Microsoft is testing a native RGB lighting controller in Windows 11
What to look forward to: Whatever your opinion of RGB-coated accessories, their popularity cannot be denied. Choosing the many colors and patterns they display usually means installing third-party software like iCue for Corsair products or Razer Synapse, but it looks like Microsoft is working on its own universal controller in Windows 11 for all RGB accessories.
Twitter user Albacore (via edge) noticed new device lighting options in the latest Windows 11 Dev Channel preview build (25295) located under Personalization.
Build 25295 introduces new device lighting settings. Is this the beginning of the end for low end RGB apps for gamers? 🎮 The spec for this is from 2018, and references to this feature have been around for years. It’s not canceled after all 🥳https://t.co/oG4JbKsoeB pic.twitter.com/bMtxCH8REo
— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) February 10, 2023
The screenshots show that this feature includes a list of all supported RGB hardware such as headsets, mice and, in this case, Elgato’s Stream Deck. The backlight of each device can be customized for brightness, lighting effects, effect speed and color. There’s also a toggle to match accessory colors with the Windows accent color.
The list is peripherals only, so we don’t know if Windows 11 will allow owners to customize RGB lighting on hardware like motherboards, graphics cards, and RAM, but the feature could be added before the final release.
Third party RGB hub software can be difficult to use, intrusive and resource consuming. There are some great universal apps like SignalRGB which can control lighting across devices from different manufacturers and of course offers a lot of bells and whistles, but the universal settings in Windows 11 will probably be a welcome addition for those who want a quick and easy way to customize their devices and don’t require the extensive options found in special applications.
Microsoft hasn’t made any public announcements regarding the RGB lighting control panel in Windows 11 yet. Features that appear in preview builds don’t always make it to consumer versions of the OS, so there’s no guarantee that this will happen. So far, however, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Microsoft is set to release an updated File Explorer that includes enhanced integration with OneDrive, email, and Microsoft 365 before the end of the year. This could be the centerpiece of the Moment Update or the Windows 11 23H2 Update, which could also include an RGB lighting feature.
