Well, here’s an interesting issue.
I just got a new computer. A Minisforum AtomMan G7Pt. And I am running Manjaro on it. Runs like a top BTW.
However, I have a mechanical Keyboard. A Cougar CoreEX. Which has backlit keys.
When I do a shutdown, the keyboard stays lit up. Any idea on how to get this to shut-off automatically?
How is the keyboard connected?
Probably USB.
Make sure that the machine is fully powered down when you shut it down - including the USB ports.
Sometimes there is a setting in the firmware to keep those powered - for charging connected devices …
so I have heard
Yes, it is a USB connection. Not really sure how to make sure it’s fully powered down. I mean, I have one option in Manjaro, and that’s “Shut Down.”
It does not do this when I shut down Windows. I does do this in both Kubuntu and Manjaro though.
Me neither.
I don’t know the hardware - and even if I did I might not know.
so:
only Linux default settings leave the USB port powered
I cannot help - someone else might be able to.
This is true… it’s how I set mine, because I like to wake with mouse or keyboard - go hunting in BIOS settings for that…
My cheap Ajazz works fine on USB or 2.4G setting, but Bluetooth is a bit shaky for suspend… but if you just want it OFF, then the settings for that are in the BIOS.
That seems a bit off… Windows will turn off the keyboard, but Linux doesn’t?
I thought Windows was the OS where Shutdown meant something else (hibernate.)
If you are referring to Windows Fast Startup, when activated, Windows enters a special hibernation mode. This should be disabled if multi-booting with Linux.
This would have little to do with deactivating your keyboard backlight.
I found your Keyboard Manual;
It seems you can manually switch off the backlight with a key combination;
Difficult to see, but it appears to be a “Sun” symbol for brightness.
For any other automatic interraction, I’d imagine proprietary software might be needed, which Windows has and Linux might not. These devices are typically made for the Windows market, after all said and done.
Perhaps the manufacturer site has a listing.
Regards.
I’m confident you can find something in BIOS. I set mine so that I could wake up my computer using the keyboard - initially a USB, meaning some power must be retained.
This still worked with 2.4G Wireless - and with my Ajazz I can confirm that it works in all three modes (add Bluetooth to the mix).
If I turn on the lights, they go out as Manjaro suspends - and I can wake it up using the mouse/keyboard as I did before.
So no, it’s just your setup - because my LED’s don’t work even though the USB ports are still live (for charging purposes).
Seems to be somewhat common-ish:
https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/nvbvln/keyboard_light_stays_on_after_shutdown_but_not/
This was four years ago.
I have a lit keyboard also, but it is turned off okay:
https://www.kjell.com/se/kunskap/kjell-tv/kjell-tv---mekaniskt-tangentbord-med-bla-brytare sorry, Swedish only, use translate.
Not the best quality (I’m on my third one) but I like the design and the feel of the keys.
One reason I opted for a hot-swap with PBT keycaps… if something does happen to the switches, or I fancy a change in the next 20 years, I can just swap the switches.
Well, I went through my BIOS and couldn’t find anything that helped. I am SURE this is an OS related issue.
The OS is no responsible for powering down the system - the OS sends a signal to the hardware requesting a power down.
systemctl poweroff
If your keyboard back light is on when you shut down the system - then the system is not powering down the USB ports.
Whether that is per design - I have no way of knowing - what I do know is that some firmware - especially on laptops - may provide an option to keep one USB powered to allow for charging e.g. a phone even if the system is powered down.
Have you checked if the system provides such option? If it does then switching your keyboard to a second USB port may solve the issue.
Look… I’m really not trying to be difficult here, but it seems as if we are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Windows DOES shut down the keyboard, Linux (Manjaro) DOES NOT. How is this not an OS related issue?
I have checked thoroughly through the BIOS, and cannot find anything that even remotely has anything to do with USB Power, and/or Wake/Sleep via Keyboard.
I have to say… when it comes to Linux… there’s always something… some little niggle that just doesn’t want to cooperate. Something stupid, like your keyboard backlight not turning off when you shut down your system. And it’s apparently an un-fixable problem as well. People point you in completely different directions, and blame the issue on something else… but ultimately, it’s just an issue with the OS.
I have been trying to use Linux for years now. It’s on my PC… but I really can’t say it’s my primary OS. I always have to use Windows for something that you can’t do on Linux. (like shut off your keyboard backlight during a shut-down.)
Quite frankly it’s one of two things. Either no one really knows how to do this, or there is no solution. And it’s really not a big deal… maybe I can just unplug my keyboard from the PC every time I shut it down… yeah! That’s a great idea. Or maybe I should buy a new keyboard, one with no backlight! That certainly would solve the problem.
Or, I could just use an operating system that sucks all of my personal data and sends it to it’s maker. I mean, that’s the tradeoff? Here’s an OS that respects the users privacy… but it will have little stupid issues. I guess I will just wait for a Kernel update to come my way that does turn off keyboards… That seems to be the answer for every Linux hardware issue…
I’m tired of this game. Let’s get real. It’s a keyboard. It’s supposed to turn off when the computer does. End of story. And it doesn’t. Welcome to the world of Linux.
