Logitech MX Mechanical Keys “auto-backlight/auto-off” fix.

[@ViniciusAmano]

its so satisfying when some shit bothers you for MONTHS and then, one day, you decide to finally google a possible solution. but you fail. then, you go where you were supposed to go in the first place and you search in the most direct way what is your problem on KZbin, and then... You find... a hero. In this particular case, Emblemization. a KZbinr, a consumer, a friend. Dealing with the same issue that in the end was so annoying, yet so simple but no of the other 709 people figured it out by themselves. But Emblemization is build different. Thanks my friend. You had one subscriber. Well now you have 2. Because I know, that if maybe, you find yourself in a similar pickle one day. I can count on you, to come share with all of us and it'll be useful. is this too dramatic? maybe, thats how much I hated this effing lights turning it off automatically so damm fast and how happy I am now that I just figured it out that after my second mx keys, i now know how things work.

[@Emblemization]

I must say that I got much joy from reading your comment! My apologies I was unable to reply earlier. A lot has been going on, and I do want to make some more videos on things that would be helpful.

[@ViniciusAmano]

@@Emblemization do not worry my friend! U r still my hero

[@PlayABA]

You are a freaking god to me right now! This has been driving me insane!!!

[@Emblemization]

It was driving me mad as well. Like Saitama and the fly. 😂

[@danishbacker]

I was very sad that even though the keyboard was very good, I was thinking to get rid of it because of this issue. You are a legend, thank you 🙏

[@Emblemization]

You are welcome! I'm glad it worked for you. I was ready to return it after much cussing but the store was closed and I need to finish my assignment lol.

[@classified_again]

Saved my life. I used black electrical tape and worked like a charm. Thank you.

[@Emblemization]

Just be advised that the magnetic field sensor may cause issues with this " fix".

[@DK-ox7ze]

I ạm having the opposite problem. The backlight is always on in dark light, even if I am not typing. It remains on until I put the computer to sleep. How to make them light only when I reach for the keyboard?

[@dodgeshadow099]

if you guys have the big MX keys. if you connect the usb-c to power the light will stay on for longer.

[@Emblemization]

Is that a universal fix?

[@dodgeshadow099]

@@Emblemization for the big mechanic Mx keys yes. I haven’t tested this under room light but in The dark, the backlight stays on for around 3 to 5 minutes and the motion sensor is disabled. So only key presses would make the keyboard to turn back on. I couldn’t try your fix because I don’t have red tape but I think that my solution works good enough for me.

[@RoboHackfeld]

@@dodgeshadow099 This is the exact same with the big MX Mechanical. If you connect it to a power supply or PC via USB Cable the light stays on for something like 3-5 Min but than it turns off and only pressing a key will wake the light.

[@jas3042]

It works! Wow. It was annoying that the light keep turning off every 5 seconds. Thank you so much!

[@Emblemization]

I'm glad it worked for you!

[@warumbel]

lol, this actually works. The disappearing backlight was driving me crazy and now it's fixed. Thanks man! I used something a bit more elegant than a piece of tape but yeah, cover up the green light and the backlight stays *on. Hurray!

[@Emblemization]

😂 What did you use that was more elegant? and I'm glad it worked for you!

[@VFNVFNVFN]

OMG YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND! THANK YOU. Please consider changing the title of your video, because I wasn't sure if it was what I was looking for, but it was. Something like, "How to keep your MX Keys backlight permanently on" and you'll get like 1M views!

[@Emblemization]

Ok. Thank you for the suggestion

[@VFNVFNVFN]

So after several attempts using various tapes, it didn't work for me. Not sure why, what a downer after doing cartwheels! I even tried taping down a key with tape, but it still turned off with a key taped down, weird and annoying keyboard.@@Emblemization

[@Emblemization]

@@VFNVFNVFN Hi, I may have found another solution to your problem. I am waiting to edit the video and upload it. I hope the info in that video will solve your issue?

[@anotherpersonality-125]

Has anybody tried to do this in the Logitech - MX Mechanical Full size? Mine doesn’t seem to work

[@Emblemization]

The reason why this "fix" may not work for some it because of the sensors communicating with each other, the light sensor and the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor is the issue in trying to solve with an oh resistor or magnetic wire. I was in the process of moving and now I'm back in school, that has caused me to delay the project.

[@RoboHackfeld]

@@Emblemization What about unplugging the Prox Sensor and covering the ambient light sensor? Could this work?

[@Emblemization]

@@RoboHackfeld I thought about doing that but I don’t know anything about wiring. I’ll take a second look and get back to you.

