Fix: MSI Mystic Light not Working

MSI Mystic Light may not work if you are using an outdated version of it or the Dragon Center. Moreover, the corrupt installation of MSI Mystic Light/Dragon Center or your system’s Windows may also cause the error under discussion.

The issue arises when the user tries to control/change RGB lights through the MSI Mystic Light (either the standalone installation or the Dragon Center version) but fails to do so. For some of the users, the Mystic Light does not show in the Dragon Center. In some cases, the user could not control specific light/lights (e.g. RAM light). Nearly all types of MSI desktops, laptops, or motherboards are reported to be affected.

MSI Mystic Light not Working

Before moving on with the troubleshooting process to fix MSI Mystic Light, make sure Windows, system drivers, and other applications (especially Riot Vanguard) are updated to the latest builds. Moreover, make sure your system supports MSI Mystic Light. Furthermore, check if RGB lights are enabled in the BIOS settings of your system. Also, some systems have a physical switch to disable RGB lights, so, make sure that is not causing the issue.

Solution 1: Update the Dragon Center to the Latest Build

The Dragon Center and MSI Mystic Light applications are updated regularly to add new features to it and patch its known bugs. The MSI Mystic Light might not work if you are using an outdated version of it or the Dragon Center. In this context, updating the MSI Mystic Light and Dragon Center to the latest build may solve the problem.

  1. Launch the MSI Dragon Center and navigate to its Live Updates section.
  2. Now click on the Scan button and then check if the Dragon Center and Mystic Light have updates available.
  3. If so, then select the updates and then click on the Install button to install updates.
    Update MSI Dragon Center and Mystic Light
  4. After updating Dragon Center, restart your system and upon restart, check if Mystic Light is operating fine.

Solution 2: Disable/Enable RGB Lights Through the System’s BIOS

The Mystic Light issue could be a result of a temporary glitch of the system modules or RGB lights. In this context, disabling and re-enabling the RGB lights through the system’s BIOS may clear the glitch and thus solve the Mystic Light problem. You may have to dig deeper to make this solution work for you as the instructions may differ between different manufacturers/models.

  1. Restart your system and boot into the BIOS of your system.
  2. Now, disable RGB lights through the system’s BIOS. Disable RGB Lights using your system’s physical switch (if your system has one).
    Disable RGB Lighting in the BIOS Settings of Your PC
  3. Now save your changes and restart your system.
  4. Upon restart, power off your system and then power it on to boot into the BIOS of your system.
  5. Now, enable RGB and restart your system.
  6. Upon restart, check if MSI Mystic Light is working fine.

Solution 3: Uninstall Conflicting Applications

Applications co-exist and share system resources in Windows PC. But conflicting applications (like Riot Vanguard, the anti-cheat software of Valorant) may hinder the operation of the mystic light software (as it has access to the system’s BIOS). In this case, uninstalling the conflicting applications may solve the problem.

  1. Press Windows + X keys and in the menu shown, select Apps & Features.
    Open Apps & Features
  2. Now expand Riot Vanguard and then click on the Uninstall button.
    Uninstall Riot Vanguard
  3. Then follow the prompts on your screen to Uninstall Vanguard.
  4. Now check if there are any other conflicting applications (especially RGB controlling and anti-cheat applications). If so, uninstall them as well.
  5. Now restart your system and upon restart, check if MSI Mystic Light is working fine.
  6. If not, reinstall MSI Mystic Light or Dragon Center (as discussed in solution 5) and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 4: Update the BIOS of Your System to the Latest Build

The BIOS of your system is updated regularly to pace with the latest technological advancements and patch known bugs. You may encounter the error at hand if the BIOS of your system is not updated to the latest build because it can cause incompatibility between the system’s module. In this case, updating the BIOS to the latest build may solve the problem.

Warning: Proceed at your own risk as updating BIOS requires a certain level of expertise and if done wrong, you may brick your system and cause everlasting damage to your system/data.

Before updating the BIOS, try to reset your BIOS  (or reset CMOS) to the factory defaults and check if any of the customized BIOS settings was causing the issue. If not, update your system’s BIOS by following the instructions pertinent to your system’s make and model.

After updating the BIOS of your system and then check if MSI Mystic Light is working fine.

Solution 5: Reinstall MSI Mystic Light or Dragon Center

The MSI Mystic Light might not work if its installation or Dragon Center’s installation is corrupt. In this scenario, reinstalling MSI Mystic Light or Dragon Center may solve the problem.

  1. Click on the Windows button and in the menu shown, click on the Gear icon to open Settings.
    Opening Windows Settings
  2. Now select Apps and then expand Mystic Light.
  3. Now click on the uninstall button and then confirm to uninstall Mystic Light.
  4. Then follow the prompts on your screen to uninstall Mystic Light and then uninstall the Dragon Center (if installed). Moreover, uninstall MSI SDK (if installed). You can also use a 3rd party uninstaller.
    Uninstall MSI Dragon Center and MSI SDK
  5. Now, restart your system, and upon restart, login to the built-in administrator account.
  6. Then launch the File Explorer and delete the installation directory of MSI. Usually:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI
    Delete the MSI Folder in Program Files
  7. Now download and install the Dragon Center (you must install it on the system drive) but do not launch it.
  8. Then restart your system and upon restart, check if the Mystic Light issue is resolved.

Solution 6: Reinstall Windows

If the issue persists even after trying the solutions above, then the issue could be a result of a corrupt Windows installation. In this case, resetting or reinstalling Windows may solve the problem.

  1. Reset your system to the factory defaults and check if the issue is resolved.
  2. If not, then perform a clean installation of Windows, and hopefully, the MSI Mystic Light issue is resolved.

If none of the solutions were effective in solving the Mystic Light problem, then you should try a 3rd party RGB software (e.g. MSI RGB, Open RGB, etc.). Even if RGB lights do not work with any of 3rd party applications, then you should get your system checked for any hardware malfunction (JCORSAIR header is a usual culprit).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.