Apple presently offers three distinct models of the Magic Keyboard for its iPad series. The manufacturer provides versions for the iPad Pro in 11 and 13-inch sizes, the iPad Air in 11 and 13-inch sizes, and the base model at 11 inches. The backlit models are intended for the iPad Air and iPad Pro, as the latest Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad 10 does not include this feature.
Therefore, the initial step in figuring out if your Magic Keyboard possesses a backlight is ensuring you have the appropriate hardware: either an iPad Pro M4 or newer, or an iPad Air M2 or newer. If you own these tablets along with the accessory, simply connect them together to begin using it, as there’s no need to pair the keyboard with your iPad or link it through Bluetooth.
That being said, once you connect the iPad to the Magic Keyboard, the backlight on the keyboard should activate. If you don’t see the option to modify your backlight, it might be due to overly bright surroundings, as the keyboard’s brightness adjusts automatically based on the lighting conditions around you. However, you can still adjust it if you prefer brighter or darker keys.
