Enabling the Keyboard Backlight

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 79 views

Introduction

The Macbook Pro 2013 is a powerful and feature-rich laptop, but one of its most useful features is often overlooked: the keyboard backlight. This feature allows you to type in low-light environments, making it perfect for late-night work sessions or movie nights. However, enabling and adjusting the keyboard backlight can be a bit tricky, especially if you're new to Linux or have recently switched from MacOS. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of enabling and adjusting the keyboard backlight on your Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

A Macbook Pro 2013 laptop
Elementary OS installed
A basic understanding of Linux and terminal commands

Enabling the Keyboard Backlight

To enable the keyboard backlight, you'll need to use the terminal. Open the terminal application on your Elementary OS installation and type the following command:

sudo apt-get install backlight-control

This command will install the backlight-control package, which allows you to control the keyboard backlight.

Adjusting the Keyboard Backlight

Once the package is installed, you can adjust the keyboard backlight using the following command:

sudo backlight-control -s 5

This command will set the keyboard backlight to 5% brightness. You can adjust the brightness by changing the number at the end of the command. For example, to set the brightness to 10%, use the following command:

sudo backlight-control -s 10

To turn off the keyboard backlight, use the following command:

sudo backlight-control -s 0

Using the GUI to Adjust the Keyboard Backlight

While the terminal commands are easy to use, you may prefer to use a graphical user interface (GUI) to adjust the keyboard backlight. Elementary OS provides a GUI application called "Backlight Control" that allows you to adjust the keyboard backlight.

To install the Backlight Control application, open the terminal and type the following command:

sudo apt-get install backlight-control-gui

Once the application is installed, you can launch it from the application menu. The application will allow you to adjust the keyboard backlight using a slider or by entering a specific brightness value.

Troubleshooting

If you're experiencing issues with the keyboard backlight, try the following:

Make sure the backlight-control package is installed and up-to-date.
Check that the backlight-control service is running by typing the following command in the terminal:

sudo systemctl status backlight-control

If the service is not running, try restarting it by typing the following command:

sudo systemctl restart backlight-control

Conclusion

Enabling and adjusting the keyboard backlight on your Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to enable and adjust the keyboard backlight using both terminal commands and a GUI application. If you're experiencing issues, try troubleshooting by checking the backlight-control package and service.

Additional Tips

To save power, you can set the keyboard backlight to turn off after a certain period of inactivity. To do this, open the terminal and type the following command:

sudo backlight-control -t 30

This command will set the keyboard backlight to turn off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

To set the keyboard backlight to turn on automatically when the laptop is connected to a power source, open the terminal and type the following command:

sudo backlight-control -p on

This command will set the keyboard backlight to turn on automatically when the laptop is connected to a power source.

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I enable the keyboard backlight on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: To enable the keyboard backlight, you'll need to install the backlight-control package using the terminal. Type the following command:

sudo apt-get install backlight-control

Q: How do I adjust the keyboard backlight on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: Once the backlight-control package is installed, you can adjust the keyboard backlight using the terminal. Type the following command to set the brightness to 5%:

sudo backlight-control -s 5

You can adjust the brightness by changing the number at the end of the command.

Q: How do I turn off the keyboard backlight on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: To turn off the keyboard backlight, type the following command:

sudo backlight-control -s 0

Q: What is the backlight-control package, and why do I need it? A: The backlight-control package is a software tool that allows you to control the keyboard backlight on your Macbook Pro 2013. You need it to enable and adjust the keyboard backlight.

Q: How do I install the backlight-control package on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: To install the backlight-control package, type the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install backlight-control

Q: How do I use the GUI application to adjust the keyboard backlight on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: To install the GUI application, type the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install backlight-control-gui

Once the application is installed, you can launch it from the application menu.

Q: Why is my keyboard backlight not working on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: There are several reasons why your keyboard backlight may not be working. Check that the backlight-control package is installed and up-to-date. Also, make sure the backlight-control service is running by typing the following command in the terminal:

sudo systemctl status backlight-control

If the service is not running, try restarting it by typing the following command:

sudo systemctl restart backlight-control

Q: How do I save power by turning off the keyboard backlight on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: To save power by turning off the keyboard backlight, type the following command in the terminal:

sudo backlight-control -t 30

This command will set the keyboard backlight to turn off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Q: How do I set the keyboard backlight to turn on automatically when my Macbook Pro 2013 is connected to a power source? A: To set the keyboard backlight to turn on automatically when your Macbook Pro 2013 is connected to a power source, type the following command in the terminal:

sudo backlight-control -p on

Q: Can I customize the keyboard backlight settings on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: Yes, you can customize the keyboard backlight settings on your Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS. You can adjust the brightness, turn off the backlight, and set it to turn on automatically when the laptop is connected to a power source.

Q: How do I reset the keyboard backlight settings on my Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS? A: To reset the keyboard backlight settings, type the following command in the terminal:

sudo backlight-control -r

This command will reset the keyboard backlight settings to their default values.

Conclusion

We hope this Q&A article has helped you understand how to enable and adjust the keyboard backlight on your Macbook Pro 2013 running Elementary OS. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask.