# Systemd backlight service failed **URL:** \ **Category:** Newbie\ **Created:** [February 6, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783 "2021-02-06T00:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 9:02am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/21 "2021-02-06T09:02:43Z")
```auto [ricklinux@eos-kde ~]$ cat /etc/default/grub # GRUB boot loader configuration GRUB_DEFAULT=0 GRUB_TIMEOUT=5 GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR="EndeavourOS" GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet acpi_backlight=video loglevel=3 resume=118ec965-7e0d-4a7f-9aad-fea412e63953 nowatchdog" GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="" ``` ---
**Author:** ![morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/morten_nissov)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/22 "2021-02-17T12:09:49Z")
Sorry to necrobump, but I’ve noticed the amdgpu service doesn’t actually persist through rebooting, and attemping to enable the service results in ```auto [morten@endeavour ~]$ sudo systemctl enable systemd-backlight@backlight:amdgpu_bl0.service The unit files have no installation config (WantedBy=, RequiredBy=, Also=, Alias= settings in the [Install] section, and DefaultInstance= for template units). This means they are not meant to be enabled using systemctl. Possible reasons for having this kind of units are: • A unit may be statically enabled by being symlinked from another unit's .wants/ or .requires/ directory. • A unit's purpose may be to act as a helper for some other unit which has a requirement dependency on it. • A unit may be started when needed via activation (socket, path, timer, D-Bus, udev, scripted systemctl call, ...). • In case of template units, the unit is meant to be enabled with some instance name specified. ``` where both of which are still failing ```auto [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl --failed UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPT> ● systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service loaded failed failed Load/Sav> ● systemd-backlight@backlight:amdgpu_bl0.service loaded failed failed Load/Sav> ``` any changes suggested to the `acpi_backlight` setting just results in brightness 100% and my losing control of the brightness ---
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/23 "2021-02-17T13:28:05Z")
It works for me if you add acpi\_backlight=video in the default grub command line. Then run sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg. ---
**Author:** ![morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/morten_nissov)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/24 "2021-02-17T18:33:28Z")
For me this disables backlight control and sets the brightness to 100%, can you think of any potential differences in our systems that could cause this? Perhaps the same thing failing in calling the amdgpu service? ---
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/25 "2021-02-17T18:39:29Z")
I have an HP with AMD Ryzen 4700U. Did you look at dmesg? sudo dmesg Also have you tried some other parameters? Examples: _acpi\_backlight_=_video_ acpi\_backlight=vendor acpi\_backlight=native ---
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/26 "2021-02-17T18:47:39Z")
I see you tried enabling those two services ---
**Author:** ![morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/morten_nissov)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 8:56am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/27 "2021-02-18T08:56:29Z")
my `dmesg` is quite long, is there anything in particular i should be looking for? ---
**Author:** ![morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/morten_nissov)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:08am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/28 "2021-02-18T09:08:09Z")
I just tried the native parameter as well, it doesn’t block my brightness control like the other two but the amdgpu service still shows up as failing. ---
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/29 "2021-02-18T14:57:14Z")
I was just wanting you to see if it shows anything related to the backlight message. what is your hardware again. Is it a lenovo? On lenovo sometimes acpi\_backlight=vendor also worked. Do you have anything showing in systemctl --failed Edit: Show these. ```auto systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service ``` ```auto systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:radeon_bl0.service ``` Try acpi\_backlight=vendor in the grub command line and run sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg Edit: Don’t forget to reboot after. ---
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/30 "2021-02-18T15:46:01Z")
@morten_nissov This is the service that i have enabled and i use acpi\_backlight=video in the default grub command line. ```auto [ricklinux@eos-plasma ~]$ systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service ● systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service - Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:acpi_video0 Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-backlight@.service; static) Active: active (exited) since Thu 2021-02-18 09:51:40 EST; 52min ago Docs: man:systemd-backlight@.service(8) Main PID: 306 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Tasks: 0 (limit: 8756) Memory: 0B CGroup: /system.slice/system-systemd\x2dbacklight.slice/systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service ``` Feb 18 09:51:40 eos-plasma systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:acpi\_video0… Feb 18 09:51:40 eos-plasma systemd[1]: Finished Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:acpi\_video0. [ricklinux@eos-plasma ~]$ ---
