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Asked: 2024-09-27T12:02:25+05:30 In:

How can I activate the keyboard backlight feature on my Dell G5 laptop running Ubuntu 20.04.02?

I’ve been struggling with something on my Dell G5 laptop that runs Ubuntu 20.04.02, and I was hoping someone here could help me out. So, I know this laptop has a cool keyboard backlight feature—something I was really looking forward to when I bought it. But the problem is, I can’t seem to figure out how to turn it on.

I’ve tried the usual function keys (you know, like FN + some key that usually has a backlight symbol), but nothing happens. I feel like I’ve been pressing random keys for ages, and it’s getting super frustrating. I even checked the keyboard settings in the Ubuntu system settings—nothing there either.

I read somewhere that there might be special drivers or settings you need to adjust in Ubuntu to get these features to work properly. That got me thinking—maybe there’s something I’m missing, or perhaps I need to do a tweak somewhere? Also, does anyone know if these features function out-of-the-box on Ubuntu, or do you have to do some extensive customization? It’s really dim in my room, and using the laptop without a backlit keyboard is a total pain.

It’s not just a style thing for me either; it’s tough to see the keys clearly when it’s dark. I want to be able to work comfortably without having to turn on the overhead lights and ruin the cozy vibe. Anyway, if anyone’s gone through this and managed to get the keyboard backlight working or if you have any troubleshooting tips, I would really appreciate it.

Also, if there are any terminal commands or configuration files that you think might be helpful, please let me know. I’m not completely clueless when it comes to using the terminal, but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert either. Any advice or direction you can provide would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

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    1. Keyboard Backlight Help for Dell G5 on Ubuntu

      Keyboard Backlight Troubleshooting

      It really sucks that you’re having trouble with the keyboard backlight on your Dell G5 running Ubuntu 20.04.02. I totally get how important it is, especially in the dim light.

      Here are a few things you can try:

      • Function Keys: You mentioned trying the FN key with different function keys. Make sure to look for the key that has a backlight symbol (usually F10, F11, or F12). Sometimes you might need to press FN + that function key and hold it down for a bit.
      • Brightness Settings: In some cases, the backlight can be controlled via the brightness settings in the system. Check Settings > Power and see if there’s anything related to keyboard lighting.
      • Driver Issues: It’s possible that you may need to install some extra drivers to support the keyboard backlight. You can search for `linux-dell-support` or similar drivers via the terminal: 
                      sudo apt update
              sudo apt install linux-dell-support
      • Terminal Commands: If you want to try controlling the backlight via terminal (if it’s supported), you can use the command: 
                      echo 1 | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/dell::kbd_backlight/brightness

        Replace “1” with “0” to turn it off. If you don’t have permission, it might throw an error and you’ll need to check if you have access to that folder.

      • Check for Updates: Sometimes system updates fix these kinds of hardware support issues. Run: 
                      sudo apt update
              sudo apt upgrade

      General Tips:

      Sometimes it’s just a matter of switching to a different kernel version that handles the hardware better. You can check for kernels under Advanced options in GRUB when you boot up your laptop.

      Lastly, it’s also worth checking out some Ubuntu forums or Ubuntu-specific subreddits. There are a ton of users out there who may have encountered the same issue and might have the perfect fix!

      Good luck! Hope you get your backlight working soon!


    2. To activate the keyboard backlight on your Dell G5 running Ubuntu 20.04.02, you might want to first check if the keyboard backlight is recognized by the system. Open a terminal and type the following command to list the devices: ls /sys/class/leds/. Look for entries that typically include something like dell::kbd_backlight. If you see this, you can try turning on the backlight manually by executing echo 1 | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/dell::kbd_backlight/brightness. This command sets the brightness to a level that turns on the backlight. If you want to toggle the keyboard backlight with a function key, you might need to ensure that the necessary drivers are installed and up to date. You can check for any additional drivers in the “Software & Updates” app under the “Additional Drivers” tab.

      If the above does not resolve your issue, you might want to install the dell-bios-firmware package, which can sometimes provide better compatibility with hardware features on Dell laptops. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal: sudo apt install dell-bios-firmware. Make sure your system and all packages are up to date by running sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade. Additionally, consider installing xset utility which can sometimes manage backlit keyboards. If the keyboard backlight does not function out-of-the-box, some users have reported needing to tweak settings in their BIOS or matching firmware versions, so checking that may also be worthwhile.

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