How to set up the backlight on the keyboard of Xiaomi laptop

The Chinese tech giant’s laptops often face the need to operate in low-light environments, and keyboard lighting is not just an aesthetic addition, but an important feature that enhances the ease of typing in the dark. However, unlike other brands’ gaming models, where lighting is controlled on a separate panel, Xiaomi and RedmiBook devices have their own hidden nuances and implementation features.

Many users mistakenly believe that if they don't see the light immediately after the device is turned on, their laptop model doesn't have the right module. This is not always the case, because in some cases activation is required through system software or the right key combination. Auto-brightness control is only available on models with a light sensor located next to the webcam. Understanding the principles of this system will allow you to maximize the capabilities of your gadget.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all known ways to control keylighting, from standard hotkeys to BIOS deep settings. We will look at the differences between Xiaomi PC Manager software and Windows system settings. We will also discuss the issues of fault diagnosis when there are physical LEDs, but they do not light up.

Check for the presence of the lighting module on your model

The first and most important step before any setup is to confirm the physical ability of your laptop to emit light through keys. Not all low-end and mid-range models, such as some versions of the RedmiBook 14 or the old Mi Notebook Air, have this module.

Carefully examine the keys, especially the F3, F4 or Space keys, which should be marked with special icons in the form of sun or rays of light. If the keys do not have such symbols, and the documentation for the device does not mention Backlight, then most likely, software activation is impossible.

There's a simple visual test that helps you determine if there are LEDs under the buttons without disassembling the body. Turn on a bright lamp or use a smartphone flash by pointing the light at a sharp angle at the keyboard. If the module is installed, you can see the translucent elements or special transparent plastic guides under the keys.

• 🔍 Look for the icon of the sun or rays on the keys of the functional row or space.
• 💡 Illuminate the flashlight at a 45-degree angle to see the transparent key structure.
• 📄 Check the specification on the official website for the exact code of the model (SN).
• 🛠 Make sure that there are no unknown components in the Device Manager responsible for HID-interfaces.

⚠️ Warning: Attempting to disassemble the keyboard to check for LEDs before the warranty period expires will result in a loss of warranty.

It’s important to understand that even if the LEDs are physically installed, they can be software-locked at the BIOS level in certain configurations, a common feature found in enterprise versions of laptops where IT departments limit unnecessary features to save battery life.

Control through hotkeys and functional series

The fastest and most common way to change the intensity of the glow is to use key combinations. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the F3 key, which shows the corresponding symbol, is usually responsible for this, but simply pressing it may not be enough because of the lock mode of the function keys.

By default, many laptops are multimedia, where the top row of keys performs the functions of controlling the volume and brightness of the screen. To activate the control of the backlight, you need to use the Fn modifier. Try to pinch Fn + F3. In some models, such as the Mi Notebook Pro 15.6, this combination switches modes: off, average brightness, maximum brightness.

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the Fn key works inverted, in which case you just press it to call the F3 function, and for a standard action you just press Fn. You can change priority through the BIOS or a special application. It is also worth noting that some RedmiBook models use a separate key with the keyboard icon located in the upper right corner.

If standard combinations don’t work, check if a third-party key reassignment utility is installed that can intercept signals. Also make sure that the ACPI drivers and keyboards are installed correctly.

Configure with Xiaomi PC Manager

The central element of the laptop’s control is the proprietary Xiaomi PC Manager utility. This software allows you to flexibly configure various aspects of the device’s operation, including the periphery. To access the backlight settings, launch the application and go to the section responsible for tools or hardware settings.

There's often a switch in the interface that allows you not only to turn the light on and off, but also to adjust the behavior of the light, for example, you can set a timer for auto-switching after a certain time of inactivity, which is a useful feature for saving battery power.

It is important to update Xiaomi PC Manager regularly to the latest version. Developers often add support for new features or fix bugs related to managing hardware components in older versions of the software. If the current version does not have an option, try reinstalling the application.

Some advanced settings may be hidden in the engineering menu or only available after you log in to your Mi Account, part of the company’s ecosystem strategy to integrate devices.

Windows system settings and drivers

Windows 10 and Windows 11 also provide their own peripheral management tools, although they often duplicate features from proprietary software. Check Settings → Devices → Input. Some OS builds may have a slider to control keyboard backlighting.

The critical aspect is the state of the drivers. Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) in the "Keyboards" and "System devices" section should not have exclamation marks. If the driver is marked with an error, the device will not be able to receive commands to turn on the lights.

Also worth checking is the power settings. In the "Energy Saving" scheme, the system can force the keylights to be turned off to extend battery life. Switch to the "High Performance" circuit for verification.

• 🔌 Open Device Manager and check the status of keyboard drivers.
• ⚡ Switch the power supply circuit to "High performance".
• 🔄 Run driver updates through Windows Update.
• 🛑 Turn off the input filtering in special features if it interferes with the.

Sometimes the driver conflict occurs after the BIOS update. If the backlight is gone after the firmware, try rolling back the keyboard driver version or updating the BIOS itself to a newer version if it is available.

Configuration in BIOS/UEFI

At a deep level, hardware components are managed through the BIOS. To get there, you need to quickly press the F2 key when booting a laptop. The BIOS interface may differ depending on the model, but the logic remains similar.

You need to find a partition that's associated with system configuration or peripherals. Look for items with names like Keyboard Backlight, Backlight Timeout, or System Configuration. You can force a module to be turned on, even if it appears disabled on Windows.

⚠️ Note: Be extremely careful when changing your settings BIOS. Do not change the values of parameters, the purpose of which you do not know, this can lead to unstable operation of the system.

Some versions of the BIOS have an option called Always On for backlighting, which ignores the timer settings, which is useful if you type often in complete darkness, and you can adjust the time it takes for the lights to go out after you stop typing (usually 10, 30 or 60 seconds).

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If you reset your BIOS to Load Optimized Defaults, the backlight settings will also reset. Remember to re-activate them after reset.

After making the changes, be sure to save by pressing F10 and confirming the action. The laptop will restart and the new settings will take effect. If the changes do not apply, check if access to the change is blocked by the supervisor's password.

The solution: why the lights are not lit

When all settings are correct but the keys are dark, it is a common problem, most often because of a software failure of power management, and try to reboot the system completely, not just to exit the sleep mode.

Another cause may be physical wear and tear or damage to the keyboard plume, especially if the laptop has been hit or moisture, in which case software methods are powerless and require diagnosis at the service center.

It's also worth checking if Dark Theme mode is activated in conjunction with certain Windows contrast settings that can visually obscure the glow, even though it works. Try changing the theme of the system's design.

• 🔌 Reset static voltage: turn off the laptop, turn off the charge, press the power button for 30 seconds.
• 💻 Reinstall the Xiaomi app PC Manager's clean.
• 🔍 Check for Windows updates that may have disrupted the driver.
• 🔋 Make sure the battery charge is higher 5-10%, At a critical level, the light is turned off.

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If no software method has helped, and the model of the laptop is guaranteed to have backlight, a hardware fault of the plume or controller is likely.

In rare cases, the Embedded Controller (EC) firmware update helps, a procedure that is more complicated than a normal BIOS firmware and requires you to follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely, as an error can cause the device to fail.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)