[@JeshuaKO1]

There might be another option for your problem, I had a similar situation with my Mx Anywhere 3 mouse, I stopped using it for more than 5 seconds and it would go autosleep and lag when I wanted to start using it again. My solution was to go under bluetooth adaptor settings on device manager and disabling the option that lets the computer turn off bluetooth for energy saving. Hope I can also work for this kind of problem, mine hasn't had it.

[@Emblemization]

Thank you! I am going to look into this!

[@Emblemization]

I looked into your feedback and made a video on it. I cannot find what you suggested.

[@OSGCourtWatch]

OUTSTANDING video! thx!

[@revanthvadlamudi]

This doesn't work on mine, I have the MX mechanical for Mac. Did you find any tutorials to disconnect the sensor?

[@Emblemization]

I'm going to make and update video. I'll look into, and maybe open the housing.

[@Emblemization]

@revanthvadlamdi Hi, I am editing and uploading a video that I think you will be interested in.

[@keithjohnson3313]

Well, this doesn't work for me. I used a small piece of a business card taped over the sensor, but it doesn't affect the keyboard backlighting. Also, the "sensor" never lights up itself, green or any other color. And it's hard to believe this is the sensor in the first place. I can touch the side of my keyboard on the left side, about 16 inches away from the "sensor," and the backlight goes on just fine. But when I pull away from the keyboard, the lights go off after a few seconds (though once in a while it's about 25 seconds, but I don't know why there's that difference). What I'd LIKE to do is keep the lights on all the time, especially since the letters are a gray that is only slightlly lighter than the rest of the key, making them hard to see in a dark room. LogiTech, are you here?

[@Emblemization]

Hi, I just posted a new video that may help.

[@mbarroso123]

I had the same issue until I connected a USB-C connector to it with the tape covering the light/sensor.

[@Nathan-yk9qg]

What a legend you're, thank you so much

[@Emblemization]

Glad the "fix" advised that the magnetic field sensor may cause issues later when communicating with the light sensor.

[@igor3255]

tons comment here, lot of threads on reddit and still logitech hasn't fixed this... what is wrong with them?

[@johnnyboy2024-h6n]

Thanks for the tip! Love this new keyboard but like my other MX keyboard, hate the way the keys go dark. While watching your video, I put my thumb over the light and the lights stayed on. Now to go find some painter's tape!

[@Emblemization]

I was so frustrated I was just about to open the keyboard and remove the sensor but I did the same as you with my thumb and the tape worked for me. I used painters tape because I wanted little light to go through. I wonder how electrical tape would do, no light. Let me know how the this works for you.

[@RobertKohari]

Thanks for this, I may still return the keyboard because of this crap but now at least there's a chance I will keep it

[@Sryd770]

Great work! I've been looking for a fix for the longest time!

[@1701odin]

I am sitting in a room with the lights off. There is some light coming in from the glass walls of my office. But it's fairly dark. I try to turn on the backlight and it just says "Bright Environment" and won't turn on. I covered the light with my finger. Same thing. Put some paper over it and also my finger. Same thing!! I had to turn the keyboard off and then back on again. Then it seemed to figure out that it wasn't in a "Bright Environment". So stupid.

[@1701odin]

Interesting....so when I kick the motion sensor on and he lights are back on, it's not turning the backlighting off, and not giving me that bright environment crap. I wonder if it only checks the brightness level when you first power it on. If so, turn it on while covering the light and you should be good without tape?

[@BryanAgapito]

You're a god damn American hero

[@jespero94]

Thanks alot for this! I dont understand why they dont just make a option for this??? So users can choose by them selves. i mean, its really annoying when it turns off all the time, it litteraly takes 2 seconds as you say. would been cool if we could adjust that time to lets say 1minute.

[@aeonjoey3d]

I switch between a mac and PC all day long using logitech Flow on my MX Keys S and MX Master 3S, this doesn't fix it because whenever you switch between platforms it shuts the backlight off regardless of setting, so it ignores the sensor and just shuts the backlighting off because ironically it remembers it's 'timer' for the last time a key was pressed, which it defaults to the 3-second setting no matter what the setting actually is on both machines. the settings are all at max (power saving off, plugged into powered USB-C ac adapter, 30-min timeout, etc.) sigh. i wish logitech would freaking fix this already.

[@Emblemization]

After using the tape method, I was able to enjoy backlight always on for about a month. From what I found, this is because the light sensor and the motion sensor communicate with each other and clash with whatever "fix". I am still working on another method but I need to test it first. Depending on what I discover, I will post a video about it.

[@johnfrankster3244]

Now hf do you save the setting so the keyboard doesnt use backlighting at all.

