# How to Change the Keyboard Brightness with a Keyboard Shortcut on MacBook

Updated: November 12, 2026

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URL: https://sindresorhus.com/guides/keyboard-brightness-shortcut-mac

With [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge), set your own keyboard shortcuts to make the keyboard backlight of a MacBook brighter and dimmer, like when you want other keys for it, or use an external keyboard. Without an app, press the keyboard brightness keys, or use the “Keyboard Brightness” slider in Control Center.

## With Supercharge

1. Open the settings of [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge), and click “Shortcuts”.
1. Find “Keyboard brightness”. You can type “brightness” in the search field of the settings.
1. Click the “Increase” field, and press a keyboard shortcut, like Control+Option+F6. Do the same for “Decrease”.

Each press changes the brightness by 10%. Turn on “Show visual indicator when changing” to see the level on the screen. Then each press is one step, like with the brightness keys. The shortcuts change only the backlight of the built-in keyboard of a MacBook, also when you press them on an external keyboard.

## Without an app

- **Keys:** If your MacBook has keyboard brightness keys, press them.
- **Control Center:** Click Control Center in the menu bar, click “Edit Controls”, and add “Keyboard Brightness”. Then click it in Control Center, and drag the slider. You can also drag the control to the menu bar.
- **System Settings:** Open “[System Settings › Keyboard](x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Keyboard-Settings.extension)”, and drag the “Keyboard brightness” slider.
- **Automatic:** In the same settings, turn on “Adjust keyboard brightness in low light”, and macOS changes the backlight for you.

[Apple’s instructions.](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchlp2265/mac) The keys and the slider are good for most people. Supercharge is for when you want your own keyboard shortcuts for the backlight.