How to Turn On or Off “Compatible Apps Always Control Lighting” in Windows 11

What Does “Compatible Apps in the Foreground Always Control Lighting” Mean?

This setting means:

• On: The app you are currently using controls the lighting.
• Off: Other apps running in the background can also control the lighting, even if you’re using a different app.

How to Turn This Setting On or Off Using Windows Settings

You can easily turn the ‘Compatible apps always control lighting’ setting on or off in Windows 11 through the main Settings app, giving you quick control over how your apps manage your device’s lighting effects.

1. Open ⚙️ the Settings app:

   • Click the ⊞ Start menu button and select Settings, or
   • Press Windows key + I on your keyboard to ⚙️ open Settings quickly.
2. Go to Personalization:
   

   In the left menu, click Personalization.
3. Select Dynamic Lighting:
   

   Find and click the Dynamic Lighting tile on the right side.

4. Toggle the setting:
   

   Find the switch labeled “Compatible apps in the foreground always control lighting”.

   
   

   Click the switch to turn it On or Off as you want.

5. Close Settings:
   

   When done, just close ⚙️ the Settings window.

   
   

Click Personalization in Windows Settings

Select the Dynamic Lighting tile

Toggle the setting On or Off

How to Change This Setting Using the Windows Registry (Advanced)

If you’re comfortable with advanced computer settings, you can change the ‘Compatible apps always control lighting’ option in Windows 11 using the Registry Editor, but be careful as mistakes can cause issues.

1. Open the Registry Editor:⚠️ Admin privileges required

   • Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Go to this folder (key):
   

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Lighting

   
   

   If you don’t see the Lighting folder, you can create it by right-clicking on Microsoft, choosing New > Key, and naming it Lighting.

3. Create a new value:
   

   🖱️ Right-click on the right side of the Lighting folder and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

4. Name the new value:
   

   ControlledByForegroundApp

5. Set the value:

   Double-click this new value and set the Base to Decimal.

   Set the Value data to:

   • 1 to turn On (foreground apps control lighting)
   • 0 to turn Off (background apps can control lighting)
6. Apply the changes:
   

   Click OK, close Registry Editor, and 🔄 restart your PC to apply the changes.

Windows Registry Editor showing Lighting key

Set the value to 1 or 0

Need More Help?

For more info, you can check the official Microsoft support page about Dynamic Lighting.

If you run into problems or have questions, feel free to ask in the comments or search for help online.

Summary

This guide showed you how to control your Windows 11 dynamic lighting by managing the setting that lets apps control your lighting, which you can do through Settings or the Registry Editor.

You can accomplish this through Windows Settings or by using the Registry Editor if you’re comfortable with advanced settings.

Why this matters: This setting helps you manage which apps can alter your lighting effects, giving you more control over your PC’s appearance.

What happens: When you enable this setting, only the app you’re actively using will control your lighting. When you disable it, background apps can also change your lighting even while you’re using something else.

Remember to proceed with caution when using the Registry and always create a backup before making any changes.