Hi ironmiketaos,

Unfortunately there is no option to keep the backlit keyboard always on. As and when you type it goes on.

Check your 'Control Panel' to see if you have an icon labeled "Dell Keyboard Backlight Settings".  If so, that's where you can adjust how long the keyboard remains lit without any activity, but five minutes is the longest option available.  It

If you don't have that option in the Control Panel, here's how you add it-

Go to the Drivers & Downloads page for the 6430u- http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/Product/latitude-6430u-ultrabook

Scroll down to the 'Systems Utilities' section and the only item shown should be the Dell Feature Enhancement Pack Application.  Download and Install the DFEP and it will include the Keyboard Settings option mentioned above!

Can Dell make the maximum time before the backlight keyboard turns off to infinite or a very high value?

Currently the Dell Keyboard Backlight Settings that are made available in the "Dell Feature Enhancement Pack" the maximum setting before the keyboard backlight turns off is 5 minutes. This is too low. Why is it so low? Is there a reason?  I want the backlight keyboard to always be "on", the keyboard is great and the backlight makes it even better. Or can the maximum be set to 8 hours or something high is never to turn off is not doable. How can I make this feature request? I have a Latitude E6400. 

Dell is not interested in their customers needs and they'll never sort out the backlight problems on the whole Latitude range. This is why I will not buy another Dell. Apparently HP has a setting for backlit keyboard "always on" on their business laptop range. It maybe better to stick with HP in future.

There is no back light problem if the keyboard back lighting goes out after 5 minutes of inactivity. It is supposed to shut off if it is not being used. However, if it shuts off while being typed upon, that's a different issue. I am curious, why do you want the keyboard back light on while the keyboard is not being typed on?

-Brandon

Yes there is a problem with the Latitude backlight keyboard, which is confirmed in several threads in Dell Forum.

The FEP setting "Never switch off" does not work on any Latitude 14/15 E5xxx/6xxx. The maximum timeout is 5 minutes.

I do not use my laptop to type text and need the keyboard backlight "always on". I work in a very dark environment and need to hunt in the dark for the touchpad (and tap it to switch the backlight on) every time I need to use the keyboard. The sequence between keystrokes is sometimes more than 30 minutes, while a program runs or a video plays on an external screen.

I have been in touch with Dell service about that and asked why the FEP doesn't work properly and why they didn't facilitate a setting in BIOS to keep the backlight on? Dell doesn't care! They suggested to use a third party to sort this problem.

Many of my collegues have switched to Lenovo and HP because of this very problem. It's kind of stupid of Dell to loose customers about something they could sort out easily if they wanted to.

I see what you are saying now. My apologies for the misunderstanding.

-Brandon

I'm another user who is extremely dissatisfied with the inability of my new Dell Lattitude to keep the backlt keyboard lit.The "FEP" has a setting to keep the keyboard backlight on, but that setting simply does not work. I have owned and used many laptops with backlit keyboards and this is the first and only one I have ever owned or used that cannot be set to have the backlight stay on. This was not even a problem with the older Dell Latitude model which this new one replaces. As having a backlit keyboard that stays on a significant and necessary feature for me, had I had any reason to suspect such an absurd situation would exist with the  backlit keyboard in this new Latitude, I would have avoided it and specified another brand. Dell's apparent refusal to remedy the problem means this will be my last Dell laptop... 

I have been using other laptops, mainly from Lenovo and have been very satisfied with them, before our company suggested to use the DELL's E7250. Buying the top version of a business laptop - I did not expect to have any trivial problems, lsuch a "backlight going off" issue.

So far so bad - the backlight can only work continuously if  the AC power is on (should be first  tuned on in BIOS) - but dissapears when I am working on battery.

It is indeed annoying, as I often type in dark and see no reason to tap "a random key" for the backlight to come up and show me the layout.

I hope Dell can suggest an option to fix the problem, otherwise my next laptop is not going to be Dell - I do not want to take chances anymore.

LEXX333, how are you able to get the keyboard backlight to stay on continuously when running on AC power (and therefore presumably only suffer the problem we've all been complaining about when running on battery power)? I have the problem of the keyboard backlight not being able to be set to stay on for more than 5 minutes, regardless of whether I am running on AC power or not.  If I could at least find a way to keep the keyboard backlight on continuously during AC operation I'd be pretty satisfied, as I almost never use my Dell laptop on battery power.

Thanks...