How to turn on keyboard highlighting on Xiaomi laptop: the full guide

Modern laptops from the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi, such as the Mi Notebook series and RedmiBook, are often equipped with a comfortable for working in the dark keys. RGB-It's a very functional control, and it's often a question for new owners, and it's not just a matter of convenience, it's also a way to reduce eye strain when you're working in low-light environments.

There are several ways to activate this feature, depending on the specific model of your device and the installed version of the operating system. Most often, the problem is solved by a simple key combination, but in some cases, you need to interfere with software settings or update drivers. It is important to understand that not all budget modifications to RedmiBook have a physical layer of LEDs under the keys, so the first step should always be to check the specification of your device.

In this guide, we will take a look at all possible activation methods, break down common errors, and explain why keys may not glow even after the right actions. You will learn about hidden driver functions, the features of the light sensor, and how to force backlighting through system utilities.

Checking for backlights and hardware limitations

Before you start software manipulation, you need to make sure that your particular model of Xiaomi laptop is physically equipped with backlight. In the Mi Notebook Air and Pro line, this option is present in almost all generations, whereas in the entry-level RedmiBook series, manufacturers can save on this component. Visually, the presence of LEDs can be determined by looking closely at the end of the keyboard or looking for the symbol of the bulb on the keys of the functional series.

If the F7, F8 or Space keys don’t have a corresponding icon (usually three beams coming from a square or a rectangle), this doesn’t always mean no function. In some Xiaomi ultrabooks, the icon is applied only to one of the function keys, and control is carried out through it. It is also worth checking the technical documentation on the official website by entering the exact model number (SKU) indicated on the sticker at the bottom of the case.

⚠️ Note: Attempting to disassemble the keyboard for LED installation will lead to loss of warranty and high risk of damage to the plumes. If the specification says "monochrome keyboard without backlighting", software cannot enable it.

It’s also worth considering that the brightness of the built-in diodes in Xiaomi laptops is designed to work in twilight, not complete darkness.The white light used in most models can appear dim in bright ambient lighting, which is sometimes mistaken by users for a malfunction or lack of feature.

The main combinations of hot keys

The fastest and most common way to turn on the backlight on Xiaomi laptops is to use a keyboard shortcut. The company's engineers have standardized control, but depending on the year of release and the series (Mi or Redmi), the combinations may vary slightly, and in most cases, a functional set of keys is responsible for this, requiring a special modifier button to be pressed.

To activate or change the brightness, use the following combinations, first making sure that the laptop is on and is in active mode (does not sleep):

• 💡 Fn + F7 — Classic combination for most models of Mi Notebook Pro and Air, allowing cyclically switching brightness levels → Low. → Off).
• 💡 Fn + F8 — often found in RedmiBook models, performs a similar function of switching glow modes.
• 💡 Fn + Space is an option for some compact versions where functional keys are occupied by multimedia commands.
• 💡 Fn + F9 — less common variant, characteristic of early versions of the Mi Notebook.

If a simple combination doesn’t work, try using the Function Key Lock mode. Some Xiaomi laptops have media mode activated by default, so you may need to pinch Fn to work on the F7 or F8 as function keys. If you want to use them constantly without clamping, check for the FnLock key (often on the Esc key) or set up behavior in BIOS/UEFI.

⚠️ Note: If the combination is pressed on the screen, the brightness adjustment icon appears, but the keyboard does not light up, this may indicate a software failure of the power management driver, and not a hardware part breakdown.

Configure through Xiaomi drivers and utilities

In Windows, peripheral management, including keyboard, often takes over specialized software. For Xiaomi laptops, a critical component is the Xiaomi Service driver or Xiaomi PC Manager. Without a properly installed and running driver, hotkey combinations can be ignored by the system, since there will be no event handler.

To check and configure, follow the following steps:

1. Open Device Manager via the Windows search bar or the devmgmt.msc command.

2.Look for Keyboards and System Devices.

3.Make sure that the Xiaomi HID Device or similar device in name does not have yellow exclamation points.

4. If the driver is marked with an error, right-click and select Update the driver or Remove the device followed by restart for automatic reinstallation.

It’s also worth checking the installed apps. Mi PC Manager (or Xiaomi Service) sometimes has power settings that can force the backlight to be turned off to save battery power. Make sure the keyboard settings or general settings don’t tick the “Switch off backlights at low charge” box if your battery is drained.

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Always download drivers only from the official Xiaomi support site or through the built-in Mi PC Manager app. Using third-party software to update drivers can lead to incompatible versions being installed.

Brightness adjustment and operating modes

The backlighting control in Xiaomi laptops is cyclical, which means that a single keystroke not only turns the light on or off, but switches the light on. Usually the cycle looks like this: 100% brightness → 50% brightness → Off. Understanding this logic helps to avoid confusion when a user tries to turn off the light, accidentally turns it on at a minimum.

Some advanced users are trying to find color temperature settings or RGB-It is important to note that Xiaomi keyboards are equipped with monochrome white LEDs. You can not change the color of the glow to red, blue or green with standard software methods. All the “rainbow” effects that can be seen on the network are either the result of shooting with a long shutter speed, or a modification of the hardware part by enthusiasts.

There is also a dependence on the light sensor. In some Mi Notebook configurations, the brightness of the keyboard backlight can automatically decrease if the built-in light sensor detects bright ambient light, this is done to ensure that the keys glow does not disappear from the background of the bright screen, but remains noticeable, but not blinding.

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Keyboard highlighting Xiaomi works only in three fixed modes: Maximum, Minimum and Off. Intermediate brightness values through sliders in Windows can not be achieved.

Problem Solving: Why the Lighting Doesn't Work

If none of the key combinations responds and the drivers are installed correctly, the problem may lie in a software conflict or BIOS settings. Often users forget that macro utilities (such as from gaming mice) could be installed on the laptop that intercept the press of the Fn key.

Let’s consider the main reasons and ways to eliminate them in the table below:

The BIOS update is a special issue. If you recently upgraded the motherboard firmware, the peripheral settings may have been reset to factory ones. In rare cases, new BIOS versions contain bugs that block backlighting, and a rollback to the previous BIOS or wait for a patch from the manufacturer helps.

It's also worth checking Task Manager. Sometimes the Hotkey Service process can freeze. Complete the process in Task Manager and run it again through services.msc, finding a service related to Xiaomi or Human Interface Device.

Impact of the energy saving regime

Windows has its own power saving mechanisms that may conflict with the user's desire to keep the backlight on. When switching to "charge saving" mode (usually activated at a battery level below 20% or 10%), the system forcibly shuts down all sources of consumption, including keyboard LEDs.

To check and change these settings:

• 🔋 Go to the settings. → System system → Food and sleep.
• 🔋 Click on Additional Power Settings.
• 🔋 In the selected scheme, click Power Supply Scheme Setup → Change additional nutrition parameters.
• 🔋 In the list, find the section related to your mobile PC or keyboard (if available in your version of drivers), and make sure that turning off the backlight is not worth the timer.

In addition, the Mi PC Manager itself can take precedence over Windows system settings. If the Xiaomi app is set to "Office" or "Silent", it can limit the brightness of the backlight to increase battery life. Switching to "Performance" mode often returns full brightness.

⚠️ Attention: Constant operation of the backlight at maximum brightness increases the power consumption of the laptop by about 3-5%, In terms of autonomy, it can reduce battery life. 15-20 minute.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)