Keyboard backlight always on by default on Swift 3 SF314-43 and SF314-512

msander452
msander452 Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter

Acer please fix this!

On other Acer Swift 3 models Acer Swift 3 SF314-43 and SF314-512 models the keyboard illumination cannot be turned off by default. While it can be disabled temporarily using the Fn + F11 shortcut, the setting does not persist after a reboot. In BIOS it is only possible to change keyboard illumination timeout (Enable/Disable) however it is not possible to keep keyboard light turn off.

This poses visibility challenges, particularly in well-lit environments with the silver keyboard. ACER - please introduce the new BIOS setting that allows users to configure the default keyboard backlight status to be ENABLED or DISABLED at boot, or ensure that the laptop preserves the last keyboard backlight status post-reboot!

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,181 Trailblazer

    That is by design, people want backlight on, I could not work with a keyboard that does not have backlight, consider getting a KB skin for your silver keyboard. https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Keyboard-Skins/b?node=3015407011

  • msander452
    msander452 Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter
    edited June 3

    You did not understand the issue. The issue is not that the keyboard does have backlight but the fact that you can't disable it (and the on/off status is preserved after reboot), that each time you boot a laptop the keyboard backlit is on, even if you disabled it in the last boot by pressing Fn + F11 shortcut. You don't need any keyboard illumination in a room with enough light and the keyboard backlit makes very difficult to read that keyboard during the daytime. The ACER should fix this, either by introducing relevant BIOS functionality so that the backlight can be set to disabled at boot, or by remembering the last Fn + F11 backlight status (after boot).

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    As I mentioned in your other post, those models came with and without a keyboard backlight. You chose to purchase the model with a keyboard backlight. If you didn't want it you should have chosen one of the ones without. As it is, the only way to fully disable the backlight is to replace the keyboard and top case (they are an assembly) with the version that doesn't have a backlight. Most users who pay the extra to get a keyboard backlight actually want one…

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • msander452
    msander452 Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter

    Your answer does not address the problem. This is not question of having backlight keyboard or not. It is a very useful and nice-to-have feature and most of the users will be happy to have it, but the problem is that ACER Swift 3 SF314-43 and SF314-512 models do not store last keyboard backlight setting and that by default the keyboard lights are auto on once the laptop starts up.

    Keyboard illumination is useful in dark rooms but in most of the situations users do not need keyboard lights to be on when typing, and with the silver keyboard and lights on it is difficult to read keyboard keys in light room due to the low contrast between letters and silver colour of keys.

    Acer did not implement on/off button functionality correctly in these laptop models and users need to press Fn + F11 shortcut to switch off keyboard light each time they start up these laptop models. This is very annoying and many users were already complaining about it.

    Others manufacturers allow users to chose between keyboard lights on or off by default at boot - either by BIOS settings or by software config. Therefore this needs to be fixed by ACER. It is not really that difficult to introduce either BIOS setting that will control this or Acer Care Center or by making sure that the last Fn + F11 status will be remembered during next boot.

    For now until the ACER will fix the problem it's better to choose a laptops of other manufacturer that comes backlit keyboard and where it can be turned on when it is useful (at night in rooms with not enough light) as opposed to being on by default where it's not useful and causing readability problems in most of the situations.

    I'm hoping ACER tech team will see this post and fix this issue.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    Acer doesn't monitor these forums, except for the moderators, which primarily use automated tools to look for posts that violate community guidelines. You have to reach out to Acer directly for suggestions like that.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • msander452
    msander452 Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter

    ACER should monitor these forums, especially that they make almost impossible to contact them directly in order to bring this kind of design flaws/functionality problems to their attention