backlit keyboard not working?

[tdan1]

Hello,

I have an HP Spectre x360 13t ae-000 laptop, and my keyboard backlight has stopped working entirely. Pressing FN+F5 has no effect, and the backlight does not turn on at all.

I’m running Windows 11 25H2, and I have already ensured that the HP System Event Utility is installed and up to date. I have also:

• Attempted to test hardware via ESC → F2 System Diagnostics (but could not access diagnostics).

• Cycled through all HIC-compatible devices in Device Manager.

• Reinstalled HP drivers and utilities related to the keyboard.

Despite all of this, the backlight does not function.

The keyboard worked before a recent Windows 11 update, which suggests this is not a hardware failure, but likely a firmware–OS mismatch. I believe the keyboard backlight hooks in the BIOS/firmware may have been disrupted.

I do not want to rollback Windows, as this would affect other applications. I would like HP to either:

1. Re-flash or update the keyboard firmware/BIOS to restore backlight functionality, or

2. Provide a driver/utility update that restores FN+F5 hotkey control of the backlight.

Thank you for your help. I’d appreciate guidance on how HP can fix this issue directly without affecting my Windows installation.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @tdan1,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP Spectre x360 13t ae-000 keyboard backlight not working after a Windows 11 update. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this and restore the FN+F5 backlight control.

Check BIOS backlight and action key settings
Restart the PC and tap F10 to enter BIOS Setup.
Under Advanced or Built-in Device Options, confirm that Keyboard Backlight (or similar) is enabled and that Action Keys Mode is set as expected.

Perform a BIOS hard refresh (power drain reset)
Shut down the notebook and disconnect the charger.
Hold the Power button for 15–20 seconds, then reconnect power and boot normally. This resets the embedded controller that manages the keyboard backlight.

Update BIOS using the HP BIOS Recovery method
Download the latest BIOS specifically for the Spectre x360 13t ae-000 from HP’s support page.
Run the BIOS update from Windows, or use Win + B while powering on to force a BIOS recovery/flash, which can restore firmware hooks used by the backlight.

Verify HID and firmware interfaces in Device Manager
Open Device Manager and expand Human Interface Devices and System Devices.
Confirm that HP System Event Utility Interface and HID Keyboard Device are present with no warning icons; if needed, uninstall them and restart to allow Windows to reload fresh instances.

Reinstall HP Hotkey and System Event components
Uninstall HP System Event Utility and any HP Hotkey Support entries from Apps & Features.
Restart, then reinstall the latest versions to rebind FN+F5 with the firmware backlight control.

Disable Windows fast startup
Go to Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do.
Turn off Fast Startup, then shut down completely and power back on to ensure firmware initializes correctly.

Test backlight state outside Windows
Shut down the system and power it on in a dark room.
Check whether the keyboard briefly lights during boot; if it does, this confirms hardware is functional and the issue is firmware–OS interaction.

Confirm Windows update side effects
In Settings → Windows Update → Update history, note the update after which the issue began.
This helps confirm the mismatch and ensures BIOS and HP utilities are aligned with the current Windows build.I hope this helps.

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Best regards,