Lighting up your gaming PC with RGB fans is one of the coolest parts of building your own system. The glowing colors, flashing effects, and smooth lighting patterns can take your setup from plain to eye-catching. But syncing all your RGB fans with your other components using MSI Mystic Light can be confusing — especially if it’s your first time doing it.
Don’t worry! We’re here to help.
In this easy guide, we’ll walk you step-by-step through how to sync your RGB fans with MSI Mystic Light using MSI’s RGB fan controller software. No fancy tech skills needed — everything is written so anyone can follow along.
Let’s get glowing! 🌈
Why Syncing RGB Fans Matters
Before we get started, let’s talk about why syncing your lighting is important.
A synced RGB setup:
✅ Looks amazing and matches your whole gaming theme
✅ Lets you pick your favorite colors or match the lighting to your game
✅ Makes it easier to spot airflow problems inside your case
✅ Helps you see better in darker rooms while reducing eye strain
So if you’re spending money on RGB fans, it’s worth taking a few minutes to set them up the right way!
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Here’s a simple checklist of what you’ll need:
✔ An MSI motherboard that supports Mystic Light
✔ RGB or ARGB fans (like ones from MSI, Cooler Master, Corsair, etc.)
✔ An MSI RGB fan controller or fan hub (helps with syncing multiple fans)
✔ MSI Mystic Light software (inside MSI Dragon Center or MSI Center)
✔ Fans properly connected — RGB = 4-pin, ARGB = 3-pin
✔ Windows 10 or newer PC
Make sure everything’s plugged in and ready before the software setup.
Step-by-Step MSI Mystic Light Tutorial
Now let’s get your cool lights up and running! Just follow these simple steps.
👟 Take your time — there’s no rush, and by the end, your setup will look amazing.
Step 1: Installing MSI Mystic Light Software
First, you need to get the software that handles all your lighting.
- Go to: https://www.msi.com/Landing/mystic-light-rgb-gaming-pc/download
- Download either MSI Dragon Center (older version) or MSI Center (newer version)
- Install it and restart your PC
Once it’s open, click on the Mystic Light tab.
✨ Tip: Make sure your fans are already plugged in before you open the software — this helps it detect them faster.
Step 2: Plug in Your RGB Fans Correctly
Now let’s make sure the fans are connected to the right spots on the motherboard or controller.
- RGB Fans (4-pin, 12V) → Plug into the RGB header labeled “JRGB”
- ARGB Fans (3-pin, 5V) → Plug into the ARGB header labeled “JRAINBOW”
If you have a lot of fans:
✔ Use an MSI-compatible fan controller or hub
✔ Plug that hub into your motherboard’s RGB or ARGB header
✔ Don’t forget to connect any extra power cables like SATA if your hub needs it
📌 Only connect ARGB fans to ARGB headers and RGB fans to RGB headers — DO NOT mix them!
Step 3: Open Mystic Light and Detect Devices
Let’s fire up the software:
- Open MSI Center or Dragon Center
- Click on “Mystic Light”
- Let it scan for your devices (this may take a minute)
You should now see a list that includes your motherboard, fans, GPU, RAM, and other RGB devices.
Having trouble? Make sure everything is connected properly and update your software and BIOS if needed.
Step 4: Customize Your Lighting
Now things get fun! 🎉
MSI Mystic Light lets you:
- Choose from effects like Rainbow, Breathing, Flash, Wave, or Static
- Pick any color you want
- Sync all your components with the same effect
- Control lighting per device if you like variety
💡 Here’s how to do it:
- Select “Sync All” if you want everything to match
- Pick your favorite color and effect
- Click “Apply” — your build will light up immediately!
🎨 Color Tip: Use one main color theme for your desktop vibe (like blue for calm or red for gaming energy). Mix in soft effects like Breathing or Rainbow for cool transitions.
Step 5: Try Advanced Lighting Modes
Want to take your lighting to the next level?