[@ZaidanMhmood]

I actually want the opposite, the keyboard is designed to turn off automatically but mine stays on and i cant fix it XD

[@alnoorvirani1]

Want to swap? Lol you can have mine and I'll take yours since it stays on

[@ChrisDodgson]

same issue I have

[@yuricastilhos5889]

Does the MX Keys have this sensor? I wanted to do this on mine

[@Emblemization]

Yes, when looking up a way to solve my issue, I found that model. I found, I think two, KZbin videos for your model.

[@jmssms101]

Nice tip, wonder if that would work on my MX KEYS for MAC.

[@Emblemization]

I think that is they keyboard I have?

[@Brani1974]

It doesn't seem to 😞

[@drive-channel1834]

does this trick work on MX Keys mini (non-mechanical)

[@Emblemization]

I believe so. I think I saw two KZbin videos. One of the videos opens the housing and removes the sensor.

[@jimw7916]

I found a perfect cure for this problem. You DONT need to put tape on it! ....after you boot simply hold your finger over the green light for about 20 secs. the green light will then go OFF and the timing of the backlights will then work perfectly!

[@edouardprest9703]

Give his man a medal.

[@theobucur9147]

:((( not working for me

[@georgeerniej]

Works, but seems that touching the metal chasis makes it ignore the light sensor... or something like that, either way I can see it slightly more reliably now, thanks!

[@DiamondMind949]

I have a G713 that has the same issue. It's annoying AF !! I've tried calling support, emailing them, all to no avail

[@MrTechnotrance98]

Unfortunately this didn't work on my new Logitech MX Keys Mini for Mac, putting electrical tape on the sensor just makes the auto brightness go to max, this motherfkr still turns off after 2 sec, idk what to do anymore, there is a mod on reddit wich involves solding and buying transistors but I find it ridiculous that you have to be an electrical engineer to solve this its embarassing

[@urbancamperphoto]

Thanks for the tip. Does the backlight turn off when your computer goes to sleep or turns off?

[@Emblemization]

At first it did after the tape.

[@PenOkOh]

I'm in the market of buying a new keyboard. I have some cheaper low profile version Logitech that I like a lot. I left Windows for a few years and decided to go with a MacBook. And it was bliss, the low profile, not in the way keyboard was amazing. But since I'm back on Windows, and I live in a rather dark country, I need backlighting on at all times. Sadly knowing that the mechanical keyboard has this lighting flaw, I got bummed out. I hope this tape / sticker option still works, otherwise I'd have to return it. Edit: I ended up buying the Mx Keys S because I wanted a non-gaming keyboard, and I like whatever switches they use. That aside, I found through the software that there is a 30 minute wait now until the backlight turn off. Perhaps this applies to their other keyboards as well. 30 minutes is a lot, and usually we're away for like 5-10 minutes at a time.

[@sergeyintegral451]

Does it works when you plug in charge cable ?

[@Emblemization]

At first it did, but like the keyboard backlight, the solutions are inconsistent. Thin is why the tape worked for me at first and then stoped after sometime.

[@drive-channel1834]

this is a great trick, thanks, I'll try this

[@casperclaudi1249]

thanks nud" woææ tyu when i come homr, did thry ny any improbrmimh pn yjof?

[@Valentin.editor]

Legend THANK YOU SOO MUCH

[@robertkorth605]

this issue is a show stopper for me. thx

[@albertpietrosanu2667]

I plug every time and light stay on :)) I solve fast. But you haqve my like :)

[@Emblemization]

In my case, keeping it pugged in worked at first. After sometime, it didn't matter.

[@CavemanNinja1]

Thanks now my brand new keyboard has a little bit of blu tack on it 🤣

[@yalkincanyaliniz]

bro i cant find paint tape so what should i do this with?

[@vault1508]

Buy tape? XD

[@Emblemization]

Play-Doh might work... @@vault1508

[@VFNVFNVFN]

Maybe blu tack or similar to that (removable, leaves no marks)

[@MarieSlim]

Brilliant! Thank you - this was so annoying!!

[@mbarroso123]

Put a tape on the light/sensor AND keep it on a charge connected to USB-C....

[@serviceguerilla]

You are a hero!! I found another solution though... Connecting the MX Mechanical via a USB C to USB C cable instead of USB A to USB C cable keeps the backlight turned ON permanently!!! This is confirmed to work on a large version of the Mechanical This is obviously a workaround, as it won't let you use the keyboard in wireless mode. I think I like your solution better, though. 🤣 I can not fathom how ignorant Logitech is in regards to this matter.🤯 Anyway, had to drop by and leave a comment in case a wired solution comes in handy to anyone out there.

