Retrofitting A Laptop With A Backlit Keyboard

Even new notebooks don’t always have a backlit keyboard; this feature was even rarer in the past. How to retrofit a backlit keyboard. A backlight significantly improves comfort when typing in darkened rooms. For example, suppose one person watches TV in the living room in the evening while a second uses the notebook on the sofa. In that case, this is now much easier with the illuminated keyboard.

But should you buy a new notebook because your laptop doesn’t offer it? Under certain circumstances, the non-illuminated keyboard can also be exchanged for one with illumination. Because some manufacturers offer otherwise identical devices with and without keyboard lighting, it is not always easy to distinguish between them. This applies to the notebooks themselves and to the keyboards that can be swapped out – sometimes, only an online search and a close look at the product images can help.

If you want to know whether an illuminated keyboard version is available for your type of computer, you can’t avoid a thorough internet search. The first point of contact is the device manufacturer’s support department (often in English). There you can look for your model and the spare parts available. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, search Google or eBay for the terms keyboard, lighting, keyboard, and backlight together with the exact model name. Not every hit displayed matches, so recheck the model in each case and pay attention to the keyboard layout with umlauts.

It is also essential that your notebook model supports the keyboard illumination. This depends, among other things, on whether the backlight and keys are connected to the mainboard via the same connector or two separate connectors – if there are two, the light connector must be on the board. When in doubt, it is best to ask an expert. During our research, we came across the eBay seller “Notebookhome” with more than 5000 notebook keyboards, most of which cost between 30 and 60 euros.

But just buying the new keyboard is not enough. After all, it also has to be installed. Effort and degree of difficulty differ significantly from device to device. The search for instructions and help starts again with the manufacturer’s support, especially the repair or maintenance manuals that help with their exploded views. The many YouTube videos you can find with the model designation and the search terms Disassembly, Replacement, or Teardown are also helpful.

It may also help to look for a similar device: A notebook from the same series from the same manufacturer can usually be disassembled in the same way, regardless of whether the display is 14 or 15 inches. Once you have all the information you need, you can decide whether you want to replace the keyboard yourself or hire a PC repair shop.

The Following Applies To The Subject Of Notebook Keyboards With LED Backlighting:

Nowadays, most notebook keyboards are equipped with LED lighting (keyboard lighting). This is technically solved in such a way that the backlight is integrated into the notebook keyboard. The keyboard’s texture is designed so that light generated in the background shines through the transparent elements of the keyboard. Sometimes the letters on the keys light up. With some notebook brands, the entire key base of all keys is illuminated all around, which provides a unique visual aspect.

Technically, this is solved so that several LEDs are attached to the back of the keyboard unit. A reflector film covering the entire keyboard surface then ensures that the light generated by the LEDs shines evenly onto the keyboard from behind. The translucent elements of the keyboard then light up. In addition to the aesthetic aspects, an illuminated notebook keyboard also has the advantage that it can be used in twilight or the dark.

Also Read: How To Find The Best New Laptop