Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must reside in C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer Chroma\razer-chroma.exe or C:\Program Files\Razer Chroma\razer-chroma.exe and be signed by a legitimate publisher.
Warning
May run multiple instances
Each lighting profile or game integration can spawn its own subprocess within the Chroma engine.
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disable by closing Razer Synapse or turning off startup/background options; some lighting functionality may be lost.
What is razer-chroma.exe?
razer-chroma-exe is the core executable behind Razer's Chroma RGB lighting ecosystem. It coordinates lighting across keyboards, mice, headsets, and other Chroma-enabled devices, loading profiles, effects, and software hooks from Synapse. You may see it as a background service and foreground process when you adjust lighting.
The process runs as part of a multi-component Chroma system, communicating with device drivers and the Chroma SDK. It manages lighting state, zone updates, and profile switching while remaining sandboxed from other apps.
Quick Fact: Razer's Chroma engine uses a centralized exe to coordinate device-specific lighting across products and third-party games.
Types of Razer Chroma Processes
- Chroma Engine: Main process that routes lighting commands to devices
- Device Driver Interface: Bridges the engine with hardware drivers
- Profile Manager: Loads and applies lighting profiles
- SDK Listener: Receives lighting events from the Chroma SDK and games
- Background Tasks: Updates lighting state while Synapse runs in background
- UI Hook: Integrates with Synapse UI for live preview and control
Is razer-chroma-exe Safe?
Yes, razer-chroma-exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Razer downloaded from official sources (razersupport.com or included with Synapse).
Is razer-chroma-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real razer-chroma-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade as legitimate Razer files; always verify digital signatures and path.
How to Tell if razer-chroma-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer Chroma\razer-chroma.exe or C:\Program Files\Razer Chroma\razer-chroma.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a signature from "Razer USA Ltd" or the parent company.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is typically low when idle (0-5%), spiking during lighting updates; constant high CPU when idle is unusual.
- Behavior: Razer Chroma engine should only run when Synapse or lighting apps are active. Persistent background processes may indicate tampering.
Red Flags: If razer-chroma-exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when you haven't opened Synapse, lacks a valid signature, or uses constant high CPU, scan with antivirus. Beware of similarly-named files like "razer-chroma.exe" in untrusted paths.
Why Is razer-chroma-exe Running on My PC?
razer-chroma-exe runs when Razer Synapse or a Chroma-enabled game or profile is active, or when Windows starts and the Chroma service is configured to launch.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Chroma Profiles: A loaded Chroma profile or effect is actively driving lighting across devices.
- Background Synapse Services: Synapse or the Chroma service may keep the engine resident to apply lighting changes quickly.
- Device Synchronization: Lighting data from games or apps can trigger updates, causing multiple updates per second.
- Startup Launch: Razer Synapse may start on system boot, starting razer-chroma-exe to apply the initial lighting state.
- Firmware and SDK Hooks: Chroma SDK integrations, game integrations, or firmware checks may cause the process to run.
Can I Disable or Remove razer-chroma-exe?
Yes, you can disable razer-chroma-exe. It's safe to close Synapse or disable startup, but some lighting profiles may stop working until re-enabled.
How to Stop razer-chroma-exe
- End Lighting Apps: Close Razer Synapse or any game using Chroma to release the engine.
- Quit Synapse: From the system tray, right-click Razer Synapse and choose Quit.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable 'Razer Synapse' or 'Razer Chroma Engine'.
- Disable Background Lighting: In Synapse, turn off 'Continue running background apps when I close Chroma'.
- Uninstall Chroma: If you no longer use Razer devices, uninstall via Settings → Apps → Razer Chroma or Synapse.
How to Uninstall Razer Chroma (Chroma Studio, Synapse)
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Razer Chroma or Razer Synapse → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Razer Chroma/Chroma Studio → Uninstall
- ✔ Restart PC and remove remaining folders: C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer Chroma and C:\ProgramData\Razer
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If razer-chroma-exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Active lighting effects: Limit active profiles or disable unneeded effects in Synapse; switch to basic lighting.
- Background Synapse services: Restart Synapse; ensure you don't have conflicting Chroma applications.
- Game integrations: Disable or rebind Chroma integration in games; update the Chroma SDK.
- Outdated drivers: Update Razer Synapse and Chroma drivers to the latest version.
- Excessive device count: Unpair unused Razer devices or limit Chroma device groups.
- Corrupted profiles: Delete or recreate problematic lighting profiles in Synapse.
Quick Fixes:
1. Close Synapse and restart the computer to reset the Chroma engine
2. Update to the latest Synapse/Chroma software
3. Limit active profiles and disable unnecessary effects
4. Check device manager for driver updates
5. Run a clean reinstall of Razer Chroma if issues persist
Frequently Asked Questions
Is razer-chroma-exe a virus?
No, razer-chroma-exe is part of the legitimate Razer Chroma software. Confirm the path is <code>C:\Program Files (x86)\Razer Chroma\razer-chroma.exe</code> and that a valid signature from Razer USA Ltd is present.
Why is razer-chroma-exe using CPU?
CPU spikes occur when lighting profiles are updating, games trigger Chroma events, or Synapse is applying effects. Use Synapse Task Manager and update drivers to minimize usage.
Can I delete razer-chroma-exe?
Deleting the file manually will break Chroma lighting. Uninstall Razer Chroma/Synapse via Settings if you no longer need it.
Can I disable razer-chroma-exe?
Yes, you can disable startup or close Synapse. To stop background lighting, disable 'Continue running background apps when Chroma is closed' in Synapse settings.
Why does razer-chroma-exe run at startup?
Razer Synapse is configured to start with Windows to preview and apply lighting automatically; you can disable startup in Task Manager or Reinstall to reset.
Why are there multiple razer-chroma.exe processes?
Chroma uses a modular architecture; different components like Engine, Driver Interface, and SDK Listener can run as separate processes for performance.