The Razer Blackwidow keyboard is well-liked for its modern appearance, quick key response, and eye-catching RGB backlighting. The ability to adjust the illumination to your liking adds a personal touch and helps you get into the zone when gaming or typing. However, it can be infuriating when the keyboard just won’t light up. Although this is very concerning, there are some solutions you can try before you get your keyboard replaced. This article will show you how you can fix the lighting issue on your Razer Blackwidow keyboard.
Page Contents
Why is my Razer Blackwidow Keyboard Not Lighting Up?
There can be a couple of reasons why your Razer Blackwidow keyboard isn’t lighting up. The actual issues are notoriously difficult to figure out since they might have a wide variety of causes, from software to hardware. Nevertheless, here are some of the most common reasons why your Blackwidow keyboard isn’t lighting up:
How to Fix Razer Blackwidow Keyboard Not Lighting Up
With this information in hand, troubleshooting the Razer Blackwidow keyboard lighting issue should be a breeze. Many users have reported success with the following solutions, so we’ve gathered them into a list. If you want to find the one that works, you have to try them all.
It’s worth noting that the Razer Blackwidow keyboard is available in several variants, including the Blackwidow Chroma and the Blackwidow Elite, before delving into the solutions. While many of the troubleshooting procedures should be universal, your individual model may have slightly different requirements. With that out of the way, let’s dive in.
Fix 1: Plug Out and Plug In your Keyboard
Plugging out and plugging in the keyboard can often fix the issue with the lighting on your Razer Blackwidow keyboard. Several users have successfully been able to fix this issue with their Razer Blackwidow keyboard. Just follow these steps:
- Unplug your keyboard from your system.
- Press and hold the Ctrl + Caps + Esc keys and simultaneously plug in your keyboard into your system.
- Once you have plugged in, you can release the keys.
- Now press the Fn key and the backlight key.
- Your keyboard should now light up.
Fix 2: Try a Different USB Port
If the above-mentioned solution didn’t help, then the issue is likely due to a damaged or faulty USB port. Make sure the USB port you are trying to connect through is free of debris and has enough power to light up your keyboard. Use a USB port, USB 2.0 or a later version. Try connecting other peripherals to see if the USB port is functioning properly.
Fix 3: Clean the USB Contacts
If the issue is still persistent, check to see if the USB contacts are clean and free of dust and debris. Clean the male USB-A on your keyboard and also remove any dirt or debris from the female USB port on your system. You can use a cotton swab or any other soft item for this.
Fix 4: Uninstall and Reinstall Razer Synapse
Sometimes, the issue can be linked to your Razer Synapse app. In this case, it is best to reinstall the Razer Synapse app. This will get rid of any errors that might have crept in during the installation and also update your Razer Synapse app to the latest version. Just follow these steps:
- Verify that Synapse 3 is installed on your PC.
- Close all Synapse programs.
- Disconnect your Razer keyboard from your PC.
- Now go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Click on the Uninstall button next to Razer Synapse. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
- Delete all folders and files named “Synapse” in specific locations.
- Restart your PC.
- Download and install the latest version of Synapse 3 from the official Razer website.
- During installation, select “RAZER SYNAPSE” and deselect all other options.
- Login to Synapse with your Razer ID to retrieve your profiles.
- Connect your Razer Blackwidow keyboard again and see if the lightning now appears.
Fix 5: Run SFC/DISM Scan
Sometimes, your system files can get corrupted, causing several issues. Thankfully, Windows has built-in tools to help you with this. SFC or System File Checker is a built-in Windows tool that can check for any corrupted system files and repair them.
DISM or Deployment Image Servicing and Management will check for any faulty system images and restore them. These two tools will help repair your system files. You can run them one after the other. Just follow these steps:
- Right-click on the start menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).
- Type the following command in the terminal and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
- Wait for the scan to finish.
- Once the scan is finished, restart your computer. Try connecting the keyboard and check if it lights up. If it doesn’t, then move to the next step.
- Repeat Step 1 and type the command in the terminal and hit Enter: DISM/Online /Cleanup-Image/restorehealth
- Wait for the scan to finish.
- Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and check if the keyboard lights up.
Fix 6: Update your USB Port and Keyboard Drivers
If you are still facing the issue, consider updating your keyboard drivers. Drivers are responsible for the proper functioning of your keyboard. Outdated drivers can cause the device to malfunction, and your keyboard might even stop working. The same goes for your USB ports as well. If their drivers are outdated, the USB ports will not work properly. Therefore, it is essential to keep your drivers up to date. Follow these steps to update your drivers:
- Right-click on the start menu and select Device Manager.
- Find your keyboard driver in the list and right-click on it.
- Select “Update driver” and click on “Search automatically for drivers.”
- Then, expand the “Universal Serial Bus Controller” entry.
- Right-click on your USB drive and select “Update driver.”
- Click on “Search automatically for drivers.”
- Do the same for all your USB drivers.
- Finally, restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
- Once your PC boots up, connect your keyboard and check to see if the backlight is now working.
Contact Razer Support
If you’re still having problems with your Razer Blackwidow keyboard not lighting up, then it might be a hardware issue. Contact Razer support and ask them for a replacement. You can even visit a service centre if that’s available in your locality.
Final Words
The Razer Blackwidow keyboard has great aesthetics, provides an excellent typing experience, and has a really good RGB backlight. However, the RGB lights may fail to work sometimes. We hope that this article has helped you resolve the lighting issue on your Razer keyboard and get back to work or gaming again. If you have any further questions, let us know. Thanks for reading!