How to Turn Off Keyboard Light on MSI Laptop: A Detailed Guide!

MSI laptops are renowned for their high-performance hardware, making them a favorite among gamers, content creators, and professionals alike. One standout feature is the customizable RGB keyboard backlight. While this glowing keyboard enhances the aesthetics of your laptop, helps in low-light environments, and adds a gaming vibe, there may be times when you’d prefer to turn it off.

To turn off the keyboard light on an MSI laptop, you can use the keyboard shortcut (Fn + F3/F4), MSI Dragon Center software, or modify settings in the BIOS. These methods allow you to control or completely disable the backlighting as needed.

This could be for reasons such as saving battery, reducing distractions, or even a personal preference for a more minimalistic look. Whatever your reason, turning off the keyboard light on an MSI laptop is a simple process once you know how to do it.

In this detailed, step-by-step guide, we’ll explore different methods you can use to turn off the keyboard light, whether you prefer quick keyboard shortcuts or more permanent solutions through software.

Why You Might Want to Turn Off Your Keyboard Backlight:

Though the backlit keyboard on an MSI laptop is a great feature, there are several reasons why you might want to turn it off from time to time:

1. Battery Life Preservation: Backlit keyboards use additional power, and while the impact on battery life might not be huge, it adds up—especially when you’re trying to conserve battery power during travel or long gaming sessions.
2. Reducing Eye Strain: Bright RGB lights can be visually stimulating, but they may also cause eye strain when used for extended periods. Turning off the keyboard light can give your eyes a much-needed break.
3. Minimizing Distractions: While RGB lighting can look amazing during gameplay, it can also be distracting in a professional setting, or when you’re trying to focus on something else, like studying or working on detailed projects.
4. Aesthetic Preferences: Sometimes, less is more. You may simply prefer a darker, more understated look, especially when you’re not using your laptop for gaming.

Now that you know the benefits of turning off your keyboard light, let’s walk through several methods that you can use to adjust this setting on your MSI laptop.

Method 1: Turning Off the Keyboard Light Using Keyboard Shortcuts

MSI laptops offer a straightforward way to adjust or turn off the keyboard light directly from your keyboard. This method is the fastest and most convenient if you’re looking for a quick change without having to go into any settings menus or install extra software.

Steps:

1. Find the Function (Fn) Key: Typically located at the bottom left of the keyboard, the Fn key allows you to use secondary functions assigned to the F keys at the top of your keyboard.
2. Locate the Backlight Control Key: The specific key will vary depending on your MSI laptop model, but most often, it will be one of the function keys at the top, typically F3 or F4. These keys may have a small icon resembling a sun or a keyboard on them, indicating light control.
3. Turn Off the Backlight: Press the Fn key and the backlight control key (usually F3 or F4) simultaneously. Continue pressing the combination to cycle through different lighting settings until the light turns off. On some models, the backlight may simply dim and eventually turn off as you continue pressing the key.

Bonus Tip: If you still want some backlight but at a lower intensity, continue toggling until you find a brightness level that suits your needs.

Method 2: Adjusting Keyboard Light Through MSI Dragon Center or MSI Center

MSI provides its own software solution for managing system settings, including keyboard backlighting. This software is called MSI Dragon Center or MSI Center, depending on the model and age of your laptop. Using this tool, you can not only turn off the keyboard light but also fully customize the colors, patterns, and effects of your keyboard lighting.

Steps:

1. Launch MSI Dragon Center: You can find this by searching for it in the Start Menu or clicking the desktop shortcut if one is available. If you’re using a newer model, you may have MSI Center instead. The process is the same for both applications.
2. Navigate to the Lighting Section: Once the application is open, find the tab or section related to lighting or keyboard controls. This is typically labeled as “Mystic Light” or “Per-Key RGB” settings.
3. Turn Off the Keyboard Light: You’ll see various lighting options here, including brightness control and lighting effects. You can either set the brightness to the lowest setting or toggle the light off completely.
4. Save Your Settings: Be sure to click Apply or Save to ensure your changes take effect.

