How to turn off keyboard backlight on a MacBook?
Aug 03, 2025 am 10:34 AMPress F5 or fn F5 repeatedly until the keyboard backlight turns off. 2. Go to System Settings > Keyboard and disable "Adjust keyboard brightness in low light" to prevent automatic activation. 3. Set "Turn keyboard backlight off after [time]" to a short duration or turn it off manually. This combination ensures the backlight remains off, even in dark environments, effectively keeping the keyboard dark.
Turning off the keyboard backlight on a MacBook is simple and can be done in a few different ways, depending on your preference and model.

Use the Keyboard Brightness Keys
The quickest way is to use the built-in function keys:
- Look for the sun icon buttons (F5 and F6) on your keyboard — these control keyboard brightness.
- Press F5 (or fn F5 on some models) repeatedly until the backlight turns off.
- On newer MacBooks with the Touch Bar, these are still available as function keys or accessible via the Touch Bar.
Note: If your screen brightness adjusts instead of the keyboard, you may need to press fn F5 (the key with the padlock and half-moon icon) to disable "Use F1, F2, etc. as standard function keys" in System Settings > Keyboard.
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Turn Off Automatically with Settings
You can also manage when the backlight turns on or off automatically:
- Go to Apple menu ? > System Settings (or System Preferences).
- Click Keyboard.
- Under Keyboard Brightness, you’ll see options like:
- Adjust keyboard brightness in low light — toggle this off to stop automatic adjustment.
- Turn keyboard backlight off after [time] — set it to a short duration or turn it off manually when not needed.
Disable Backlight Completely (When Possible)
While macOS doesn’t have a “permanently off” toggle that ignores ambient light entirely, you can effectively disable it:

- Turn the brightness down to zero using F5.
- Disable automatic brightness adjustment in Keyboard settings.
- This combination ensures the light stays off, even in dark environments.
Tip: If you're in a bright room, the backlight usually won’t turn on anyway — it’s mainly active in dim lighting.
Basically, just use F5 to dim it fully and adjust the system settings to prevent it from coming back automatically. That’s the most reliable way to keep your MacBook keyboard dark when you want it.
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