Friday, May 26th 2023

Microsoft to Add Native RGB Lighting Control to Windows 11

According to a blog post by Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer, Windows and Devices, Microsoft is adding native support for RGB lighting control to Windows 11. One of the big frustrations today is that almost each and every manufacturer of RGB equipped devices, or motherboards for that matter, have their own system when it comes to controlling the RGB lighting. This might result in multiple apps having to be installed and they often don't communicate with each other. There's obviously some interoperability, but it's still quite poor, so now it appears that Microsoft has taken things into their own hands.

However, the blog post which covers a lot of other topics as well, doesn't provide any details of a user interface. Microsoft calls its solution to the problem for Dynamic Lighting and it's supposed to be part of the Windows settings. The blog post mentions that Dynamic Lighting will be released in this month's insider build as a preview, so hopefully we should have a better idea of what Microsoft supports and how much user control there will actually be. That said, it seems like Microsoft is expecting the various hardware manufacturers to add support for Dynamic Lighting as well, so it's highly likely that we'll still see plenty of unsupported hardware out there.
Lighted accessories have been on the rise and can add energy and emotion to your PC experience. Today, many of these accessories rely on third-party apps and integrations that are highly fragmented. With Dynamic Lighting, Windows users will be able to effortlessly set up and customize their devices with RGB lights directly from Windows Settings. It has never been easier to help all your RGB accessories seamlessly work together for Windows apps. This month, we are making the Dynamic Lighting preview available to Windows Insiders so that developers and hardware partners alike can experiment with new integrations for RGB accessories and components.
Source: Microsoft Windows Blog
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17 Comments on Microsoft to Add Native RGB Lighting Control to Windows 11

#1
maxfly
Here's to hoping it works.
Posted on Reply
#2
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
maxflyHere's to hoping it works.
Itll be a pig
Posted on Reply
#3
Toothless
Tech, Games, and TPU!
It doesn't work currently. Tried the W11 Insider thing and it detects absolutely nothing for me. Hopefully down the road it does wonders.
Posted on Reply
#4
Unregistered
It will eventually until they break it again somehow with a system update I'm sure.
#5
Chaitanya
Will wait for reviews on how well it works and if it kills the nonsensical bloatware for good.
Posted on Reply
#6
TheLostSwede
News Editor
ToothlessIt doesn't work currently. Tried the W11 Insider thing and it detects absolutely nothing for me. Hopefully down the road it does wonders.
Care to share a screenshot of the settings window that I can update the article with?
Posted on Reply
#7
Toothless
Tech, Games, and TPU!
TheLostSwedeCare to share a screenshot of the settings window that I can update the article with?
Posted on Reply
#8
TheLostSwede
News Editor
Toothless
That's it? There has to be more settings no?
Posted on Reply
#10
ilyon
Can't wait for a magic tool from Microsoft based on Xbox App and Xbox Game Bar plugged to cancer apps like iCue and Armoury Crate to add more RAM hungry app on my PC just to check that nothing works due to lack of Gigabyte support on Razer I don't know what app.
Excitement at its peak...
Posted on Reply
#11
Camm
Quietly would prefer they add fan control over RGB.
Posted on Reply
#12
Bwaze
Yeah, it's a sign of times when they add RGB support begore fan control!

Although I wish them good luck. Many motherboard makers have great problems supporting their own products, and RGB controller software is usually the crappiest piece of software they offer - so any competition here is welcome.

But I don't look forward to have yet another bloatware and service running in Windows by default and hogging resources, and probably have no option of uninstalling...
Posted on Reply
#13
Chaitanya
CammQuietly would prefer they add fan control over RGB.
This particular software seems to be really decent for fan control.
Posted on Reply
#14
Jokii
I just don't understand the appeal of RGB lights.

Personally, I prefer not to see or hear my PC case at all. Crazy, right?
Posted on Reply
#15
Bwaze
JokiiI just don't understand the appeal of RGB lights.

Personally, I prefer not to see or hear my PC case at all. Crazy, right?
But you paid so much for it, it should be the centerpiece of your room? Especially if it's competing with RGB mouse, RGB headphones, RGB mouse mat, RGB lighted gaming chair... :p
Posted on Reply
#16
Daven
ToothlessSomehow Tom's got a better picture of it. Currently the Windows settings don't give me anything even though my keyboard and mouse are RGB.

www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-11-rgb-controls-native
I’m not sure keyboards and mice are the targets here. I think the target is RGB headers built into motherboards and proprietary controllers.
Posted on Reply
#17
Chomiq
ChaitanyaThis particular software seems to be really decent for fan control.
Yeah I've been using it for some time now, sure beats the messy Gigabyte software and the BIOS controls.
Posted on Reply
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