To turn on the keyboard light on an MSI Modern 14, use the keyboard’s backlight shortcut if your particular configuration has a backlit keyboard. On many models, the shortcut is Fn + F8, but the key and available lighting options can vary by model and configuration. First look for a backlight symbol on the function keys; if there is no symbol or the shortcut does nothing, check that your exact laptop configuration includes a backlit keyboard.
The keyboard light is useful in dim rooms because it makes the keys easier to see. It is separate from the display brightness and from any lighting on external accessories, so changing screen settings will not turn it on.
What You’ll Need
- Your MSI Modern 14, connected to power or running on battery.
- A keyboard that supports backlighting. The Modern 14 name covers different models and configurations, and not every version necessarily has an illuminated keyboard.
- If the shortcut is unclear, the exact model or product number from the laptop’s label, original packaging, or MSI system information, so you can check the correct specification and support page.
Step-by-Step
- Check whether your keyboard has a backlight control. Look across the top row of keys for a small keyboard or illuminated-key symbol. On many MSI laptops, the keyboard-backlight control is on F8, and pressing Fn + F8 is a common shortcut. Do not rely on the key number alone: use the symbol printed on your keyboard as the best immediate clue. If no backlight symbol is present, check the specification for your exact Modern 14 model before assuming the light is broken.
- Try the shortcut once. Press and hold Fn, then tap the function key with the keyboard-backlight symbol. Release both keys and look at the keyboard in a dim area. Some configurations switch the light on or off; others may move between available brightness settings when you press the shortcut repeatedly. The exact sequence depends on the model, so watch the keyboard after each press rather than expecting a particular number of levels.
- Try the function key by itself if nothing happens. Some MSI keyboard settings let the function row act as standard F1–F12 keys or as special controls by default. Tap the key bearing the backlight symbol without holding Fn, then check the keyboard. If that works, use that version of the shortcut in future. If neither combination works, continue through the checks below rather than repeatedly pressing unrelated keys.
- Check the Fn-key mode. If the keyboard symbol is on a function key but the shortcut seems to trigger a different action, the function-row mode may be affecting how the key is interpreted. Look for an Fn-lock indicator or a documented Fn-lock shortcut in the manual for your exact model. On some MSI laptops, Fn-lock behavior differs by generation, so do not assume a shortcut such as Fn + Esc applies to every Modern 14. Change the mode only using a control confirmed for your laptop, then test the backlight key again.
- Adjust the light by repeating the control, if supported. Press the backlight shortcut again and allow a moment after each press to see whether the keyboard gets brighter, dimmer, or turns off. If the light comes on but is too faint, cycle through the settings using the same key. If it turns off, press the shortcut again. Not all configurations offer adjustable brightness or multiple levels; if repeated presses only toggle the light, that may be the normal behavior for your model.
- Confirm the result in a darker setting. The light can be hard to notice under strong room lighting. Reduce glare or shade the keyboard briefly and look at the keys themselves. Do not confuse the keyboard light with the screen’s brightness, the power indicator, or illumination from a connected keyboard. Once the keys are visibly lit, the setting is active; you generally do not need to change a Windows display setting to keep the keyboard illuminated.
- Verify the exact configuration if there is no response. Find the full model or product number on the computer’s label, packaging, or system details, then search that exact identifier on MSI’s official support or product pages. Check the keyboard or specification details for backlighting. A listing for another Modern 14 variant is not enough to confirm that yours has the feature, because configurations within a product family can differ.
Common Mistakes
Assuming every Modern 14 has a backlit keyboard. The family name alone does not establish that your specific configuration includes one. Check the exact product identifier and its keyboard specification before spending time changing settings or reinstalling software.
Pressing the wrong key because the shortcut is model-dependent. Fn + F8 is common on MSI laptops, but the printed symbol and your model’s documentation are more reliable than a shortcut remembered from a different MSI computer. If your F8 key has no backlight symbol, do not treat it as a confirmed control.
