Backlight for Hard Buttons Bug

**11b2p** · 08-01-2010, 11:07 AM

I am seeing an issue with the backlight of the four hard buttons right after powering up the X.

The button backlight does not come on after powering up the phone.

The button backlight will not come on until I put the phone display asleep with the lock button and re-awaken it.

Anyone else having this issue (seems like a software bug) or is it just my phone?

**wildman** · 08-01-2010, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by 11b2p

I am seeing an issue with the backlight of the four hard buttons right after powering up the X.

The button backlight does not come on after powering up the phone.

The button backlight will not come on until I put the phone display asleep with the lock button and re-awaken it.

Anyone else having this issue (seems like a software bug) or is it just my phone?

Why would the buttons need to light up at bootup, seems like make since to not light up because the phone doesn't need any interaction to boot?

**DaRkL3AD3R** · 08-01-2010, 12:10 PM

So if I'm reading this correctly, you power up the phone, and the backlight doesn't come on. But when you turn the screen off then back on, then it comes on?

Mine come on the second I press something and they stay on for about 30-60 seconds, I haven't counted yet. Point is, if you push that power button to turn the screen on your backlights should be up. And I don't see how there could be such a bug in just YOUR software to make yours do that... if anything bugs like that are more likely to be hardware

**11b2p** · 08-01-2010, 12:49 PM

Sorry I guess I was not clear enough...

1. I power up the phone

2. Unlock the screen

3. No backlight for the hard buttons

4. I put the phone back to sleep with the lock button

5. I re-awake the phone with the lock button

6. Buttons now have backlighting

@wildman I never posted that the buttons needed backlighting during bootup. Hopefully the above will describe what I am seeing

@DaRkL3AD3R your reading into what I posted... I posted SEEMS like a software bug not that it was only on my phone. A software bug would be present on other phones as well.

This is why I am posting in the first place; looking to see if others are having this issue. If I am the only one then I guiess I have a hardware problem and need to exchange the phone. Thanks for your insight though

**moosc** · 08-01-2010, 12:56 PM

what are the light conditions are u? If there's light around then lights don't light up. On mine they only appear when there is no light. I followed your steps and mine never came on. Still haven't.

**dvader** · 08-01-2010, 01:56 PM

yeah there is a light sensor on the phone that controls the light levels.
I think this is a "feature" and not a bug

**duffyanneal** · 08-01-2010, 03:05 PM

It's a bug and both of my DX's have it. It's a bug because after rebooting the buttons do not light up at all, never, ever, regardless of the lighting conditions. It's not until after the display goes to sleep or the unit is locked that the buttons will light up when it's woken up. It isn't a major bug, but it does exist.

**dvader** · 08-01-2010, 03:31 PM

Yeah i just tried the process and mine did the same thing. so it is a software bug.
but a very minor one.
it wasn't something that i ever noticed until i read this thread.
I'm sure froyo will bring a fix

**rjdangerous** · 08-01-2010, 03:42 PM

mine does it too, I have to hit the top button twice

**11b2p** · 08-01-2010, 06:11 PM

Thanks for checking this out.

**moosc** · 08-01-2010, 06:24 PM

I doubt its a BUG... I don't want moto messing with them. Or it will be Droid all over again and they will never turn of unless u root and use a app

**wildman** · 08-01-2010, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by 11b2p

Sorry I guess I was not clear enough...

1. I power up the phone

2. Unlock the screen

3. No backlight for the hard buttons

4. I put the phone back to sleep with the lock button

5. I re-awake the phone with the lock button

6. Buttons now have backlighting

@wildman I never posted that the buttons needed backlighting during bootup. Hopefully the above will describe what I am seeing

@DaRkL3AD3R your reading into what I posted... I posted SEEMS like a software bug not that it was only on my phone. A software bug would be present on other phones as well.

This is why I am posting in the first place; looking to see if others are having this issue. If I am the only one then I guiess I have a hardware problem and need to exchange the phone. Thanks for your insight though

I didn't mean any disrespect with my statement, I was just saying I didn't really see why this was considered a issue when the device is simply booting when this is noticed.... I agree with moosc about how suggesting a fix for something this miner usually leads to them breaking something else..

**DaRkL3AD3R** · 08-02-2010, 03:18 AM

Well in all fairness I just experienced this and can confirm it too. Not the biggest bug but a bug nonetheless. Good find OP. I generally have a knack for finding little things like this but this one slipped my eye

**cloak.n.dagger** · 08-09-2010, 09:20 AM

I am having the same issue with the EVO. After bootup, when I unlock the screen, no button backlight. Even if I put the screen back to sleep and then wake it up again, still no backlight. I have to press one of the hard buttons, then the backligh comes on and thereafter the backlight comes on when I unlock the screen. I was hoping that this would get fixed with 2.2 but I guess not.

**overithiswire** · 11-20-2010, 01:06 AM

I have the same problem and i'm pretty sure every single Droid X does have it. I'm not sure if it's a bug or not but it was one of the first things i noticed when the lights were off and i had to boot up my phone and couldn't see what keys i was hitting. Then i noticed that they only light up when the screen goes off or is locked. It's kind of annoying actually.

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 11-22-2010, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by overithiswire

I have the same problem and i'm pretty sure every single Droid X does have it. I'm not sure if it's a bug or not but it was one of the first things i noticed when the lights were off and i had to boot up my phone and couldn't see what keys i was hitting. Then i noticed that they only light up when the screen goes off or is locked. It's kind of annoying actually.

I don't think that it is exclusive to the Droid X. I had the Droid 2 for a week and it did the same thing.

**davidnc** · 11-22-2010, 05:59 AM

I just thought the buttons were not suppose to light up then .

**jksmiles** · 01-13-2011, 06:22 PM

This is not a bug. When the system is running, any time you push the lock button, the sensor is activated and the light level is detected and various lighting levels are set, including the hard key backlighting. It would be inefficient to run continuously and most people are running back and forth between bright rooms and dark rooms every second.
Since the operating system is still booting when you push the lock key to turn it on, the task to detect light levels is not running.
The solution would be to run a one-time task to detect light level without having to push the lock button, immediately following start-up. That's a bit of overhead, so???
Cheers...