How to change Corsair keyboard backlight settings on Linux

Coded Java

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06-11-2024

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Corsair keyboards are renowned for their durability, performance, and customizable lighting. If you're a Linux user who wants to tweak your Corsair keyboard's backlight, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the process of customizing your Corsair keyboard's lighting on various Linux distributions.

Understanding Corsair's iCUE Software

Before we dive into the specifics, it's crucial to understand how Corsair manages its keyboard lighting on Linux. Unlike Windows, where iCUE software directly controls the keyboard's lighting, Linux relies on a different approach. Corsair offers a set of utilities called cUE that provide the necessary tools for controlling the keyboard's lighting. These utilities communicate with the keyboard's onboard memory, allowing for lighting customization.

Steps to Install cUE Utilities

Here's how to install cUE utilities on common Linux distributions:

1. Ubuntu/Debian:

• Open a terminal and run the following commands:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install libxcb-xkb-dev libx11-xcb-dev libxcb-shm-dev libudev-dev libinput-dev libxi-dev libxrandr-dev
  sudo apt install libxcb-randr0-dev libcairo2-dev libpango1.0-dev libxft-dev libxrender-dev libgl1-mesa-dev
  sudo apt install pkg-config libasound2-dev libpulse-dev libxi6 libxcb-icccm4
  

• Download the latest cUE package for Linux from the official Corsair website.

• Extract the downloaded archive.

• Navigate to the extracted folder in your terminal.

• Run the following command to install cUE:

  sudo ./install.sh 
  

2. Fedora/CentOS/RHEL:

• Open a terminal and run the following commands:

  sudo dnf update
  sudo dnf install libxcb-xkb-devel libX11-xcb-devel libxcb-shm-devel libudev-devel libinput-devel libxi-devel libxrandr-devel
  sudo dnf install libxcb-randr0-devel libcairo-devel libpango1.0-devel libxft-devel libxrender-devel libgl1-mesa-devel
  sudo dnf install pkgconfig libasound2-devel libpulse-dev libxi6 libxcb-icccm4 
  

• Download the latest cUE package for Linux from the official Corsair website.

• Extract the downloaded archive.

• Navigate to the extracted folder in your terminal.

• Run the following command to install cUE:

  sudo ./install.sh 
  

3. Arch Linux:

• Open a terminal and run the following commands:

  sudo pacman -Syu
  sudo pacman -S libxcb-xkb libX11-xcb libxcb-shm libudev libinput libxi libxrandr
  sudo pacman -S libxcb-randr libcairo libpango libxft libxrender mesa libgl
  sudo pacman -S pkg-config alsa-lib pulseaudio libxi6 libxcb-icccm
  

• Download the latest cUE package for Linux from the official Corsair website.

• Extract the downloaded archive.

• Navigate to the extracted folder in your terminal.

• Run the following command to install cUE:

  sudo ./install.sh
  

4. Other Linux Distributions:

• If your distribution isn't listed above, you can try searching the package manager for packages related to XCB libraries and dependencies.
• Download the latest cUE package for Linux from the official Corsair website.
• Extract the downloaded archive.
• Follow the installation instructions provided in the cUE package for your specific distribution.

Running cUE Utilities

Once the cUE utilities are installed, you can use them to configure your Corsair keyboard's lighting. There are two main ways to do this:

1. Command Line Interface (CLI):

• Open a terminal.

• Run the following command:

  cue --help
  

• This will display a list of available commands.

• For example, to set the keyboard's backlight to a specific color, use the following command:

  cue --led-color "red"
  

• This command sets the keyboard's backlight to red. You can replace "red" with any supported color, such as "blue", "green", "white", etc.

• You can also use other commands like cue --led-brightness to adjust the backlight brightness and cue --led-effect to apply different lighting effects.

2. Graphical User Interface (GUI):

• Unfortunately, there isn't an official GUI for cUE utilities on Linux.
• You can use third-party applications like i3blocks or conky to create custom GUI elements that interact with cUE utilities.

Practical Examples and Usage Scenarios

Let's illustrate how you can leverage cUE utilities for practical scenarios:

1. Setting Up Static Backlight:

• If you prefer a solid color for your keyboard's backlight, use the --led-color command.

• For instance, to set the backlight to a vibrant purple, use the following command:

  cue --led-color "purple"
  

2. Adjusting Backlight Brightness:

• To fine-tune the backlight brightness, use the --led-brightness command.

• For example, to increase the brightness to 80%, use the following command:

  cue --led-brightness "80"
  

• The brightness value ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 being the lowest and 100 being the highest.

3. Creating Breathing Effect:

• If you want a dynamic lighting effect, you can create a breathing effect using the --led-effect command.

• The following command sets the keyboard's backlight to breathe with a blue color:

  cue --led-effect "breathe" --led-color "blue"
  

• This command sets the backlight to cycle between blue and off, creating a smooth breathing animation.

4. Using cUE with Other Tools:

• You can integrate cUE utilities with other tools like i3blocks to create visual indicators.
• For instance, you could create an i3blocks script that changes the keyboard backlight color based on system load.

5. Troubleshooting:

• If you encounter any issues, check the following:

  • Ensure that the keyboard is plugged in and recognized by your system.
  • Verify that the cUE utilities are installed correctly.
  • Run the commands with sudo if you're facing permission errors.
  • Consult the Corsair documentation and forums for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it necessary to have Corsair iCUE software installed on Windows for cUE utilities to work on Linux?

• No, cUE utilities are independent of the iCUE software. They operate directly with the keyboard's onboard memory.

2. Can I customize individual keys' lighting with cUE utilities?

• Currently, cUE utilities lack the functionality to customize individual keys' lighting. They primarily control the overall keyboard backlight.

3. Are there any limitations with cUE utilities?

• cUE utilities offer a limited range of lighting effects compared to the full-fledged iCUE software available for Windows.

4. Is there a way to create custom lighting profiles?

• While cUE doesn't support saving custom profiles, you can create shell scripts to automate specific lighting configurations.

5. Can I use cUE utilities with older Corsair keyboards?

• cUE utilities are designed for newer Corsair keyboards that feature onboard memory for lighting profiles. Older models may not be compatible.

Conclusion

Customizing your Corsair keyboard's backlight on Linux can enhance your gaming experience and create a more personalized setup. While cUE utilities offer a more streamlined approach compared to the iCUE software on Windows, they still provide a good degree of control over your keyboard's lighting. Experiment with the various commands and explore the possibilities to make your Corsair keyboard truly shine on Linux.