**Author:** ![morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/morten_nissov)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/31 "2021-02-18T21:30:04Z")
I’m using a lenovo E495. I have tried `video`, `vendor`, and `native`, these do not work. Without any of them i get ```auto [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl --failed UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPT> ● systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service loaded failed failed Load/Sav> LOAD = Reflects whether the unit definition was properly loaded. ACTIVE = The high-level unit activation state, i.e. generalization of SUB. SUB = The low-level unit activation state, values depend on unit type. 1 loaded units listed. ``` In response to the status messages ```auto [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service ● systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service - Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:acpi_video0 Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-backlight@.service; static) Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2021-02-18 10:05:14 CET; 12h ago Docs: man:systemd-backlight@.service(8) Process: 821 ExecStart=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd-backlight load backlight:acpi_video0 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE) Main PID: 821 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE) Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:acpi_video0... Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd-backlight[821]: Failed to get backlight or LED device 'backlight:acpi_video0': No such device Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd[1]: systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd[1]: systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'. Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd[1]: Failed to start Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:acpi_video0. [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:radeon_bl0.service ● systemd-backlight@backlight:radeon_bl0.service - Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:radeon_bl0 Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-backlight@.service; static) Active: inactive (dead) Docs: man:systemd-backlight@.service(8) ``` For the record I have never seen anything with `radeon_bl0` ```auto [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:radeon_bl0.service ● systemd-backlight@backlight:radeon_bl0.service - Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:radeon_bl0 Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-backlight@.service; static) Active: inactive (dead) Docs: man:systemd-backlight@.service(8) [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:amdgpu_bl0.service ● systemd-backlight@backlight:amdgpu_bl0.service - Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:amdgpu_bl0 Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-backlight@.service; static) Active: active (exited) since Thu 2021-02-18 10:05:14 CET; 12h ago Docs: man:systemd-backlight@.service(8) Process: 822 ExecStart=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd-backlight load backlight:amdgpu_bl0 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Main PID: 822 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:amdgpu_bl0... Feb 18 10:05:14 endeavour systemd[1]: Finished Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:amdgpu_bl0. ``` ---
**Author:** ![morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@morten\_nissov](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/morten_nissov)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/32 "2021-02-18T21:31:27Z")
trying to enable this service ```auto [morten@endeavour ~]$ systemctl enable systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service The unit files have no installation config (WantedBy=, RequiredBy=, Also=, Alias= settings in the [Install] section, and DefaultInstance= for template units). This means they are not meant to be enabled using systemctl. Possible reasons for having this kind of units are: • A unit may be statically enabled by being symlinked from another unit's .wants/ or .requires/ directory. • A unit's purpose may be to act as a helper for some other unit which has a requirement dependency on it. • A unit may be started when needed via activation (socket, path, timer, D-Bus, udev, scripted systemctl call, ...). • In case of template units, the unit is meant to be enabled with some instance name specified. ``` ---
**Author:** ![ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/ricklinux/32/110798_2.png) [@ricklinux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/ricklinux)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/33 "2021-02-19T01:02:59Z")
Edit: The only one that is active on mine is ```auto systemctl status systemd-backlight@backlight:acpi_video0.service ``` and i have acpi\_backlight=video. My brightness loads at 20% and i can adjust it to 100%. ---
**Author:** ![jqtmviyu](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@jqtmviyu](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/jqtmviyu)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783/34 "2022-09-21T23:55:00Z")
I also encountered this problem, the device is Toshiba\_Portege\_Z30. 1. I try add add ‘acpi\_backlight’ params but it still exist. 2. `systemctl disable xxx` not useful. 3. I try `systemctl mask xxx `, then I reboot device, no failed log. 4. I find other solution , add `systemd.restore_state=0` in the default grub command line. Then run sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg. [Solution from this link:](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1253523#:~:text=command%20line%20parameter%3A-,systemd.restore_state%3D0,-also%20avoids%20the) [Previous page](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/systemd-backlight-service-failed/11783.md?page=1)