keyboard light on a Dell with Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Does the keyboard light drain the battery?
A little. The backlight uses far less power than the screen, but leaving it on high all the time does shorten battery life slightly. A short timeout on battery and a longer one when plugged in is a good balance.
Can I change the color of a Dell keyboard light?
Only on models with an RGB keyboard, such as many Alienware and some Dell G-series gaming laptops. Standard Inspiron, Latitude and XPS keyboards have white backlighting only.
Why does the light turn on only when I type?
That is the timeout. The light switches off after a period with no key presses and comes back when you type or touch the touchpad.
Summary
- Find the key with the keyboard backlight icon, usually F10, F5 or F6.
- Press it, or press Fn plus it.
- Press again to change brightness.
- Change brightness and timeout in the BIOS under Keyboard Illumination.
- Update the BIOS and drivers if it still does not work.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.