Game Integrations Not Working As Expected

If your Game Integration Effect isn’t responding to in-game events, triggering incorrectly, or not displaying as expected, this guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve common issues.

Quick Checklist

Before diving into detailed troubleshooting, verify these basic requirements:

• Game is running in Fullscreen Borderless mode (not Windowed or Fullscreen)
• HDR is disabled both in-game and in Windows Display Settings
• Using default UI settings (no mods, custom scaling, or repositioned UI elements)
• Color filters are disabled (colorblind modes, accessibility options, night light, etc.)
• SignalRGB is running and the effect is active
• Game is running on your primary display
• You have an active Pro subscription (third-party devices require Pro for game integrations)

Many games have a “Return to Default” or similar option to quickly reset video settings. Using this may resolve many issues.

If any of these aren’t configured correctly, the integration may not work properly.

Common Issues and Solutions

Devices Pulse White When Applying Game Integration

Symptoms: All devices flash or pulse white instead of showing the game effect

Solution: Game integrations require an active SignalRGB Pro subscription to work on third-party devices. Please upgrade to SignalRGB Pro if you wish to use game integrations.

Effect Not Triggering At All

Symptoms: RGB lighting doesn’t respond to any in-game events

Solutions:

• Verify display mode: Ensure the game is set to Fullscreen Borderless, not Windowed or Fullscreen
• Check the effect is active: Go to the Lighting tab and confirm your Game Integration Effect is selected
• Restart SignalRGB: Close and reopen SignalRGB, then launch your game
• Check Windows permissions: Ensure SignalRGB has permission to capture your screen (Settings > Privacy > Screen Capture)
• Disable overlays: Temporarily disable Discord overlay, GeForce Experience overlay, or other software overlays that may interfere

Effects Triggering Randomly or Incorrectly

Symptoms: Effects trigger at wrong times or respond to incorrect in-game events

Solutions:

• Reset UI to defaults: Any UI mods, custom scaling, or repositioned elements can cause misreads. Game integrations use screen information to trigger effects, so default settings are required.
• Disable UI mods: Mods that change HUD or UI position/configuration are not supported and must be disabled
• Disable color filters: Turn off colorblind modes, night light, Windows color filters, and any in-game visual accessibility options
• Check for UI scaling: Ensure UI scale is set to 100% or the game’s default setting
• Verify resolution: Some resolutions work better than others (see Resolution-Specific Issues below)
• Submit screenshots: After submitting an issue report, the team will respond asking for in-game screenshots. The more screenshots, the better!

HUD Effects Not Displaying Correctly

Symptoms: Health bars, mana displays, or other HUD elements aren’t showing or are positioned incorrectly

Solutions:

• Enable adjustment mode: Turn on the adjustment toggle for the specific HUD element you’re configuring
• Position the HUD element: Use the X/Y position controls to move the element to the correct location on your devices
• Adjust size: Use height and width controls to scale the HUD element appropriately
• Configure your layout: Position devices in the Layout tab so HUD elements display only where you want them
• Disable adjustment mode when finished: Turn off the adjustment toggle after positioning is complete

For detailed HUD configuration steps, see our How To Configure Game Integration Effects guide.

LEDs Changing Colors Rapidly

Symptoms: LEDs are changing colors quickly when no specific game effects are playing

Explanation: Screen Ambience is the base layer for all game integrations, and your LEDs mirror the colors on your screen by default. This is normal behavior.

Solutions:

• Reduce background brightness: Lower the Background Brightness slider in the effect settings
• Disable screen ambience: Set Background Brightness to 0 or select a different Background Mode (if available for your game integration)
• Choose a static background: Some integrations allow you to select a solid color or different background mode instead of screen ambience

Low Performance or FPS Drops

Symptoms: Game stutters, frame rate drops, or slowdowns while using Screen Capture effects

Solutions:

• Reduce capture frame rate: Go to Settings > Application > Video and lower the Capture Framerate slider. Most users find 30-60 FPS provides good responsiveness with minimal performance impact.
• Disable HDR: HDR significantly increases resource usage. Disable it in-game and in Windows Display Settings.
• Close background applications: Free up system resources by closing unnecessary programs.
• Simplify the effect: If using Game Integration Effects, reduce background brightness or disable specific event triggers you don’t need.
• Update graphics drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date.
• Check device performance: Some RGB devices have hardware limitations that can affect overall system performance. If you notice performance issues even after adjusting capture settings, see the Device-Specific Issues section below for information about device FPS limitations and potential solutions.