[@anotherpersonality-125]

Have you tried his trick in the large version of the mechanical? If so, did it work for you?

[@serviceguerilla]

@@anotherpersonality-125 I exclusively tried it with the large version, as it‘s the only one I own. And yes, works like a charm. I still use it wireless during the day though, and plug it in when the light gets dim.

[@anotherpersonality-125]

@@serviceguerilla thanks for your reply! I can’t get mine to work. I have applied tape over the sensor (green LED light) and the backlight still turns off after 6 seconds of not use. Is there anything I might be doing wrong? It’s so annoying. Thanks for your input

[@serviceguerilla]

@@anotherpersonality-125 You are correct, I just tried to replicate again, and this time it‘s not working consistently. I went online - again - and I have some new clues that might help us going forward. 🤣 I tried to figure out WHERE the sensors are. While there IS one under the green LED, the KB also responds to my hand/ hands approaching from the bottom of the KB via SHIFT, SPACE etc. Same from different angles while making sure not to trigger „LED-Sensor“. Backlight turns on consistently. This made me suspicious in regards of the „LED-Sensor“ being solely responsible. So I went to look WHERE exactly the sensors ARE. According to my findings, there are 2 sensors working together… 1. The „LED-Sensor“ This one is supposed to measure ambient light and adjust backlight intensity accordingly. 2. A sensor using a magnetic field This one seems to be actually triggering the backlight to turn on - once your hands interfere with the magnetic field. This seems to hold true, as I said movement is being detected when your hands come near the KB regardless of you having your hands anywhere near the LED-Sensor. ALSO, try moving a book or broomstick over the KB; it won‘t trigger. So we need organic matter to interfere with the magnetic field - gotcha. If you take one finger of each hand and place them not on a button but somewhere on the metal housing part of the Kb - it stays illuminated as well. Regarding the VIDEO: Notice he says „it‘s been on for over an hour now“… This seems to be a rather new finding, and knowing what we know NOW with a sensor detecting magnetic field, I am suspicious that A.) either the trackpad and numpad left and right of the KB are influencing the magnetic field, or/ and B.) something else on his desk-setup is unknowingly contributing, or/ and C.) The tape itself matters, as it‘s painters-tape that might ground electricity I have a feeling, if I weren’t as dumb as I am and actually knew anything about electricity, magnetism and other wizardry, we are THIS close to finding a solution - as Logitech won’t simply make an option available via a Software update. So for now… Either connect via USB-C to USB-C cable, or permanently place a sausage on each side of the metal housing to trick the KB into thinking it‘s your own meat fingers. 🤪🕵🏽‍♂️ Sorry I can’t give you an easy way to this.

[@anotherpersonality-125]

@@serviceguerilla great answer! Hahaha you made my day. Thanks for taking the time to elaborate it. I’ve been trying everything out and nothing (other than the usb-c cable) seems to work. I have read the same in other forums and seems like nobody has figured it out yet. So frustrating and annoying that Logitech hasn’t been able to resolve this issue. They have shown they can do this with Options+ with the Keys S version. Mechanical it’s a great kb imo, so unfortunately they don’t allow us to have the backlight on all the time

[@encoder6717]

Dead set legend... bloody well works on mine as well!

[@ivonaldoamaral7875]

I found a good solution that keeps the backlight always on, just use a USB-C to USB-C cable and connect to a power source, my case i connected to a hub that is on my laptop, i was trying to make a script using solaar or logiops, but could not found something that worked properly, after I used a usb-c cable just worked. I don't even need to use the tape to cover the sensor

[@Bllakez]

Solution at 3:02

[@user-fi6hg8vq6c]

Wow I'm going to try this

[@Emblemization]

Let me know how this works for you.

[@nashtaz6257]

Gracias, estuvo a punto de venderlo...

[@onebuttonsolutions2056]

amazing Thx.

[@Powerm1nt.]

Oh god thanks you !

[@demetriusharp]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@olamnorbac]

thanks!, tenga su like!

[@junkpile1986]

L O G I W T F!

[@Nclk619]

Didn’t work for me grrrrrr infuriating is not even close to describe

[@mnogokotin]

shame on logi!

[@McTobi2]

2:54 thank me later.

[@nikoleshlizinger5506]

Why those beet-cheeze wont fix this so user can choose in settings how many seconds a user needs keyboard real trash even cheap chinese no brand keyboars much better than this shit

[@pehenry]

Thanks. Next time put some clothes on.

[@Emblemization]

How else am I supposed to get views 😜

[@xvdifug]

@@Emblemization Show MORE skin!