Can't click taskbar when Razer Synapse is installed. | Razer Insider
Question

Can't click taskbar when Razer Synapse is installed.

K
Userlevel 2

When I install Razer Synapse on any PC, whether Windows 10 or Windows 11, I am no longer able to click on items on the Windows task bar. I can’t click the start button or change focus of opened applications, clicks don’t seem to register when clicking anything on the task bar. If I press the windows button, the start menu does open, and if I press ALT-TAB, I can still change focus of apps, so windows is not frozen; it’s just clicking anything on the task bar that is the issue.

 

If I uninstall Synapse, the problem goes away. I can reproduce this at will on multiple PCs. I can’t imagine I”m the only person with this problem, yet I don’t see much about it here, but I do see other complaints when searching the web with no solution.  This is rendering my $300 keyboard useless since I can’t install the software required to actually use it.  And no, I did not create any macros or change any settings to cause this.

22 Replies

L

Having the same issue. Just installed an update last night and I am unable to click any window beyond the window I was initially on. For some reason, opening task manager fixes this, but my reassigned keys and macros are broken. Strangely enough, when I exit all razer apps, my reassigned keys work- though macros still do not, obviously.

 

I tried to reinstall razer synapse in hopes that there may have just been an interruption while installing the update. For some reason, I was not asked to restart my computer after reinstalling razer synapse, but WAS asked to restart just for an update? Regardless, this did not fix the issue as it still persists.

L

Same issue here, when this happens I can’t solve the issue even by restarting explorer.exe processus (which is one known easy fix). Only thing that will make it work again is restarting the computer … I had this on several windows Installation but it seems it appears only on my AMD system (I did not remember I had it on my former Intel rig)

P

I’m also having the same issue, fresh Windows 11 build running super smooth but as soon as I install synapse (and reboot when prompted by the installer) the taskbar and windows explorer become completely unresponsive. When I uninstall synapse and reboot the PC it runs fine again.

P

Same issue. The only way to fix it is to delete Synapse or disable Razer Services - which means you can’t use the software.

K

Same problem here. Just got a new set of Nommo Pro speakers and Synapse wanted to update and restart the computer (Windows 11) when I plugged them in. After restarting, I can’t click anything on the taskbar and some areas of other windows (like the end task button in the task manager). Had to uninstall Synapse, and now I can’t use my Tartarus Pro profiles and have to use the optical input to the speakers because they won’t play over USB.

Anyone have any luck getting Synapse working?

J

Yes I have the same problem. Razer Huntsman mini, only fix for me was deleting the App

Windows 11

M

Same issue.  Taskbar becomes un-clickable shortly after installing Razer synapse.  Uninstalling Synapse and restarting the PC fixes the issue.  I’m on an AMD 5900x, Asus Rog strix B550-F MB, 32Gb Ram, RTX 3080ti, and have a Razer Huntsman v2, Deathadder v2, and a Tartarus pro.

Lehham

I had the exact same issue, hopefully we can make enough noise for Razer to fix the issue, cause now I can’t change anything on my mouse or keyboard as I had to uninstall it.

BuckAhRue
Userlevel 3

Hey All,
This may not make much difference (at least it shouldn’t), but how are you all installing Synapse 3? Are you downloading the program directly from the Razer website, or are you installing the program via the first time device detection prompt? 

 

For what it’s worth, I never install the Synapse software from the initial device detection. I always download a fresh instance of the program from the website. I know it shouldn’t matter, but this is the only thing that I can think of. I know it sounds ridiculous, nevertheless I’ve had the most ridiculous issues out 4 Razer devices over the past few weeks. So I’m not supersized by anything at this point.

 

I haven’t had any issues with my taskbar, regardless of if I was using a stale/worn-in Windows 11 (more than 3 months old) or if it was a newly fresh clean install.  

V

Same here, although mine is intermittent. When it does happen, power cycling the mouse or keyboard will fix it for me. Pretty annoying to have to do that a few times a day.

Another strange behavior while this is happening is when I click the BACK button in Chrome, it opens in a new tab as if the CTRL key is being held down. I haven’t tested other items yet. That behavior stops as well after power cycling.

Lehham

I’ve recently reinstalled synapse a week or two ago, and it has been working fine now, with no taskbar issues. Might be worth trying on your computers.

