F5F Stay Refreshed Software General Software Is there a keyboard software that can take over from iCUE?

Is there a keyboard software that can take over from iCUE?

Is there a keyboard software that can take over from iCUE?

R
RavenRavine
Member
197
09-14-2026, 05:33 PM
#1
I need some software to get me rid of iCUE because I want to use my extra keys from the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT. I am looking for something free that can start apps using those keys. FastKeys didn't work and it's not a good option at all. The problem is that iCUE eats up too much power, using about 2.3 GB of my small SSD while sitting still, taking around 400 MB of memory and wasting even 2% of my CPU when it isn't really doing anything. I must open iCUE for any app to start launching; it cannot run directly from the keyboard hardware itself. My other idea was to save a macro that opens the Start Menu, finds the app, and hits Enter. That worked okay for some apps but not others, sometimes showing wrong results like web searches or even telling you which software I am looking at. Plus saving macros on keyboards is very unreliable; they are all buggy. Sometimes the search takes too long, so I have to add random delays just to make sure it finishes. But when I save these macros, the timing gets messed up randomly instead of staying consistent. I would really appreciate some suggestions if you can help me out. Thanks and Regards
R
RavenRavine
09-14-2026, 05:33 PM #1

I need some software to get me rid of iCUE because I want to use my extra keys from the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT. I am looking for something free that can start apps using those keys. FastKeys didn't work and it's not a good option at all. The problem is that iCUE eats up too much power, using about 2.3 GB of my small SSD while sitting still, taking around 400 MB of memory and wasting even 2% of my CPU when it isn't really doing anything. I must open iCUE for any app to start launching; it cannot run directly from the keyboard hardware itself. My other idea was to save a macro that opens the Start Menu, finds the app, and hits Enter. That worked okay for some apps but not others, sometimes showing wrong results like web searches or even telling you which software I am looking at. Plus saving macros on keyboards is very unreliable; they are all buggy. Sometimes the search takes too long, so I have to add random delays just to make sure it finishes. But when I save these macros, the timing gets messed up randomly instead of staying consistent. I would really appreciate some suggestions if you can help me out. Thanks and Regards

C
CrimsonZel
Member
53
09-14-2026, 08:02 PM
#2
you won't find any there are lots of apps around that change standard keyboard keys through Windows but those extra keys are Corsair buttons that need iCUE to be set up. I've had the same trouble with many Corsair items; a headset wouldn't let third party software use its virtual surround unless iCUE was on, a mouse would lose defined extra buttons randomly and iCUE had to start again to fix them, LEDs would also reset to random *ss rainbow patterns until iCUE started up. part of their design seems to be to keep your software running all the time, maybe so you can track what you like and learn more details...
C
CrimsonZel
09-14-2026, 08:02 PM #2

you won't find any there are lots of apps around that change standard keyboard keys through Windows but those extra keys are Corsair buttons that need iCUE to be set up. I've had the same trouble with many Corsair items; a headset wouldn't let third party software use its virtual surround unless iCUE was on, a mouse would lose defined extra buttons randomly and iCUE had to start again to fix them, LEDs would also reset to random *ss rainbow patterns until iCUE started up. part of their design seems to be to keep your software running all the time, maybe so you can track what you like and learn more details...

C
Capuzzi
Member
197
09-15-2026, 04:51 PM
#3
You won't find any here. There are tons of apps out there that let you change standard keyboard keys using Windows, but those extra buttons only work if they match the specific Corsair codes defined by iCUE software. I've had similar problems with lots of Corsair gear. Headsets wouldn't use virtual surround sound without iCUE running in the background. Mice would randomly lose their custom extra buttons and iCUE had to restart again just to fix it. Some LEDs also reset to that annoying colorful pattern until you restarted iCUE. Part of their design seems to be making sure users keep software open all the time, probably so they can track what preferences are set and maybe use it for testing or ads. Your best option is to get a bigger hard drive for your operating system and apps where this tiny <3GB space doesn't matter, or make sure you have enough RAM so that small issues don't bother you. Or just buy a keyboard with built-in memory features instead.
C
Capuzzi
09-15-2026, 04:51 PM #3

You won't find any here. There are tons of apps out there that let you change standard keyboard keys using Windows, but those extra buttons only work if they match the specific Corsair codes defined by iCUE software. I've had similar problems with lots of Corsair gear. Headsets wouldn't use virtual surround sound without iCUE running in the background. Mice would randomly lose their custom extra buttons and iCUE had to restart again just to fix it. Some LEDs also reset to that annoying colorful pattern until you restarted iCUE. Part of their design seems to be making sure users keep software open all the time, probably so they can track what preferences are set and maybe use it for testing or ads. Your best option is to get a bigger hard drive for your operating system and apps where this tiny <3GB space doesn't matter, or make sure you have enough RAM so that small issues don't bother you. Or just buy a keyboard with built-in memory features instead.