How to fix no backlit keyboard on BootCamp Windows 8 partition

Keyboard lights work perfectly in both W7 and W8. (and Fn F5 and Fn F6 control the intensity)

Try reinstalling the WindowsSupport files (which reinstalls the keyboard driver), you should not lose T++ functionality, but if you do just reinstall it (Power Plan Assist reinstallation is not needed)

Sometimes after some sleep-wake cycles the dimmer function stops working (Pressing Fn F5-F6 brings up a gray panel with a disabled sign), rebooting fixes the problem.


When you log-in, after bootcamp.exe start, you will hear a sound like bing and then the keyboard lights will turn on. Sometimes, Windows is updated and maybe make the lights doesn't work.

If you don't see the lights, go to Task Manager, and look up bootcamp.exe. In case it's own CPU field > 0%, a sign is easily found by right click on Bootcamp icon on Taskbar, it will slow down to open popup, you just kill process bootcamp.exe. Then try re-launch it and wait until CPU field is 0%.

I'm usually facing this problem and this way is always good for me.


I got this working without driver updates or anything like that! Just for reference, today is 9/21/19 and I'm using Bootcamp on a MacBook Pro, Windows 10 Pro (but my guess is this will work with any Win 8 or 10).

  • Go to Task Bar and click Bootcamp icon.
  • Click Bootcamp Control Panel.
  • Click Keyboard.
  • Uncheck the box that says "Adjust Keyboard brightness in low light".
  • Where it says "Turn off keyboard backlight when computer is not used for" - Choose "Never".

This worked for me but two caveats: I mostly use my laptop plugged in but if you don't, this will probably drain your battery a little faster than usual, and there was some DELAY when doing a Restart:

When I do Power, Restart - this is what happens:

  • I see the Windows background (Keyboard backlight is off).
  • Wait a few seconds.
  • Windows background / date & time blinks.
  • WAIT around 30 SECONDS OR MORE!
  • Keyboard backlight comes on!

After that, when I close and then re-open the laptop, the keyboard backlight comes on immediately!

Hope that helps someone!

PS - After doing this, I tried to adjust the brightness using Fn + F5 / F6 and it made the keyboard lights go out, but a Restart fixed it.

Update 11/16/19: After the Windows 10 update yesterday this no longer works. If anyone has a solution please post it!!!