OpenRGB
Also called open rgb
Vendor-neutral RGB host. Can fight Synapse and iCUE if both own the same device. The process is OpenRGB.exe. It is not Synapse.
What you need to know
OpenRGB is vendor-neutral RGB. It is not Synapse.
OpenRGB.exe can replace vendor lighting apps on supported devices. Synapse and iCUE will fight it if they keep the same USB device.
- What is it?
- Vendor-neutral RGB
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is OpenRGB?
OpenRGB.exe talks to many RGB devices without the vendor suite. Synapse is still Razer's host. If both poll the same device, lighting or input can fail.
If you have never used it
If you want one RGB app for mixed brands, OpenRGB is the vendor-neutral host. Download it from openrgb.org. Quit Synapse, iCUE, or G HUB on devices you want OpenRGB to own. It is not Razer Synapse.
What is it used for?
Supported devices on the OpenRGB wiki. Synapse Chroma studio is Razer-only.
OpenRGB effects engine. Not iCUE plugins.
Quit Synapse or iCUE first for that device. Sharing is the usual break.
Who is it for?
- Mixed-brand RGB desks
- People leaving Synapse or iCUE
- Users whose lighting died after installing both
Current status
OpenRGB (2020) is a current vendor-neutral rgb from OpenRGB. The vendor still points Windows users at https://openrgb.org/.
How old is it?
OpenRGB grew in 2020 as a reverse-engineered lighting host. Synapse, iCUE, and G HUB remain the vendor apps. Running two hosts on one USB device is the classic fight.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| OpenRGB.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
OpenRGB can start with Windows and apply a profile. Turn off vendor RGB startups first.
File locations
| Typical install | User-chosen folder (often portable) or Program Files\OpenRGB\ |
|---|
Common problems
Device disappears when two hosts run
Quit Synapse, iCUE, G HUB, or SignalRGB for that device. Then open OpenRGB.
Unsupported device
The wiki lists support. Vendor software may still be required. OpenRGB is not Synapse with a skin.
Getting unstuck
Install from openrgb.org and read the wiki device list
GitLab wiki is official. Skip "OpenRGB unlock all" packs.
Set vendor apps to not start, then reboot, then start OpenRGB
USB takeover is cleaner after the vendor helper is gone.
If a keyboard stops typing, unplug and quit OpenRGB
Wrong protocol on a shared device. That is a host fight, not a dead keyboard.
Alternatives
Synapse, iCUE, G HUB, and SteelSeries GG are vendor hosts. SignalRGB is another multi-vendor app.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | openrgb.org/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | gitlab.com/CalcProgrammer1/OpenRGB/-/wikis/home Vendor support |
| Official site | openrgb.org/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
USB RGB devices the wiki lists. Motherboard RGB headers need the chipset OpenRGB supports. Not a GPU driver.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- OpenRGB official site · Vendor product page
- OpenRGB help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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