I did a Google search for “usb always on bios” and found lots of answers. For example:
How to turn off USB ports when PC is shut down? : r/techsupport
Go into your bios. Go to power management. Look for the setting labeled either EUP or ERP. Enable it. Save setting and reboot your pc. It should disable usb ports when the pc is off. In some cases however this has been known to cause some people issues of being able to wake up their pc with their mouse or keyboard.
This page for an Asus system shows those BIOS settings being in the [APM Configuration] option on the [Advanced] settings page, rather than the [Power Management] settings:
https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1042220/
I guess every BIOS is different…
So, you’re just going to have to work out:
You seem to be multi-booting with Windows;
is Kubuntu also in the mix?
This has been noted before, but you failed to respond to the post, or even acknowledge it.
Is Fast Startup disabled in Windows?
powercfg /h off
This is a legitimate question, so please treat it as such and do not rudely shoot it down as you have previously with a member attempting to clarify your understanding.
Someone with the same BIOS may see something you missed. Please provide system information as described (below).
While information from *-fetch type apps might be fine for someone wishing to buy your computer, but for Support purposes more in depth information is usually needed;
It’s best to ask your system directly. 
Output of the inxi command with appropriate parameters will achieve this (naturally, formatted according to forum guidelines) and will generally be more useful for those wishing to help:
inxi --filter --verbosity=8
or the short form:
inxi -zv8
It’s not quite that simple though - I don’t understand the mechanism, but my son had a cheap LED wired keyboard and I now have one with USB, 2.4G and Bluetooth… and the LED’s all stop when the system shuts down, but my USB’s are all live and available for charging phones and Wake-on-USB function via USB or 2.4G.
Two solutions I can think of:
Otherwise, this might just be a weird hardware-specific issue related to the keyboard… as I say, I never saw this with a very cheap wired keyboard or the tri-mode wireless keyboard… the only LED’s that work when the computer shuts down are built in Fn indicators which show/select the connection etc.
It might be possible to use OpenRGB to turn off the lights on shutdown with a script…
sudo openrgb --noautoconnect --device 0 --color 000000 could do it - need to experiment.
Still the OS is not responsible for cutting power to the USB ports - the hardware is.
As the USB ports stay powered it is a sign that the system is not fully powered off.
What causes that - I cannot possibly guess - one idea is that the system is designed to start when a certain key is pressed - I use DasKeyboard 6 - it provides such functionality.
The Linux kernel provides it all - so you are correct in that regard.
Most hardware are designed for use with Windows, and getting Linux kernel to send the right signal for the hardware to fully shutdown may require some extra effort.
You seem to be multi-booting with Windows;
is Kubuntu also in the mix ?
No, but I did replace Manjaro with Kubuntu at one point.
Is Fast Startup disabled in Windows?
Yes it is. I do not like “hibernate.”
…and do not rudely shoot it down as you have previously with a member attempting to clarify your understanding.
I understand that is a legitimate question… but you have to understand that this problem seems like it CANNOT POSSIBLY be this difficult to diagnose. It’s always Zebras instead of Horses. Every time I ask for help in a Linux forum, I am asked question that ultimately have no relevance to the solution.
Still the OS is not responsible for cutting power to the USB ports - the hardware is.
So, Windows has better control of the hardware than Linux? Windows CAN shut off USB ports, and Linux cannot? I mean, I scoured the BIOS, and even turned a few things on and off to see if it helped.
I’m sure many of you understand, every time someone has to ask for help with Linux (general, Manjaro, Kubuntu, etc.), it feels like they are being asked to disassemble an engine to figure out why their lights are blinking… when all that’s actually happened, is they left the hazard lights on accidentally.
I think it’s worth a try. Give it a try. You won’t lose anything by trying.
The following settings are available on the motherboards (UEFI BIOS) under my control.
If you have Asus/Asrock/MSI AMI bios, I think the wording is almost the same.
This setting can be set to on or off. It is often set to on by default. If you haven’t tried it yet, or if this applies to you, I think you should give it a try.
Of course, as you probably know, there are only a limited number of ports that can supply USB power, so the effort of switching to a different USB port instead of the one you are currently using may be a necessary measure for you (even if it doesn’t make your logical sense. It takes about 30 seconds. There is no harm).
Also, the ports that can be used for power supply are generally high-function ports, so it may be a waste to use them for keyboards.
memo: Minisforum AtomMan G7Pt. Keyboard. A Cougar CoreEX
Is this it? There’s a USB port on the back too. AtomMan Gaming Mini PC G7 Pt AMD Ry-zen 9 7945HX RX 7600M??
It’s not in the BIOS. I have been through every menu it has multiple times… There is nothing that allows any form of control over USB. This system has a very limited BIOS. It’s all point and click.
It’s a USB Keyboard. I have USB Ports… there’s not really anything else I can do. Maybe get a new keyboard that doesn’t light up.
Look… I appreciate everyone’s attempt to help. I really do. I just always seem to find myself in a situation with Linux that can’t be resolved… and it’s always something really minor. i.e. Turn the Wi-Fi off, then on again in order to connect. (Kubuntu 25.04 problem)
My workarounds at this point are to either unplug the keyboard when I shut it off, or restart, boot into windows, then do a shutdown. And these workarounds make me feel REALLY frustrated at such a simple problem.