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Dynamic Lighting devices

  • Article

Note

For a user experience walkthrough and FAQ for Dynamic Lighting, see: Support | Control your Dynamic Lighting devices in Windows

Introduction

Dynamic Lighting aims to create cohesion across a fragmented ecosystem. This feature will provide rich end user experiences that will constantly delight users on Windows.

Dynamic Lighting provides Windows users and developers with native control of lighting devices implementing the open HID LampArray standard. By adopting an open standard, and by working with our OEM and ODM partners, Microsoft seeks to improve the RGB device and software ecosystem for users by increasing interoperability of devices and apps. Device manufacturers can use standardized firmware for the first time, enabling new native experiences across the Windows OS and apps without the high costs of proprietary firmware and software development.

Examples of experiences include synchronizing devices from different brands together in Windows Settings, applying effects intelligently across available devices, and leveraging app integrations to drive device lighting. For the first time, device manufacturers are empowered to focus purely on innovation and differentiation because their devices will be able to take advantage of a myriad of OS and app experiences.

This topic details which devices work with dynamic lighting, and provides documentation and samples so device manufacturers can build devices that are compatible with dynamic lighting.

Devices

HID LampArray devices are compatible with dynamic lighting. Devices are compatible via a native FW implementation, or through a VHF driver. The native FW implementation is also compatible with Xbox for keyboard and mouse devices.

Firmware developers can leverage the following samples to learn how to build devices that use LampArray:

Documentation on VHF drivers can be found at:

HID LampArray devices give their LED information to Windows, including position. This allows Windows to intelligently utilize device layouts for optimal effects. Additionally, there are several types of LampArray devices addressable by Windows:

  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Game controller
  • Peripheral
  • Scene
  • Notification
  • Chassis
  • Wearable
  • Furniture
  • Art
  • Headset
  • Vendor-defined

Partners

Several partners have already joined the dynamic lighting effort:

  • Acer is partnering with Microsoft on Dynamic Lighting. More details to come.
  • ASUS ROG plans to introduce Dynamic Lighting compatible models later this year.
  • Customers are seeking easier ways to manage RGB lighting within their gaming devices, which is why HP is planning to support Microsoft’s Dynamic Lighting initiative across various OMEN, HP Victus, and HyperX products as an end-to-end launch collaborator.
  • Logitech is partnering with Microsoft on Dynamic Lighting. All Logitech G LIGHTSYNC RGB devices are supported.
  • Razer will have more Dynamic Lighting compatible products on an ongoing basis.
  • SteelSeries is partnering with Microsoft on Dynamic Lighting. More details to come.
  • Twinkly plans to release Dynamic Lighting-compatible devices.
  • And several others!

Troubleshooting devices

  • My updates are always a frame behind
    • This is likely a desynchronization issue between the LampArray device (ex. At 30Hz) and the app (ex. Also at 30Hz).
  • The color I set is (slightly) different on different devices
    • Colors can vary slightly on devices from different manufacturers. This is somewhat expected.
    • This also applies to Brightness.