Bonus Tip: MSI’s software allows you to customize your keyboard lighting by individual keys, so if you want, you can also set some keys to be unlit while keeping others illuminated. This can be handy for certain gaming setups or productivity layouts.

Method 3: Disable Keyboard Backlight via BIOS Settings

For those who want a more permanent solution or prefer making changes outside of the operating system, turning off the keyboard backlight via the BIOS is a great option. The BIOS is a special menu where you can control hardware-level settings for your laptop.

Steps:

1. Enter BIOS Mode: Restart your laptop and press the Delete key or F2 key repeatedly during startup to enter the BIOS menu.
2. Navigate to the Backlight Settings: Once inside the BIOS, use your arrow keys to find the section that controls keyboard or RGB lighting. The specific location and naming will vary depending on your laptop model, but it’s usually under Advanced or System Configuration.
3. Turn Off the Keyboard Light: Change the keyboard backlight setting to Off or adjust the brightness level to the minimum.
4. Save and Exit: Press the appropriate key (usually F10) to save your changes and exit the BIOS. The keyboard light will now stay off, even after reboots or system resets.

Bonus Tip: Be cautious when making changes in the BIOS, as it controls essential settings for your system. If you’re unsure about what you’re doing, stick to the methods using MSI software or shortcuts.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Software for Keyboard Lighting Control

If you prefer a more customizable or cross-platform solution, third-party software such as OpenRGB or SignalRGB offers advanced control over keyboard lighting, including the option to turn off the lights entirely.

These tools are especially useful if you want more control over the RGB setup of not only your keyboard but also other RGB components in your system (like the fans, mouse, or monitor).

Steps:

1. Download the Software: You can download OpenRGB or SignalRGB from their respective official websites. Both programs are free and easy to install.
2. Install and Launch: Once the software is installed, launch it, and allow it to detect the RGB components on your MSI laptop.
3. Turn Off Keyboard Light: In the keyboard settings, you’ll see options to turn off or customize the backlight.

Bonus Tip: These tools offer extensive customization, allowing you to create personalized profiles for different tasks—gaming, working, or watching movies—where you might want different levels of backlighting or no light at all.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting Tips:

While turning off the keyboard light is typically straightforward, some users may run into challenges. Here are a few common problems and how to resolve them:

1. The Backlight Won’t Turn Off: If none of the methods seem to work, ensure that you have the latest keyboard drivers and BIOS updates installed on your MSI laptop. Check the MSI support website for any recent updates for your specific model.
2. The Keyboard Light Turns On Automatically: If the keyboard light turns back on after sleep mode or system reboot, double-check that you’ve saved your settings in the Dragon Center, BIOS, or third-party software.
3. Dragon Center Won’t Open or Respond: If the MSI Dragon Center software isn’t working properly, try reinstalling it or using a third-party alternative like OpenRGB.

Conclusion:

MSI laptops are designed to give users as much control as possible, from performance settings to aesthetic features like keyboard backlighting. Whether you want to turn off the lights for practical reasons, or you simply prefer a different look, the process is quick and easy using the methods we’ve outlined above.

From simple keyboard shortcuts to more advanced BIOS settings, you can customize your MSI laptop’s keyboard lighting to match your exact needs. Plus, with third-party tools like OpenRGB, you can unlock even more lighting potential and create profiles tailored to your activities.

FAQ’s:

1. How do I turn off the keyboard light on my MSI laptop?

You can use the keyboard shortcut (Fn + F3/F4), MSI Dragon Center, or the BIOS to turn off the keyboard light.

2. Which key combination turns off the MSI keyboard light?

Press the Fn key and the F3 or F4 key to toggle or turn off the keyboard light.

3. Can I disable the keyboard light permanently?

Yes, you can disable the keyboard light permanently through the BIOS settings.

4. Does turning off the keyboard light save battery?

Yes, disabling the backlight helps conserve battery, especially during extended usage.

5. What if my MSI Dragon Center isn’t working?

Try reinstalling Dragon Center or use third-party software like OpenRGB to control the keyboard light.

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