Game Minimizes, SignalRGB Crashes, or Black Screen

Symptoms: Game window minimizes unexpectedly, SignalRGB crashes, or you see a black effect screen when using integrations

Solutions:

• Switch display modes: If running in Fullscreen, try Fullscreen Borderless, or vice versa
• Enable Compatibility Mode: Go to Settings > Application > Video and enable “Compatibility Mode” in Capture Settings
• Check Windows Game Mode: Disable Windows Game Mode in Windows Settings > Gaming
• Update graphics drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date

Effect Looks Different Than Expected

Symptoms: Colors are wrong, effects are too bright/dim, or the visual appearance doesn’t match promotional materials

Solutions:

• Adjust background brightness: Use the Background Brightness slider to control the ambient lighting intensity
• Customize colors: Many effects allow color customization in the Customize tab
• Check color filters: Disable any Windows or in-game color filters that may be affecting detection
• Verify HDR is off: HDR can cause color detection issues; ensure it’s disabled
• Review your layout: How devices are positioned in your layout affects how effects display across your setup

Effects Work Inconsistently or Not At All

Symptoms: Integration works inconsistently across gaming sessions or isn’t triggering at all

Solutions:

• Launch order matters: Try launching SignalRGB before your game, or vice versa, to see if order affects performance
• Check for Windows updates: Recent Windows updates can affect screen capture permissions or performance
• Verify game updates: Game patches can change UI elements; file a bug report if effects stop working after a game update
• Monitor other software: Check if other RGB software, overlays, or recording software is interfering
• Review Windows settings: Ensure Game Mode, Game Bar, and other Windows gaming features aren’t conflicting

Game Integration Doesn’t Auto-Activate

Symptoms: Game integration doesn’t automatically activate when you open the game

Explanation: Currently, you will need to manually apply the game integration like any other effect. Automatic game detection is a planned feature for the future.

Resolution-Specific Issues

Game Integration Effects work best with certain display resolutions. If you’re experiencing issues, your resolution may be the cause.

Resolution Compatibility:

• 16:9 displays: 1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160
• 16:10 displays: 1920x1200, 2560x1600
• 21:9 ultrawide: 2560x1080, 3440x1440
• 32:9 super ultrawide: 3840x1080, 5120x1440

If you’re using a different resolution and experiencing issues, file a bug report with your display specifications. The team will respond asking for in-game screenshots. The more screenshots, the better!

Device-Specific Issues

Some RGB devices have hardware limitations that can affect Game Integration Effect performance:

Low device FPS: Some RGB controllers are limited by the manufacturer to 15-30 FPS, which can make screen-reactive lighting appear choppy or laggy. Check the Inspector tab on the Devices page to see your device’s current FPS.

If your device is operating at low FPS and this is affecting your Screen Capture experience, you have a few options:

• Use an alternate controller: Many RGB devices can be controlled through different RGB controllers or hubs that may offer higher FPS capabilities. Check our community discussions or device documentation to see if alternate control methods are available for your specific device.
• Consider devices with higher FPS: If low FPS is significantly impacting your experience, you may want to explore RGB devices or controllers designed for higher refresh rates. Research device specifications before purchasing to ensure they meet your performance needs.
• Adjust expectations for device limitations: Some devices are simply hardware-limited by their manufacturer. While SignalRGB optimizes performance wherever possible, we cannot exceed the physical limitations built into the device itself.

Note that some devices may appear to have low FPS in the Inspector due to manufacturer limitations that cannot be overcome through software optimization alone.

Devices not responding: If specific devices aren’t displaying effects while others are, check that the device is properly detected and configured in your layout.

Flickering or stuttering: This can be caused by device hardware limitations, conflicting software, or USB bandwidth issues. Try connecting the device to a different USB port or controller.

Advanced Troubleshooting

Verify Screen Capture is Working

1. Go to Settings > Application > Video
2. If using multiple monitors, set Monitor Select to match your game’s monitor. Try each option if unsure which is correct
3. Verify SignalRGB is capturing your game screen correctly using the preview window
4. Check that the capture area matches your game window

If you’ve completed the above troubleshooting and Screen Capture is still not working as expected, visit this troubleshooting guide for more information!

Check Windows Privacy Settings

1. In Windows, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security
2. Under App Permissions, navigate to Screenshots and Screen Recording
3. Ensure all permissions to capture screen content are enabled

Test with a Different Game Integration

If one integration isn’t working, try another game integration to determine if the issue is game-specific or system-wide.

Clean Reinstall

If all else fails, try a clean reinstall of SignalRGB:

1. Uninstall SignalRGB completely
2. Delete remaining files from C:\Program Files\WhirlwindFX
3. Restart your computer
4. Download and install the latest version from signalrgb.com

Reporting Issues

If you’ve tried these troubleshooting steps and your Game Integration Effect still isn’t working properly, please file a bug report so our team can investigate:

What to include in your bug report:

• Which game integration you’re using
• Your display resolution and aspect ratio
• Description of what’s not working as expected
• Which troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried

How to submit:

• Use the bug icon in the app (upper-right corner)
• Submit through this link

Our support team will follow up and work with you to resolve the issue!

Related Articles

• Screen Capture Not Working As Expected
• How To Configure Game Integration Effects
• About Game Integration Effects
• Supported Devices List