Regretting my Kiyo purchase due to Exposure bug. | Razer Insider

Regretting my Kiyo purchase due to Exposure bug.


I am really regretting my Kiyo puchase, considering that the exposure keeps screwing up every time I use the camera, and in order to get it to work properly, I have to toggle auto-exposure on and off again just to keep things from being extremely dark and unusable.

Please Razer, fix this. Apparently it's not even a new issue. Apparently it's an issue with Synapse or the official driver, as evidenced by this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/gux2sa/i_believe_i_may_have_found_a_workaround_for_the/

Another thread of someone else having the same issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/e5s1d0/acknowledge_razer_kiyo_auto_exposure_issue/

This topic has been closed for comments

26 Replies

Never been more disappointed with a device, nor with a support service.

Been on a long chain of conversation with support, and despite the very obvious issues that many, many people are having, with clear evidence all over social media, and despite the issue happening with literally every PC I've tried it on- no matter driver, software, or hardware configuration, support has had this "lol not us it's you/your software" attitude the whole time.

I'm losing hope this will ever get fixed. Depressing, because it took a very long time to save for one of these cameras.
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/ar6gcq/razer_kiyo_settings_not_working_making_streaming/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/bhp5xx/issues_with_razer_kiyo_settings_exposurefps/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/a2tls8/razer_kiyo_settings_not_saving/
https://www.reddit.com/r/obs/comments/9i4hhv/gainwebcam_settings_reset_every_time_i_close_obs/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/9jr773/my_razer_kiyo_camera_too_dark/

Not stopping with this link posting until Razer staff acknowledge these issues.
Userlevel 7
Have you contact support on twitter ?
Userlevel 7
StrikerTheHedgefox
I am really regretting my Kiyo puchase, considering that the exposure keeps screwing up every time I use the camera, and in order to get it to work properly, I have to toggle auto-exposure on and off again just to keep things from being extremely dark and unusable.


I was also having similar issue, but after doing some troubleshooting to both my RAZER and PC, it now focuses automatically.

Sometimes these things just happen, but let us try go over few things...

  • Have you updated the Synapse 3.0?
  • Have you updated the firmware of your Kiyo?

Kiyo V1 firmware click the link below
Razer Support
Kiyo Pro has no new update as of 20210319

  • Have you updated the I/O USB driver?
  • Have you updated the Windows with latest updates?
  • Is your PC suffering from Virus and any signs of high CPU, RAM module usage? (best to reset your PC)

  • Do you have good lighting in your area?

Next let us look at how you are connecting your Kiyo

  • Are you connecting to via its own USB port or to a USB multi hub
  • Try plugging to a different USB port

Best to connect to its own USB 3.0 or higher port to deliver fast AV data bandwidth. USB multi hub can cause data bottleneck in which it is having difficulty of handling data transfers of other devices that are connected to the multi hub.

You may check out my analyses and investigation on USB multi hubs
Razer Insider | Forum - Keyboards and switch usb | Page 2
Userlevel 7
StrikerTheHedgefox
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/a2tls8/razer_kiyo_settings_not_saving/

This has been raised with the RAZER support.

There are some Camera related applications that over write the settings set on Synapse 3.0.
For example, Windows Camera App; Windows Camera App have a high privilege of over writing the camera settings. This change will make changes on Synapse 3.0 also.

Which is something RAZER and camera app developing companies are negotiating on who gets that privilege. In Windows Camera App, Microsoft have a higher privilege. Let's face it, Kiyo is being used on Windows Platform and so...... you get the idea
Userlevel 7
StrikerTheHedgefox
https://www.reddit.com/r/obs/comments/9i4hhv/gainwebcam_settings_reset_every_time_i_close_obs/

Synapse development team are continuing to work on driver and user interface updates for all RAZER peripherals. That also include Kiyo.
Sye_The-Vie
I was also having similar issue, but after doing some troubleshooting to both my RAZER and PC, it now focuses automatically.

Sometimes these things just happen, but let us try go over few things...

  • Have you updated the Synapse 3.0?
  • Have you updated the firmware of your Kiyo?

Kiyo V1 firmware click the link below
Razer Support
Kiyo Pro has no new update as of 20210319

  • Have you updated the I/O USB driver?
  • Have you updated the Windows with latest updates?
  • Is your PC suffering from Virus and any signs of high CPU, RAM module usage? (best to reset your PC)

  • Do you have good lighting in your area?

Next let us look at how you are connecting your Kiyo

  • Are you connecting to via its own USB port or to a USB multi hub
  • Try plugging to a different USB port

Best to connect to its own USB 3.0 or higher port to deliver fast AV data bandwidth. USB multi hub can cause data bottleneck in which it is having difficulty of handling data transfers of other devices that are connected to the multi hub.