MSI Mystic Light has advanced effects inside the plug-in section of MSI Center, like:
🎶 Music Mode – Fans pulse to your music beat
🌈 Ambient Screen Mode – Lights change based on what’s on your screen
🔥 Temperature Mode – Colors change based on CPU or GPU temperature
To use these:
- Make sure the plug-ins are installed in MSI Center
- Enable them in Mystic Light under “Mode” or “Effect”
- Enjoy your reactive lighting!
You can even sync with apps like Razer Chroma or SteelSeries to match your mouse and keyboard lights.
Troubleshooting: Fixing Common RGB Problems
Don’t panic if something doesn’t look right — here are simple solutions:
| Problem | Quick Fix |
|---|---|
| Fans not showing in software | Recheck connections and ensure fans are plugged into the correct headers (RGB or ARGB). |
| Mystic Light tab is missing | Reinstall MSI Center, update motherboard drivers, and ensure chipset drivers are current. |
| Fans not syncing with components | Enable “Sync All” mode and verify all fans are Mystic Light compatible. |
| Lights flicker or seem off | Use a powered RGB hub, avoid daisy-chaining too many fans, and don’t mix RGB (12V) with ARGB (5V). |
💡 Pro Tips:
- Always double-check voltage compatibility: 5V ARGB vs. 12V RGB — mixing them can cause damage.
- Update your motherboard BIOS if lighting/software issues persist.
- Use labeled splitters/hubs to simplify cable management and reduce signal issues.
Still stuck? Visit MSI’s website or forums — they have a lot of helpful guides and friendly support.
MSI RGB Software vs Other Brands
Here’s a quick look at how Mystic Light stacks up:
| Feature | MSI Mystic Light | Corsair iCUE | ASUS Aura Sync | Gigabyte RGB Fusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fan Sync Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Built-in Motherboard Control | ✅ Native (via chipset) | ❌ Requires external software | ✅ Native (via chipset) | ✅ Native (via chipset) |
| Works with Other Brands | ✅ Yes (limited) | ✅ Yes (good cross-brand) | ✅ Yes (moderate support) | ❌ Limited to Gigabyte/AORUS |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Simple & beginner-friendly | ⚠️ Medium (feature-rich, complex) | ⚠️ Medium (intuitive but layered) | ⚠️ Harder (less polished UI) |
📌 Summary:
- MSI Mystic Light: Best for MSI users who want simple, reliable syncing with decent third-party support.
- Corsair iCUE: Most powerful customization, great for Corsair-centric builds, but steeper learning curve.
- ASUS Aura Sync: Excellent motherboard integration, clean ecosystem, works well with other Aura-compatible devices.
- Gigabyte RGB Fusion: Strong for Gigabyte/AORUS gear, but poor cross-brand support and less user-friendly.
💡 Recommendation:
- ✅ Beginners or MSI users → Mystic Light
- ⚙️ Customization lovers → iCUE
- 🖥️ ASUS motherboard owners → Aura Sync
- 🟡 Gigabyte users only → RGB Fusion (consider SignalRGB/OpenRGB for better mixed-brand control)
So if you’re building with MSI parts, Mystic Light is the easiest and best way to manage your lighting.
Final Thoughts: Let Your PC Shine in Style
Setting up RGB fans with MSI Mystic Light is easy — even if you’re new to PC building. In just a few steps, you can light up your system and control every color and effect just the way you want.
Here’s a quick summary:
- ✅ Make sure your motherboard and fans are Mystic Light compatible
- ✅ Download MSI Center or Dragon Center
- ✅ Plug everything in properly (RGB vs ARGB)
- ✅ Use the Mystic Light tab to customize colors and sync fans
- ✅ Try cool effects like music sync and temperature lighting
Now your setup isn’t just functional — it’s flat-out awesome.
📸 Show off your style! Share your lighting setup on social media using #MSIMysticGlow so we can see your perfect sync!
Have any questions about RGB fan syncing with Mystic Light? Drop your thoughts below or join our builder community for easy help and more cool setup ideas! 👇
Happy building, and may your RGB always shine bright! 💡✨