 

For reference, I am on the latest update of both Windows 11 and Synapse.

Taraxist

I have the same problem.   Didn’t use to do this, but now seems after the computer enters sleep mode, the taskbar is frozen when I waken it up.   The only thing that works is completely uninstalling synapse then reboot.   then i can reinstall synapse and it will work fine.  I just have to avoid putting the computer into sleep mode.  it really bites.   never did this with windows 10.

G

Ditto all of this - exactly same issue driving me mad - cant say I will buy any more of their products uuntil they get this basic issue fixed.

S

Had the same problem 

J

What finally mitigated my problem with Synapse randomly not starting was to run DISM:

• Run DISM and SFC
1. Open Command Prompt
2. Type: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
3. Wait for it to finish
4. Type: sfc /scannow
Wait for it to finish

the mouse clicks will still randomly freeze, but when that happens I either move the scroll wheel or click it and then the clicks register again, bit annoying but I guess I can live with that.

J

Hi Buckahrue, 

 

I tried with the bare minimum as you, no additional modules, with the same result.

As soon as synapse starts the mouse clicks don't register anymore. 

My support ticket is also still in work, let's see. 

So for a while after doing several reinstalls and repairs of the Synapse 3 SW I was working more or less ok.

I had occasional times were clicks would not register for a couple of seconds after startup or after opening Discord.

Then I decided to try and modify a few Power Settings for the keyboard and now Synapse would not want to start anymore. 

Had to reinstall and I am now again at step one… every time I start synapse my mouseclicks get ignored until I close all razer related processes via task manager….

J

Hi,

I just recently got the Blackwidow V3 Pro keyboard and I am experiencing the same situation.

In my case the  razer synapse SW will refuse to open after a couple of days, forcing me to reinstall (do this from the latest installer) and after that it opens but I have the issue with the non responsive taskbar clicks.

 

This is really frustrating since the Synapse SW is needed for the media keys to work, and I also need my mouse to work!

some additional info:

I am running Win11 with an 13700k i7 coupled wit a Logitech G mouse (with its respective bloatware).

If someone knows how to fix it please let us know.

 

Thanks!

BuckAhRue
Userlevel 3

What modules do you all have installed? That’s the only other thing that I can think of as of right now. 

If you were to modify the install and remove all of the modules and just leave the bare minimum software requirements, I wonder if it would grant access back to the taskbar? 

For example: I had to remove Chroma Studio, Visualizer, and Connect, in order for my mouse & keyboard to be detected within the Dashboard. I’m not saying that this is your all’s issue, but rather I don’t trust how Synapse 3 operates. It’s even in conflict with it’s own damn self. 

BuckAhRue
Userlevel 3

Hi Buckahrue, 

 

I tried with the bare minimum as you, no additional modules, with the same result.

As soon as synapse starts the mouse clicks don't register anymore. 

My support ticket is also still in work, let's see. 

So for a while after doing several reinstalls and repairs of the Synapse 3 SW I was working more or less ok.

I had occasional times were clicks would not register for a couple of seconds after startup or after opening Discord.

Then I decided to try and modify a few Power Settings for the keyboard and now Synapse would not want to start anymore. 

Had to reinstall and I am now again at step one… every time I start synapse my mouseclicks get ignored until I close all razer related processes via task manager….

 

I’ve also noticed that Synapse 3 is terrible at handling changes to Windows. It also has internal conflict with its modules. That doesn’t surprise me, regarding the Power Settings.

I renamed my PC and upon restarting, my devices were no longer detected within Synapse 3. 

These ridiculous clumsy inept software conflict errors make Razer products unnecessarily cumbersome to deal with. 

J

Hi Buckahrue, 

 

I tried with the bare minimum as you, no additional modules, with the same result.

As soon as synapse starts the mouse clicks don't register anymore. 

My support ticket is also still in work, let's see. 

R

Also have the same issue from time to time. Sometimes, locking the PC with Windows+L and then unlocking it restores my ability to click on things, so maybe you can try this as an workaround (at least if its not unclickable all the time).

 

But yeah, sometimes Synapse just does weird stuff, especially when you want to use several profiles.

X

Same issue here. Windows 11 23H2.

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