This is the question we get asked most often after someone unboxes a new mouse or keyboard. The lighting is cycling through colours and they want it to sit on one, or they want it brighter, or they want it off entirely.

The short answer is that on most Xtrike Me devices you do not need any software. It is done with the buttons already on the device.

Changing RGB on a Xtrike Me gaming mouse

Almost every wired Xtrike Me mouse uses the same method.

Step 1. Find the DPI button. It sits just behind the scroll wheel on the top of the mouse.

Step 2. Press and hold it for roughly three to five seconds. The lighting will flicker to confirm the mouse has entered lighting mode.

Step 3. Each further press cycles to the next lighting effect. Depending on the model you will have anywhere from seven to thirteen options, including breathing, wave, steady colour and off.

Step 4. Stop pressing when you reach the one you want. It saves automatically and stays after you unplug.

If nothing happens, you are most likely pressing too briefly. A short press changes DPI, a long press changes lighting. That single distinction solves most of the confusion.

If your mouse has a bottom switch

Some models, including several in the GM series, have a small switch or button underneath. On these the lighting cycle is controlled from there instead. Flip the mouse over and look near the sensor.

Changing RGB on a Xtrike Me keyboard

Keyboards use function key combinations rather than a dedicated button.

• Lighting mode: hold Fn and press Insert, or on some layouts the Scroll Lock key. Each press moves to the next effect.
• Brightness: hold Fn and use the up and down arrow keys.
• Speed of the effect: hold Fn and use the left and right arrow keys.
• Turn lighting off: cycle through the modes until you reach the off state, or hold Fn and press the down arrow until brightness reaches zero.

On 61 key and 68 key compact boards, the keys printed on the front face of the keycaps show you which combinations do what. Look at the side of the keycap, not the top.

Why the colours change on their own

If your lighting keeps cycling through the rainbow, you are on a preset animation mode rather than a static colour. Keep cycling through the modes and you will reach the single colour options. On most models the static colours come after the animated effects, so do not stop halfway.

When you do need software

You only need software for three things:

• Remapping buttons to different functions
• Saving DPI profiles onto the device
• Setting per key custom colours on keyboards that support it

Basic lighting control never requires it. If you do need the software for your specific model, we cover where to get it safely in our guide on Xtrike Me mouse software.

Troubleshooting

Lighting does not turn on at all. Try a different USB port, and plug directly into the computer rather than through a hub. Unpowered hubs often cannot supply enough current for RGB.

Lighting works but the mouse does not. That is a cable or port issue rather than a lighting issue. Test on another machine before assuming the mouse has failed.

Settings reset when the computer restarts. Most models save to onboard memory. If yours is resetting, the setting was likely not confirmed. Cycle to the mode you want and leave the device plugged in for a minute before shutting down.

Some keys light up and others do not. On rainbow and wave modes this is normal, since the effect moves across the board. Switch to a static mode to check whether every key is actually lit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I set a single fixed colour?
Yes. Keep cycling through the lighting modes until you pass the animated effects and reach the static colours.

Can I turn the RGB off completely?
Yes, on both mice and keyboards. Cycle to the off mode, or drop brightness to zero on keyboards.

Does RGB drain performance?
No. Lighting is handled separately from the sensor and has no effect on tracking or polling.

Does it work on a laptop?
Yes. Lighting control happens on the device itself, so the operating system is irrelevant.

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