FAQ
TL;DR: Legion 5 backlight uses 3 levels via Fn+Space; "Selected models have an RGB keyboard." Use Lenovo Vantage or PC Manager to customize effects and zones. This FAQ helps Legion 5/7 owners fix hotkeys and find lighting controls fast. [“Lenovo Legion 5 15/17 User Guide”]
Why it matters: Clear lighting control improves gameplay comfort, reduces distractions, and speeds night typing.
Quick Facts
- Fn+Space cycles Off/Low/High (3 levels) on single‑color keyboards; on RGB models it cycles effects; deeper controls live in Vantage or PC Manager. [“Lenovo Legion 5 15/17 User Guide”]
- RGB menus appear only on RGB‑equipped models; single‑color keyboards expose brightness via hotkeys, not per‑zone software controls. [“Lenovo Legion 5 15/17 User Guide”]
- No extra driver is required; the backlight is hardware‑controlled via the keyboard. Software extends features only. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076113]
- BIOS provides Fn/Ctrl swap but no keyboard‑lighting settings; manage lighting with hotkeys or Lenovo apps. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076179]
- Legion 7i may show a rainbow effect until Windows loads control software; no confirmed firmware toggle to disable it. [Elektroda, pawkko, post #19098538]
How do I turn on or change the Lenovo Legion 5 keyboard backlight?
Use Fn+Space. It cycles Off, Low, and High on single‑color keyboards. On RGB models, it cycles effects. For deeper control, open Lenovo Vantage or Lenovo PC Manager. There you can adjust per‑zone colors, effects, and brightness. Quick How‑To:
- Press Fn+Space to verify the backlight toggles through 3 levels or effects.
- Install or open Lenovo Vantage from Microsoft Store, or launch PC Manager.
- In Lighting/Keyboard, choose colors, effects, and brightness, then apply.
"Selected models have an RGB keyboard." [“Lenovo Legion 5 15/17 User Guide”]
Fn+Space does nothing on my Legion 5‑15IMH05 (82AU). What should I check?
Check if Fn and Ctrl are swapped in BIOS (Fool Proof Fn Ctrl). If enabled, the Fn key moved to the Ctrl position. Use that new Fn position with Space to toggle backlight. Or disable the swap and reboot. This setting does not modify lighting logic, but it changes which key acts as Fn. Then test the hotkey again in Windows and at POST. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076179]
Lenovo Vantage shows no "Backlight" or "Lighting" menu. Is that normal?
Yes, if your keyboard is single‑color. Software lighting menus display only on models with RGB keyboards. Use the Fn+Space hotkey for brightness on non‑RGB variants. On RGB models, Vantage or PC Manager exposes color and effect controls. The manual states, "Selected models have an RGB keyboard," and points to additional controls in Lenovo software. [“Lenovo Legion 5 15/17 User Guide”]
Do I need a driver to enable the keyboard backlight?
No. The backlight is hardware‑controlled via keyboard hotkeys. Lenovo Vantage or PC Manager adds customization for RGB units. You do not install a separate "backlight driver." "No driver, these are the functions typed on the keyboard." [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076113]
Can I control Legion keyboard lighting in BIOS?
Not on Legion 5/7. BIOS offers a setting to swap Fn and Ctrl keys. It does not include lighting controls. "It shouldn't affect the backlight," as one expert noted. Use Fn+Space and Lenovo software instead. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076179]
Where do I get Lenovo Vantage or PC Manager?
One of them may be pre‑installed. To open, type the app name in Windows Search. If Lenovo Vantage is missing, install it from the Microsoft Store. PC Manager may ship with some regions and models. Open whichever is available to access keyboard lighting pages. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076192]
On Legion 7i with iCUE, why does the keyboard show a rainbow before login?
Until the control service loads, firmware runs a default RGB effect. That is why you see a rainbow at boot and after lid events. As one reply states, "Keyboard uses default settings until the control program loads." After Windows loads iCUE, your saved static profile applies. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19096513]
Can I disable the pre‑login rainbow on Legion 7i?
Not currently, per user reports. A Lenovo forum thread linked in the discussion confirms no available switch to stop the pre‑boot effect. Expect the rainbow until Windows loads your iCUE or Lenovo profile. After login, your custom profile should apply automatically. [Elektroda, pawkko, post #19098538]
After closing the lid, my Legion 7i pulses colors for a few seconds. How do I stop it?
This brief pulsing is the firmware’s default behavior during sleep or wake transitions. Users report it lasts a few seconds, then your profile returns. There is no published toggle to suppress this sequence in the firmware. iCUE or Vantage reasserts your settings once services resume. [Elektroda, pawkko, post #19096498]
My model is Legion 5‑15IMH05 (Type 82AU). Should I see RGB options?
Only if your exact sub‑model includes an RGB keyboard. If it does not, software lighting pages will be absent. Use Fn+Space to switch Off, Low, and High brightness on single‑color variants. "Selected models have an RGB keyboard," and only those expose color menus. [“Lenovo Legion 5 15/17 User Guide”]
Is there any alternative tool to enable backlight on older Lenovo Y520?
Yes. One user enabled the Y520 keyboard backlight using Lenovo Nerve Sense (wwg2050e.exe). Microsoft Store does not carry it. Download the specific installer and run it to expose backlight options. Results vary by region and BIOS version. Back up your system before installing legacy utilities. [Elektroda, krzysiek296, post #19992082]
Will updating BIOS add keyboard backlight features?
No. A BIOS update will not add backlight hardware or software controls to non‑RGB models. BIOS contains a Fn/Ctrl swap option only. Lighting is controlled by hotkeys and Lenovo apps within Windows. Focus on Vantage or PC Manager for changes, not BIOS updates. [Elektroda, sunrise84, post #19076179]
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