You may check out my analyses and investigation on USB multi hubs
Razer Insider | Forum - Keyboards and switch usb | Page 2

I have the latest firmware. Apparently for some, that actually contributed to breaking things (or at least, compounding the problem). I'd test with the original firmware, but that's not available anywhere. If Razer could make this available for testing, that'd be nice.

All of the drivers are up to date. CPU's hardly even 5% utilized at any given time. (Ryzen 5 3600, which is a pretty competent CPU.) I'm on the absolutely latest Windows 10 version, I keep it up to date any time something comes up. 20H2 as of this posting.

No viruses, this thing is kept very well secured.

Not using a USB hub. It's connected directly using a USB 3.0 port.
Sye_The-Vie
Synapse development team are continuing to work on driver and user interface updates for all RAZER peripherals. That also include Kiyo.

Fingers crossed.

Also, I keep getting "access denied" when I try to edit my posts. Thus why I have to keep making new posts, sorry.

Anyway, thanks for the response.

For now, I have found a temporary workaround that forces the camera's auto exposure ON, and then back OFF again using a batch file using this command line tool: https://github.com/SuslikV/cfg-cam/releases/tag/1.0
Userlevel 7
StrikerTheHedgefox
Also, I keep getting "access denied" when I try to edit my posts. Thus why I have to keep making new posts, sorry.

Yeah, so ATM there is no clear indication of what is causing the issue.

We VANGUARDS are working with the RAZER official/s by submitting those AD references.

We seem to narrowed it down to some sort of region based internet server issue. Because if someone else gets an AD, it does not mean other insiders are getting it as well.
Cause of the issue maybe relate to TCP/UDP packet loss, or your region based internet server/service that requires tweaking on both RAZER central switch and ISP switch.

You can check out the alternative fix by clicking the following thread
/this-forum-is-broken.68248/#post-728900

But it seems you have already figured out the alternative way
Is there a possibility that razer could upload the original 1.0 firmware for the Kiyo for debugging purposes?
Userlevel 7
Click the following link to get some support for RAZER Kiyo Pro
https://mysupport.razer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4104

Otherwise send a message to one of 2 RAZER Supports I know

@Razer.Caziel
@Razer.Speedcr0ss
This isn't for the pro.
Userlevel 7
https://mysupport.razer.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3558/
Darn, the older version there won't let you downgrade.
Userlevel 7
Do you have another working pc? try plugging Kiyo to another pc
It's an artificial limitation of the firmware installers that are there, they refuse to work if the current firmware version is higher than what it wants to install. Moving to another PC won't make a difference.
Userlevel 7
StrikerTheHedgefox
It's an artificial limitation of the firmware installers that are there, they refuse to work if the current firmware version is higher than what it wants to install. Moving to another PC won't make a difference.


Thanks for tag @Sye_The-Vie!

Hi @StrikerTheHedgefox. Thanks for initiating this thread. Were you able to contact our Support Team by submitting a case? Feel free to send me a PM too so I can help you raise a case to our Support and devs.
I've submitted a case, I have the same problem. We'll see how that goes.

  • The video is overexposed in auto to a horrible degree with Auto Exposure
  • The video is horribly dark with Auto-Exposure turned off
  • I can tweak the settings within Synapse to something that looks good, but the second the camera is turned off and on again, some of the settings are overwritten (like low-light compensation)

Something has gone terribly wrong with the driver and/or the hardware, and looking at this thread, this has been ongoing for a while without a fix, or any compensation for folks who own the device. Mine's a brand new purchase, so unless there's some magic fix shortly, if the case isn't resolved well, I'm returning it as defective, because it is not a functional product.
Userlevel 7
hitPaleSilverAPATITE622
I've submitted a case, I have the same problem. We'll see how that goes.

  • The video is overexposed in auto to a horrible degree with Auto Exposure
  • The video is horribly dark with Auto-Exposure turned off
  • I can tweak the settings within Synapse to something that looks good, but the second the camera is turned off and on again, some of the settings are overwritten (like low-light compensation)

Something has gone terribly wrong with the driver and/or the hardware, and looking at this thread, this has been ongoing for a while without a fix, or any compensation for folks who own the device. Mine's a brand new purchase, so unless there's some magic fix shortly, if the case isn't resolved well, I'm returning it as defective, because it is not a functional product.


Thanks for sharing. I've cascaded your feedback to the team. Our devs are investigating this behavior. Should I receive an update from them, I'll update this thread.
I'm having the exact same issue.
Using Kiyo, updated to the latest firmware, on Windows 10, plugged directly into a USB 3.0 port on the machine.
When connecting to a MS teams meeting the image will be very dark. Have to go into the advanced settings and turn on/off auto exposure, or change to manual and pick a setting for the image to be acceptable.

When it comes to the next call, often these settings have been forgotten and the image has gone dark again.

Very frustrating.. basically makes the camera unusable.

Please help.