Microsoft is working on a new feature for Windows 11 that will be integrated into the “Personalization” section of the operating system under the name “Lightning” and will serve RGB LED lighting control from our team without having to resort to third-party apps, which is quite interesting.

We have already had the opportunity to see some screenshots showing what the interface of this new section will be, and the truth is that it’s simple and intuitive. Right at the start are the brightness, lighting effects options, which includes simple settings like solid color, flicker, rainbow and reverse rainbow, and we have more dedicated to color and even Windows color sync.

We also have options dedicated to ambient lighting and can see a list of LED lighting devices that are available. It is unclear which devices will be supportedbut in principle we should not have a problem with those that connect via USB and are automatically recognized by Windows 11. Maybe some very cheap devices will have some problems, but it will not be the usual rule, but rather an exception to it.

We don’t know if Windows 11 will also enable this new feature controlling the RGB LED lighting of motherboards and graphics cards, but in principle nothing should prevent it. However, it’s clear that it would add another layer of work that could cause Microsoft a lot of headaches in future updates to its operating system, and that’s exactly what makes me a little doubtful about its real viability.

As for being able to control RGB LED lighting from Windows 11 on different peripherals, I think it’s an interesting idea, but at the same time I think it doesn’t really replace third-party apps, at least not to those with exclusive features like immersive lighting, which offer clearly different value both in that sense and because of the greater range of customization effects they allow. I could give many examples, but Corsair’s iCUE and Razer’s Chroma are undoubtedly two of the most famous.

Microsoft hasn’t said when it plans to bring this new feature to the Windows 11 main stream, so we don’t know when it will be on Windows 11. However, it’s clear that it will be reserved for and future annual updates including other new features.