This kinda sucks, and I hope it becomes an option soon. I’m currently without a laptop and holding out for a 12, but if we’re not geting a backlit keyboard I’m probably going to go a different route.
Well, qmk and zmk look to be out.
Keyboard controller is a chip from ITE tech. I don’t believe either will run on those.
Ifixit teardown
The PixArt touchpad chip looks to read PCT2642QC. pixart.com/products-detail/36/PCT2642QC. No idea yet on the ITE chip’s model. Maybe clearer shots can be had somewhere.
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Fingerprint reader expansion slot?
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Bet you could even use a Framework fingerprint sensor, they’re usb. Of course, it would be just asking for volume keys to be added alongside, just a little feature creep.
Comparing the GitHub pages for the Framework 13 Touchpad and the Framework 12 Input Cover, it looks like a future variant of the keyboard will include backlighting. Note that both have pins for KBL_P. While the 12 doesn’t have KBL_N, I assume one of the GND pins could be used. And for those wondering about fingerprint readers, the Power Button board has currently unused USB pins, so I would guess that a biometric option will be available in the future as well…
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I’d say that it can include backlighting, rather than will include it. Same for a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button. When creating a platform, Framework is thinking about the platform serving them for a long time, and they’re looking to avoid compatibility breaking changes that could come up in the future. They are going to include something like a backlight pin in the keyboard connector, and usb near the power button, even if they don’t have plans to use those just yet.
Now, given that the FWL12 seems to be much more popular beyond its original target market than anticipated, I suspect they will indeed come out with upgrades like a backlight keyboard, hopefully relatively soon. It’s just that you really can’t use the presence of those pins as proof that it will happen soon.
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I hope they do bring one out, nice to know the technical headroom is in place for it. I’d love this feature too. …is RGB backlit too much to ask?!
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Read something today which made me think “hmm”. If the patent for the ThinkLight has expired, that’s a super cheap way to do a keyboard lighting
I find a backlit keyboard annoying and always turn it off (on my other laptops).
I count no backlight as a bonus.
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It really needs to have a backlit keyboard upgrade option. I know this is supposed to be a cheaper device, but this is basic functionality.
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Well, normally you can turn it off. So, even if it had a backlit keyboard it should not bother you.
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You’re right you can turn it off but .. I’ve had a couple of Chromebooks where turning the backlight off doesn’t persist and I’ve had to turn it off repeatedly .. which gets very annoying.
Well that’s really annoying. With my Thinkpads I got used the other way round. After restart it’s turned off and you have to explicitly turn it on
Just got my FW12 working on it 2nd day and… WTF, no backlight? How did I miss that!
I would definitely upgrade my keyboard if it was available.
Generally happy with the machine so far aside from that.
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I used to shut off the backlighting at least 90% of the time to extend battery life when I used Macs. For the last 10 or so years I’ve mostly been using Chromebooks or Windows netbooks that didn’t have backlighting at all and I rarely missed it.
For context, I am writing this on a $200 Asus L210 Windows 10 netbook with 4GB RAM, a 1.1 GHz Intel Celeron, and 128 GB storage. I have just gone ahead with a FW12 DIY pre-order to treat myself to more speed (even the i3-1315U should be a huge improvement), adding my own aftermarket 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Not being facetious, a serious suggestion…I wonder if a little USB-A or -C gooseneck LED light would be a simple solution here in keeping with the Framework spirit of simplicity?
Cheers,
Matt
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One of the reasons I cancelled by preorder next to the cracking issues.
Let’s see if they manage to offer devices with backlit keyboard and without quality issues from the factory, then I will order.
I completly missed this! 
Sitting here in a dark room looking for reference on how to turn on the backlight of my keyboard and there isn’t any…
I was poking around the github repo for the Laptop 12 and noticed the interface schematics include a “keyboard backlight” on page 7 
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That gives me hope that an upgrade input cover is in the future works! Would be such a good thing, especially if they also add a fingperprint sensor on the input cover. They could reuse the Framework 13 one.
It’s cool to have a dimly lit keyboard, but this is like helping wheels for a kids bicycle.
Most advance users do not look at the keyboard, but feel their way around the distinct keys. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem possible with the laptop keyboard, because the keys are virtually indistinguishable when one is typing fast.
Honestly, that makes it a bad keyboard.