15 R4, disable AlienFX 3rd party access

Question

Why is there no option to disable AlienFX 3rd party access? Or at least a way prevent games from hijacking my lighting? This is completely ridiculous. I didn't buy a computer to NOT have control of my keyboard. The only way to stop this is to go into services and disable the AWCC, which means the macros no longer work. Fine, you want something stupid like lights changing, go ahead, but don't force people to use it. There shouldn't be some convoluted way, there should be a simple option that says 'Third Party Access Yes/No'. I wish someone had posted this in a review before I bought an Alienware. This is the first and last time I buy from Dell.

Alienware - Rodrigo · Answer

Hi,  Please confirm your Alienware system model name/revision, so we can look into this.

MarkSlater · Answer

I have this same problem on my 15 r4, running the new version of command center. I have googled this problem and found a lot of people saying that there is no fix, and one guy said he deleted some windows files to fix this but didn't specify which. This is pretty embarassing for Dell IMO, also the last time I am buying a product from then. I have had troubles with alienware command center since I received my laptop, and to top it off I can't even run Civ IV without having the keyboard flash white on and off.

Shuji415 · Answer

Alienware 15 R4 - 2018 using command center 5.2.29.0 ,A00

Shuji415 · Answer

Alienware 15 R4 - 2018 using command center 5.2.29.0 ,A00

Cakedonut · Answer

Hello, I have the same problem. There is no option in my Alienware Command Center to disable 3rd party access to controlling my keyboard lights. Why?????? How do I fix this?

Eimy_B · Answer

Hi,

This is a feature available for older Command Center versions. However, the games have not updated their versions to match the newest AlienFX devices. Thus, causing these issues. The feedback has already been submitted to the Command Center Software team for a possible solution in new releases such as that toggle, however, we do not have any ETA nor confirmation of this being implemented anytime soon.

We're sorry about the inconveniences this could cause.

Cakedonut · Answer

Inconvenience? Really? It's a gaming laptop with a flashy keyboard that I have zero control over because for whatever reason someone thought it would be a good idea to remove the option from Alienware Command Center to toggle 3rd party access. I'd call that slightly more than an inconvenience... I bought the laptop specifically to play games and one of the games I play messes with my keyboard. I'm incredibly disappointed.

Lerch2000 · Answer

I have a new Alienware pc as well (keyboard/mouse) and I understand how much of an issue this is while gaming, we all know Game Devs will take forever to look into this issue if they do at all. So the sooner you guys at Alienware/Dell can add an option to disable third-party access I would appreciate it.

2142CloneWars · Answer

This is extremely disappointing as others have stated. I am not sure what corporate VP pushed that down the chain to implement but starting a culture at Alianware where it is acceptable to take away your customers access and control over their product is wrong. This is a massive oversight and the lack of support for your customers (and apparently the lack of care about your customers since this is being written 4 months later and there is still no fix on this) is ridiculous. I have bought two computers from you (one for me and the other was a gift) and if this is your support for your customers looking forward in the future, I think I will take my business elsewhere. Obviously you are aware of the issue, and have been for months as seen by an employee responding with a patronizing answer designed to skirt the issue with no fix.

Hostels · Answer

Ok now 28 september and HOW I CAN DISABLE 3rd Party party AlienFX access??? I buy AW760 keyboard. Alienware command center bad application. Very few keyboard settings, you can not add mouse actions to macros, the application loses to competitors very much(

Dami Valorton · Answer

I was able to Disable the 3rd party FX access in the settings tab under Misc...&#xa0;settings is at the top right of the new command center.

Wardawn · Answer

That works!!!  Thanks man!  Civ 6 was causing my keyboard to turn bright blue and flash.  Not sure who at Civilization thought that would be a good idea.

Steven1201 · Answer

Hey, I know I'm super late and resurrecting an old thread, but I'd figure I'd post since I figured it out.

Click the notifications area on your taskbar (on my screen it's a small upwards-facing arrow on the bottom right, next to my battery power, wifi, and volume icons) and then look for the Alienware logo. Right click the Alienware logo and uncheck "Enable 3rd Party AlienFX Access". It might not be fixed yet, so go back to the Alien Command Center and then to AlienFX. Switch to a new theme or turn it off and then switch it back. Should work now!

When right-clicking the little Alienware icon, you can also find a handy little slider that adjusts the brightness of your AlienFX (I thought that was pretty neat since I don't like bright keyboards).

Thanks for not helping, Alienware and Dell support!

Marcus8799 · Answer

<Profanity is never allowed on our Forum. DELL-Admin> Wanted to add my part although this is old. Coming from an alienware m18r1 laptop, I am pretty annoyed with command center overall and how little control it gives. Especially when it comes to things like fixing power presets and settings. I swear it’s absolutely impossible and they’ve crippled the system by even removing various things like some advanced power options which I had to do a run command to get to (just to enable hibernate, change what the power button/lid does and disable fast startup). Undervolting in general seems to not work. Not the kind of customization control and ease of use I’d expect from a 4000-4500 euro laptop. Anyway, I also had this issue. It just randomly changes my power settings depending on game and all the fx. Meanwhile, they have removed any and all tiny menus and there’s almost nothing you can enable or disable, at most only the game overlay. Even the misc window is gone. Yay. So, you just have to deal with going to 'library' and manually change performance preset and re-do the lighting setup for every single game you install. Of course, if you want everything dark like me, you can click 'go dark' but that leaves the power button blue light on so you have to manually change at least that. If you want a custom lighting setup, you’re out of luck and just have to re-do it because saved templates are not saved across games, nah, you have to make them for each game. So insurmountably stupid. Somehow they like to make things gradually worse by reducing options for customers, are we babies that can’t be trusted to set our own preferences? If I want to undervolt, let me. If I want the same fx setting for everything, let me. If I don’t want to use optimus but instead the old style switching, let me. If I want to enable hibernate, let me. Sigh. oh well, good luck to everyone out there. Maybe there’s a fix I don’t know about.

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15 R4, disable AlienFX 3rd party access

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