BlackWidow Essential - How to PERMANENTLY disable "Breathing" backlighting effect? | Razer Insider

BlackWidow Essential - How to PERMANENTLY disable "Breathing" backlighting effect?

U
Hi, I want to permanently disable the "Breathing" lighting effect on my Razer BlackWidow Essential keyboard. When I plugged it into my computer for the first time it was in the "breathing" mode where the key backlighting slowly pulses on and off. I downloaded and installed the Razer software and found I could select the "Static" lighting option, but this only works while I am logged in to a user account on Windows. If I lock my computer, or my computer boots to the login screen, the keyboard returns to "breathing" mode again, which I DO NOT WANT. How do I make my keyboard permanently enter STATIC mode? I do not want it EVER to do this breathing effect with the backlights, and I don't want to leave the Razer software installed on my PC.

This is important to me for two reasons:

  • The breathing effect is very distracting, even when I'm not near my computer.
  • I do not want to have the Razer software installed, as I don't use any of its features. I own many other Razer mice and keyboards, and none of them require me to have Synapse installed in order to behave properly.

Thanks for any help!
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6 Replies

J
im having the same problem and its starting to piss me tf off.
U
Jbrar
im having the same problem and its starting to piss me tf off.

I've got bad news, bruv. After a week and a half of back-and-forth with Razer's "wonderful" and "competent" support, they responded that it's working as designed and can't/won't be fixed.

The main problem is the BlackWidow Essential's lack of rewriteable hardware profilles. The RGB keyboards, for example, let you write your hardware settings to the keyboard so it behaves like you want when the software's not running. No-can-do with the Essential. (This is also why it reverts to Breathing when Windows is locked and when Windows first boots up. The Razer Synapse settings are only in effect when you're logged in to a user profile with your desired settings; the board reverts to hardware defaults at all other times.)

This pissed me off so much I have sworn off Razer completely. I replaced the BlackWidow Essential with a Corsair K70 RGB. Took me 2 days to figure out how to create an all-green hardware profile in their completely undocumented iCUE software, but it works.

I have also tried the SteelSeries Apex 7. The software's a lot easier to use than the Corsair's and also has hardware profiles, so you can uninstall the config software after you've set the keyboard up the way you like.
M
it is really pissing me off as well. I have tossed Blackwidow essential into the trach and gone to Logitech. Hard to believe that Razer would break the lighting and than not own up to it and fix the GD problem! They've lost me as a customer.
U
moexx017
it is really pissing me off as well. I have tossed Blackwidow essential into the trach and gone to Logitech. Hard to believe that Razer would break the lighting and than not own up to it and fix the GD problem! They've lost me as a customer.

I honestly think it was fully intentional. They want to force you into using Synapse.

But like you, I won't use a keyboard that doesn't work properly without a crummy background app. Huge disappointment; I had been a loyal Razer customer/fan for years.
Q
Well I have zero chroma products but still had to reinstall (synapse 3 I guess) it all just says synapse. And then installed all their stupid chroma apps just to get my black widow essential to make it stop reverting back to breathing mode. I’m terrified to close it or restart my computer ever again.

so reinstall and get all the chroma apps even if u don’t have any of the products or breathing willl be stuck on.
F
Will never but another product from them again. Still no fix to the breathing issue. They have lost a long time customer
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