Changing screen brightness instead. Display brightness controls change the screen, not the keyboard. Use the key marked for keyboard illumination, if present, and check the keys themselves for a result.
Expecting the light to stay at one brightness after every press. The control may cycle through settings or switch the light off. Observe the change after each press. Also, do not assume that a keyboard that looks dark in a bright room is necessarily unlit; check it in a dimmer spot.
Installing a random utility or changing BIOS options without checking the model. Use MSI’s support information for the exact computer. Avoid third-party hotkey downloads and avoid changing unrelated BIOS settings to troubleshoot a keyboard light.
Tips
- Take note of the symbol and key combination that actually work on your laptop. This is more useful than relying on instructions for a different Modern 14 generation.
- When testing, press the key once, pause, and look at the keyboard. A short pause makes it easier to tell whether the light changed or cycled to another setting.
- If you use Fn-lock, learn which mode is active. The same function-row key can behave differently depending on whether the laptop interprets it as a special control or a standard function key.
- Keep the laptop’s exact model number available when looking up manuals, drivers, or specifications. Similar names can refer to configurations with different controls.
- If you are unsure whether there is a backlight, check the exact product page or manual before troubleshooting software. This simple check can distinguish a missing feature from a fault.
Troubleshooting
The shortcut does nothing. First confirm that the key you are pressing has a keyboard-backlight symbol, then test both the Fn-plus-key combination and the key by itself. If the laptop has an Fn-lock mode, check its current setting and the model-specific instructions for changing it. Next, verify that your exact configuration includes a backlit keyboard. If the computer has no backlight hardware, a shortcut, Windows setting, or driver cannot add it.
The key has a symbol, but the backlight still will not turn on. Restart the laptop and test the shortcut again after Windows loads. If the problem began after a software change, visit MSI’s official support page for your exact model and look for the relevant keyboard or hotkey software and drivers offered for it. Install only packages listed for that model and operating system, following MSI’s instructions. Names and available utilities vary, so do not install a utility simply because it is mentioned for another MSI laptop.
The light turns on briefly or appears to go off. Press the backlight control again and check whether it is cycling through settings rather than failing. Test in a dim room to make the change easier to see. If the light repeatedly turns off despite using the correct shortcut, restart the computer and check the model’s documentation for any relevant keyboard or power-management controls. Do not assume that a general Windows power setting controls the backlight; the available behavior is model-specific.
Only part of the keyboard appears lit, or the illumination is uneven. Check whether the affected keys are simply harder to see from your viewing angle, then compare them in dim lighting. If the same area remains dark while the rest is lit, software shortcuts may not resolve a hardware or connection issue. Avoid removing keycaps or opening the laptop if you are not trained to do so. Contact MSI support or a qualified repair provider, and give them the exact model number and a clear description of which keys are affected.
You cannot identify the model or confirm the feature. Check the product label and system information, and compare the full identifier with MSI’s official specifications or manual. If those materials do not clearly say whether the keyboard is backlit, ask MSI support to confirm using the serial or product number. This is more dependable than deciding based on the Modern 14 name alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What key turns on the MSI Modern 14 keyboard light?
On many MSI laptops, the shortcut is Fn + F8. Check your keyboard for the backlight symbol and consult the manual for your exact Modern 14 configuration, since the control can differ.
Does every MSI Modern 14 have a keyboard light?
No. The Modern 14 name covers different models and configurations. Check the specification for your exact product number to confirm that its keyboard is backlit.
Can I turn on the keyboard light in Windows Settings?
Windows display-brightness controls do not turn on a laptop keyboard backlight. Use the keyboard’s designated control if the feature is present; any additional software options depend on the specific model.
How do I make the keyboard light brighter?
If your model supports more than one brightness setting, press its backlight shortcut repeatedly and check the result after each press. Some configurations only toggle the light, so they may not offer a separate brightness adjustment.
Why does Fn + F8 not work on my laptop?
Your model may use a different key, require the function key without Fn, or lack a backlit keyboard. Check the key symbol, Fn-lock mode, exact model specification, and the model-specific support information before treating it as a fault.