How to turn off/on the touch key light (return and recent) on Galaxy Note 4?

Table of Contents [hide]
1) You can turn on/off touch key light on Galaxy Note 4
2) How to turn on/off touch key light on Galaxy Note 4?
3) I didn’t turn off the touch key light, but neither of the keys are illuminated on Galaxy Note 4. Why?

You can turn on/off touch key light on Galaxy Note 4

Similar to all previous Galaxy Note and Galaxy S phones, Galaxy Note 4 has 2 capacitive touch keys in each side of the home button.

The touch key in the right side of the home button is a return key or back key. The left one is called recent apps key showing the recently opened apps.

By default, when you touch either of the two touch keys, both of them will be illuminated. This can be embarrassing when you try to reply an urgent message in a  cinema.

In daytime, you seldom need the light to guide you.

Of course, lighting the touch keys may consume considerable battery  and therefore it may drain your battery noticeably if the duration of  illumination is too long.

In Galaxy Note 4, you now can turn on and turn off the touch key light to save battery.

This guide will show you how to turn on/off the touch key light, how to set the duration of the lighting, and how to access the new touch key light settings in Galaxy Note 4

How to turn on/off touch key light on Galaxy Note 4?

In Galaxy Note 4, the switch for turning on/off the touch key light and the settings for the duration is under Settings—Display and Wallpaper.

You can go to Settings, tap Display and wallpaper.

Tap Touch key light duration.  Then you have 4 options (same as other Galaxy devices):

  1. 1.5 seconds.  This means touch key light is on and the light goes off after 1.5 seconds.  This is the default setting.
  2. 6 seconds.
  3. Always off. This option essentially turn off touch key light. The touch key will never be illuminated. This setting will not be overwritten by any other settings.
  4. Always on.  This option turns on the touch key light permanently.  It is NOT recommended for most owners.

I  didn’t turn off the touch key light, but neither of the keys are illuminated on Galaxy Note 4. Why?

Among the 4 options mentioned above, in the old Galaxy devices, none of them can be overwritten by other settings.

In Galaxy Note 4, however,  options 1,2 and 4 can be overwritten by power saving mode.

So, this explains why your touch key light is off even your setting is on.

You can tune this settings at Settings–Power saving.

In Power saving page, tap Power saving mode.

Tap Restrict performance.

Now you can un-check Turn off touch key light (it is checked by default). This will turn on touch key light when power saving mode is enabled.

Of course, you can turn off restrict performance totally.

Do you still have problems or questions  with Galaxy Note 4 touch key light?

Please let us know your questions on setting touch key light on Galaxy Note 4 in the comment box below. We will try to help you find the answer /solution.

For other Galaxy Note 4 problems, please check our Galaxy Note 4 how-to guides page.

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  • Hi.I have galaxy note4 sm-n910c.i update into marshmallow 6.0.1 officially.when i turan on power saving mode my back key light not on please tell me setting how back key light on in power saving mode

  • I have this problem have tried all of the steps above with my Note 4, I can still use the return and recent apps key via the note 4's stylus. I have reset the phone and still no illumination or responsiveness while using my finger to navigate these buttons! #help

    • If factory data reset does not solve the issue, you need visit local service center to check the phone.

  • The keypad light isalways on even if the time is setted that is 1.5 sec ...plz tell how it will get of ..i jst want tht it should light up only when the keypad is toched

  • My touch key light duration and LEDIndicator keep turning off by themselves. My power saving mode is turned off. What is going on?

  • Hi! I would like to know if you are in Power Saving mode in Note 4, you are not able to feel any vibrations on the back and home buttons only touch key light?

  • I'd like to know how to enable the touch screen feature so I don't have to use my S Pen every time. I got the updated version of Android (Lollipop) and it defaulted my features back to S Pen. (I don't remember how to put it back to touch screen). Please help! :(

  • When my tab s 8.4 is under kitkat os, my touch key light has no issue, i can turn it off or on always, but when i upgraded recently under lollipop, my touch key is becomes buggy, sometimes when i turn it off minutes later it lightens up and by then i manually turn it off again in settings which is very irritating, what should i do sir? Thanks

  • It seems with setting on OFF anything that wakes phone from sleep it flicks,power /home button,plugging in charger or activating Google now when phone is asleep.

    • If you are really concern it, you can visit the Samsung service center to ask them to check the phone. You can also test the phone in some phone shops.

  • K yea was just curious, I originally had the soft key set on 6 second(on) but when I when I hit the power button to wake screen up I noticed it look like it faintly lit and then lit up bright,if that makes sence..So that's when I went into setting and turned off to see what it would do,so yea with hitting power or home button when waking phone up u can see a faint flick (light up)of the soft keys for split sec.

    • This is a replacement device I just got because my original note 4 speaker was really distorted, just trying to make sure I don't have a dud.

    • Not exactly. But it is possible. Turning off the light is a software control. When you press home button, it is a hardware operation. Depending on the stat of the software (actually the corresponding process), the back and recent keys may flick. But they should NOT light up. As long as the keys do not light up, it is normal, to may knowledge.

  • Hi,I noticed last night on my note 4 that the capacitive buttons give a faint flicker when waking phone up with home or power button,this is with light duration turned off,its 1 very faint flick,can't see it in normal lighting has to be in pretty dark room, either way do u know if that is normal or common? Or is my phone messed up?

  • Once Power Saving Mode is switched on, will it work continuously or will automatically enable when battery % reaches certain point(say 20% mark as in Moto). Also, i see lag in UI once power saving mode is enabled.

    • On note 4, once power saving is on, you should see the icon in status bar and it will be always on. You have a few options in power saving settings.

    • If it is a hardware issue, you have to visit local Samsung service center to check and repair.

      Anyway, did you try to reboot the phone and check it again?

  • There is no option for touch key light duration on my galaxy note 4 seven inch. Under settings ...the display option and wall paper options are separate contrary to the tutorial. Neither offers any touch light option...so frustrating. Please advise. Thanks.

    • There is no 7" model of note 4. What's the model number of your phone (settings - about phone)? Are you in easy mode?

    • Not sure about the phone model. Most Samsung phones have it on by default.

      Did you have any related settings in settings - display? Did you try to turn off power saving? You may also check whether you are in easy mode.

  • hi. do you know if we can change the settings of the touch key? that is, I am used to pressing the left key to call out the menu/settings but now it becomes recently opened apps. it is kind of irritating as I keep forgetting.

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