To turn on the keyboard light on an HP laptop, press the key with the keyboard backlight icon on the top row, usually F5 or F4 (on some models F9 or F11). If nothing happens, hold fn and press that key. Press it again to change the brightness or turn the light off.
These steps apply to HP consumer notebooks such as Pavilion, ENVY, Spectre, Victus and OMEN, and to backlit EliteBook and ProBook models, running Windows 11 or Windows 10. The key does the work, so the Windows version doesn’t change the method. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, but the backlight key works the same on it.
Before you start
- Your laptop needs a backlit keyboard. Many budget HP configurations don’t have one, even within a series that usually does. If no top-row key shows a backlight icon, check your model first (see “How to check if your HP laptop has a backlit keyboard” below).
- Know where fn is. It’s in the bottom-left corner of the keyboard, next to Ctrl or the Windows key.
- There’s usually no Windows setting. On most HP laptops, Windows 11 has no keyboard light switch in Settings. The key, the BIOS and, on OMEN models, OMEN Gaming Hub are where the controls live.
How to turn on the HP keyboard light
These steps follow HP’s Using the backlit keyboard support page and HP Tech Takes’ keyboard lighting guide.
- Look along the top row of keys for the backlight icon. It usually looks like three small squares or dots in a row with light rays coming off the side. HP lists F5 and F4 as the most common keys, with F9 or F11 on some models.
- Press that key once on its own. If the keys light up, you’re done.
- If nothing happens, hold fn and press the backlight key. The keys light up when the combination is right.
- To turn the light off, press the same key (or fn and the key) until the light goes out.
Why step 3 matters: HP laptops ship with the top row set to its icon actions (brightness, volume, backlight), but that can be switched so the keys act as F1 to F12. When it’s switched, you need fn to reach the icon action.
How to change the keyboard light brightness
On models with more than one level, press the backlight key repeatedly. Each press moves to the next level, typically off, dim and bright, and some models add a medium step. On some laptops you need to hold fn each time.
A few HP models have two separate keys, one with a small light symbol and one with a large light symbol, for lower and higher backlight brightness. Some models only have on and off.
The screen has separate brightness keys; here is how to adjust screen brightness on Windows 11.
<p>If the backlight shows crumbs and dust between the keys, see <a href=”https://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-clean-laptop-keyboard/”>how to clean a laptop keyboard safely</a>.</p>How to keep the keyboard light on longer
By default, the keyboard backlight turns off after 30 seconds without any typing. You can change that in one of two ways, depending on your model.
Method 1: Hold the backlight key (select models)
- Turn the keyboard backlight on.
- Press and hold the backlight key.
- Watch the on-screen window as the timeout cycles through 30 seconds, 3 minutes and Always.
- Let go when the setting you want is selected.
The new timeout applies right away and is kept every time you turn on the laptop. If no window appears when you hold the key, your model uses the BIOS method instead.
Method 2: Change the timeout in the BIOS
The BIOS is the setup screen built into the laptop that runs before Windows starts. Save any open work first, because this restarts the laptop.
- Restart the laptop and immediately press f10 repeatedly until the BIOS opens.
- Use the arrow keys to go to the Advanced tab.
- Select Built-in Device Options and press Enter.
- Select Backlit keyboard timeout and press the spacebar.
- Choose a timeout, then save your changes and exit. The laptop restarts into Windows with the new timeout.
Never keeps the light on indefinitely, which can drain the battery quickly. If there’s no timeout setting in the BIOS, your model may not support changing it. Don’t change other BIOS settings you aren’t sure about.
If the light turns off by itself
That’s the timeout doing its job, not a fault. Pressing any key or tapping the touchpad, depending on the model, turns the backlight back on.
What to do if the backlight key does nothing
Work through these in order:
- Press fn and the backlight key. This is the most common fix.
- Check Action Keys Mode in the BIOS. Turn the laptop off, wait five seconds, turn it on and press f10 repeatedly. Open BIOS Setup, go to System Configuration, and make sure Action Keys Mode is enabled. The screens vary by BIOS version. With it enabled, the top-row keys perform their icon actions (like the backlight) without fn, and you hold fn when you need F1 to F12.
- Check for Fn Lock. Some keyboards have an Fn Lock that swaps the top row. To see how it works, read about changing Fn key settings in Windows 11.
- Update HP drivers and the BIOS. Open HP Support Assistant (or your model’s page on HP Customer Support) and install the available driver, keyboard and BIOS updates, then restart. HP Tech Takes lists outdated keyboard drivers as a cause.
- Look for a physical switch. A separate backlight switch is rare, but a few models have one.
- Confirm your model has a backlit keyboard (see below). If it doesn’t, no key or setting will add one.
If the backlight still won’t turn on after all of this on a model that has one, contact HP support, since the backlight itself may need repair.
HP OMEN and other gaming laptops
HP OMEN laptops use the same backlight key to switch the light on, but colors, zones and effects are set in the OMEN Gaming Hub app, according to HP. Open the app, select Lighting, choose a static color or an effect, and apply it. Older guides and some HP pages call the app OMEN Command Center.
If your model supports adjustable colors, read about changing keyboard light color in Windows 11, which explains Dynamic Lighting compatibility, manufacturer controls and why a fixed-color backlight can’t display RGB colors.
How to check if your HP laptop has a backlit keyboard
- Find your model name or number on the label on the bottom of the laptop or in the HP Support Assistant app.
- Go to HP Customer Support and search for that model.
- Open Specifications and look for the keyboard entry. It says “backlit” if your laptop has one.
HP Tech Takes says backlit keyboards are common on ENVY, Pavilion, OMEN and Spectre laptops and on select EliteBook and ProBook models, but it depends on the exact configuration, so two laptops with the same series name can differ.
If your laptop doesn’t have one, a USB backlit keyboard or an adjustable desk lamp can fill in.
Other laptop brands
The idea is the same on other laptops: find the key with the backlight icon. On many Lenovo laptops it’s Fn + Space bar; see Lenovo’s keyboard light guide. For Dell models, check the keys in How to turn the keyboard light on and off.
Frequently asked questions
Which key turns on the keyboard light on an HP laptop?
Usually F5 or F4, and on some models F9 or F11. Look for the backlight icon, and add fn if pressing the key alone doesn’t work.
Is there a Windows 11 setting for the HP keyboard light?
Not on most HP laptops. The backlight is controlled by the key and, for the timeout, the key or the BIOS. OMEN models add lighting controls in OMEN Gaming Hub.
Why does my HP keyboard light turn off after 30 seconds?
That’s HP’s default timeout. Hold the backlight key to choose 3 minutes or Always on select models, or change Backlit keyboard timeout in the BIOS.
Does the keyboard light drain the battery?
It uses some power, and leaving it on permanently can drain the battery quickly. A short timeout is a good compromise when you’re unplugged.
Can I change the keyboard light color?
Only on models with RGB lighting, such as many OMEN gaming laptops. Standard backlit keyboards have a single color.
Related: How to Get Your Cursor Back on a Laptop in Windows 11 and How to Fix a Keyboard Not Working in Windows 11.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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