Keyboard remains illuminated continuously on your Dell laptop, and you're having trouble disabling it.
Keyboard remains illuminated continuously on your Dell laptop, and you're having trouble disabling it.
Hey there, I'm really struggling... My Dell Inspiron 7590 has the keyboard backlight stuck on, and I can't get it off. I've tried lots of fixes—reinstalling Windows (currently version 11), resetting the BIOS, updating drivers, even changing key combinations except for F5 which works with its icon. I also deleted the keyboard from Device Manager and let Windows reinstall the driver. It seems to only turn off when I power down the computer. As long as I can still use the F5 key, I should be able to see the BIOS setting for keyboard illumination, but it's not showing up. This is super frustrating! Please help me out!
Also recently installing Windows might have removed all Dell programs. Visit the Dell support site at the provided link and follow any prompts to request assistance. Once support is installed, return to the page you linked earlier and allow it to look for drivers and Dell software.
You mentioned trying various shortcuts and combinations, but it hasn’t resolved the issue. The problem persists even after a fresh install of all Dell software. It also occurred on your older Windows 10 laptop, which you used before. I don’t know the exact timing of when it started, but it’s been happening for some time now.
Ensure the BIOS is current with the newest release. For details, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base on BIOS updates. Activate the Keyboard backlit feature in the BIOS settings. Power off the machine, then rapidly press F2 once each second (if Windows loads, restart and retry). Depending on your BIOS version, available settings differ. On certain versions: select System Configuration, then Keyboard Illumination. If Keyboard Illumination isn’t listed, your keyboard lacks backlighting. Disabled or Off – illumination is off. Dim – brightness set to half. Bright – full brightness. Additional options may appear under Keyboard Illumination in System Configuration: Keyboard Backlight with AC. Enable it and adjust via brightness keys. Press Apply then Exit. On other BIOS versions, check the Main BIOS screen for Keyboard Type - backlight. REMARKS: If Keyboard Type - backlight is absent, no backlit keyboard is supported. In this BIOS stage, selecting Keyboard Type - backlight activates it automatically with no further settings. Press Esc to exit BIOS.
Also, if you've ever used your PC or gotten it fixed, they might have overlooked a few cables. I actually had my Inspiron 3520 trackpad serviced by Dell themselves and they forgot two screws and didn't connect the keyboard. They gave me a refund for the repair expenses, which was more than just the trackpad price.
The choice isn't available in the BIOS configuration. I checked all versions of Dell's BIOS for this model without success.
It would seem odd that the keyboard backlight stays on when the cable isn’t connected, right? I expected it to turn off automatically. I checked it myself while replacing RAM and an SSD, but I didn’t touch anything else or get any service work done, so it’s probably not the case.
Not always necessary, though issues like being partially unplugged or mismatched cables can cause problems. The best approach might be to use a hammer and play with the keyboard until you find the fix. In reality, if the device powers on and displays the BIOS screen, it likely points to a BIOS configuration or a cable issue. Be aware that BIOS settings may not mention a keyboard backlight.
Yeah, if there were another computer nearby, I'd probably think about going to the playdate with the hammer. The Dell service manual mentions a BIOS setting named "Keyboard Illumination," but it doesn't appear anywhere. I've cleared all the BIOS options back to their original factory settings, and I'm still unsure what the difference is between them. It seems like there might be an issue with the hardware—maybe a cable or the keyboard backlight board is damaged.