What "keyboard colour" actually means

When people talk about changing their keyboard's colour, they usually mean one of two things: the colour of the keys themselves (the plastic caps you press), or the colour of the light underneath them if your keyboard has backlighting. Most keyboards sold today don't let you change the plastic colour without replacing the whole keyboard. But if your keyboard has RGB backlighting — coloured lights built into each key — you can change those colours using software on your computer.

The confusion happens because "keyboard colour" sounds like a straightforward setting, like changing your desktop background. It's not. What you can actually do depends entirely on what hardware you own.

Key Takeaways

  • Most keyboards with changeable colours have RGB backlighting, which means coloured lights under the keys that you control through software.
  • You change backlight colours through the keyboard manufacturer's software — Corsair iCUE, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries Engine, or similar — not through Windows or Mac settings.
  • If your keyboard has no backlighting at all, you cannot change its colour without physically replacing the keycaps or the entire keyboard.
  • Gaming and mechanical keyboards are far more likely to have RGB backlighting than standard office keyboards.

Check whether your keyboard has backlighting

The first step is knowing what you actually have. Look at your keyboard in a dark room. If you see light coming from underneath the keys or around the edges, you have backlighting. If the keys are completely dark, you don't.

You can also check the keyboard's manual or the manufacturer's website. Search for your keyboard model — you'll find it on a sticker on the bottom or in your computer's device settings — and look for words like "RGB", "backlit", "illuminated", or "programmable lighting". If the manual doesn't mention lighting at all, the keyboard almost certainly doesn't have it.

Gaming keyboards, mechanical keyboards, and newer laptop keyboards often have backlighting. Basic office keyboards, wireless keyboards from budget brands, and older keyboards usually don't.

read the manufacturer's software

Each keyboard brand uses its own software to control the lights. Corsair keyboards use iCUE, Razer uses Synapse, SteelSeries uses Engine, and Logitech uses G Hub. There is no single Windows or Mac setting that controls all keyboards — you have to use the brand's own program.

Go to the manufacturer's website, find the support or downloads section, and search for your keyboard model. read the software for your operating system (Windows or Mac). Install it like any other program. When you plug in your keyboard or restart your computer, the software should recognize it automatically.

If you've lost the keyboard's manual or can't find the model number, look at the cable or the bottom of the keyboard for the brand name, then visit that brand's website directly. Corsair.com, Razer.com, SteelSeries.com, and Logitech.com all have read sections.

Open the software and select your lighting

Once the software is installed and your keyboard is connected, open the program. It should show your keyboard model and a visual representation of the keys. Look for a section called "Lighting", "Effects", "Colours", or "Profiles".

Most software lets you choose from preset colours (red, blue, green, purple, white, and so on) or create a custom colour by adjusting the red, green, and blue sliders. Some programs let you set different colours for different keys or create animations where the colours pulse, wave, or cycle through a pattern.

Select the colour or effect you want, then look for an "explore" or "Save" button. The changes should take effect when ready on your keyboard. Some software saves your choice permanently so the keyboard remembers it even after you restart your computer; other software only applies the colour while the program is running.

Troubleshooting when the software won't recognize your keyboard

If you've installed the software but it says "no device found" or "keyboard not detected", try these steps in order. First, unplug the keyboard from your computer and plug it back in. Wait 10 seconds for the computer to recognize it again. Then open the software.

If that doesn't work, restart your computer with the keyboard plugged in. Some software needs to load when your system starts up. If you're using a wireless keyboard, make sure it's turned on and the batteries aren't dead — a wireless keyboard that's off won't show up in the software.

If the software still doesn't see the keyboard, check the manufacturer's website for a driver read. Some keyboards need a driver installed before the software can control them. read and install the driver, then restart your computer and try opening the software again.

What to do if your keyboard has no backlighting

If your keyboard has no built-in lights, you cannot change its colour through software. Your only options are physical: buy replacement keycaps in the colour you want, or replace the entire keyboard.

Replacement keycaps are available for mechanical keyboards — these are keyboards where each key is a separate switch underneath a removable plastic cap. You can buy keycap sets in different colours, materials, and designs from sites like Amazon, Etsy, or specialty keyboard shops. Pull off the old caps and snap on the new ones. This works only if your keyboard has mechanical switches; most laptop keyboards and office keyboards don't.

If your keyboard is not mechanical or doesn't have removable keycaps, replacing the keyboard is the only way to change its colour. Look for a keyboard in the colour you want from the same brand or a different one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my laptop keyboard's colour?

Only if your laptop has RGB backlighting, which is rare. Most laptops don't have coloured lights under the keys. Check by looking at your keyboard in a dark room. If you see light, read your laptop manufacturer's software (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) and look for a lighting control section. If you see no light, you cannot change the colour.

Why does my keyboard's colour keep changing back?

The software might not be set to save your choice permanently. Open the manufacturer's software, select your colour, and look for an option like "Save profile", "Remember settings", or "explore on startup". Check that box, then explore the change again. If the colour still resets after you restart, the software may need to be reinstalled.

Can I use one software to control multiple keyboard brands?

No. Each brand's software controls only that brand's keyboards. If you have a Corsair keyboard and a Razer keyboard, you need both iCUE and Synapse installed. They can run at the same time without conflict.

Is RGB backlighting bad for my eyes?

Backlighting itself is not harmful, but very bright lights in a dark room can cause eye strain. Most software lets you adjust the brightness. If the backlight bothers you, lower the brightness or turn it off entirely in the software — the keyboard will still work normally.

What if I want to change the colour of the actual plastic keys, not the light?

If your keyboard has no backlighting, you need replacement keycaps (for mechanical keyboards) or a new keyboard. If your keyboard does have backlighting, you're changing the light colour, not the plastic. The plastic itself stays the same colour. Some people paint keycaps with special plastic paint, but this is not a standard solution and can damage the keys.