The latest Windows 11 preview has hidden RGB lighting controls, which means you may not need third-party software to customize your peripherals.
Image credit: Albacore (Twitter)
Microsoft is apparently preparing to add built-in RGB lighting controls, to simplify the process for fans of customizable lighting. The feature allows users to change lighting effects for connected peripherals directly in the Windows 11 Settings app, and is currently hidden in the latest build released to Insiders in the Dev Channel.
Currently, if you want to create a fully integrated setup with RGB lighting, your best bet is to buy peripherals from the same brand, because most companies offer their own RGB lighting solutions, which are generally not compatible. In addition, it is always an additional download, which in itself can be problematic. Having these controls built into Windows itself could make things a lot easier, assuming peripheral manufacturers are willing to support the feature.
Starting with Windows 11 build 25295, you can start to see some of these capabilities in the Settings app, but they’re now hidden. These features include the ability to choose the brightness level, lighting effect, speed, and color. There’s even an option to match the existing Windows theme color, in case you want to keep everything with a specific theme.
Image credit: Albacore (Twitter)
According to Windows Central, other settings are also being considered. For example, you might be able to set a light of a certain color when you receive a notification, or have it appear a different color when you mute your microphone in a Teams meeting. Another possible option is audio visualization, which would synchronize the lighting effects with the audio coming from your computer.
The fact that this feature is in the works does not necessarily guarantee that it will become a reality in the near future, if at all. However, having an integrated RGB control experience will certainly be appreciated by many. It may end up in one of the “Moment” updates later this year, but it’s still too early to tell.
Currently, if you’re running the latest Insider build and want to see these options for yourself, you can use a tool like or a more user-friendly one to enable flags with ID numbers 41355275 and 35262205, then restart your computer to see the changes. We hope these controls will become more advanced in the next few builds.
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