- Understand which services and processes cause Synapse to start and how they affect your system.
- Use Windows tools to monitor the startup and status of Razer services.
- Apply basic maintenance (updates and clean reinstallation) if you detect instability.
Does Razer Synapse start by itself? You're not alone: this is a common behavior in Razer's software for managing peripherals and updates. The good news is you can control it, delay it, or completely prevent it from starting, and also check for services and components that sometimes cause crashes after closing games.
In this guide you will find The most reliable ways to prevent automatic startup in Windows, how to check and restart Razer services when needed, and what to do if you prefer to uninstall the suite entirely. We'll also cover the recommendations seen in official Microsoft forums and the real-life experience of users with crashes when exiting a game, so you don't get stuck halfway.
Why does Razer Synapse start by itself?
At the design level, Synapse and Razer Central are added at startup to load profiles, lighting, and cloud features.. Additionally, services like Razer Central Service and Razer Synapse Service that support the app and the bridge with your devices are registered. This allows you to apply Chroma effects, macros, and DPI adjustments immediately upon login, but also involves resident processes that They are not always necessary if you only want to use the mouse or keyboard with basic functions..
Before you start: quick diagnosis in the “support” style
In a Microsoft community thread, a moderator (with a warning from automatic translation) posed the typical questions to refine the problem: When did it start to happen, what changes you made before (drivers, updates, new hardware), make and model of the equipment And if you tried reinstalling the app. These are simple questions that help you decide whether disabling startup is enough or not. reinstall services and drivers.
How to Stop Razer Synapse from Starting on Its Own in Windows 10/11
For most users, the most effective is disable loading at startup from within Windows itself. You can do this in three ways, and it's recommended to use at least one:
1) From Windows Settings (Apps > Start)
- Open Settings (Windows key + I) and go to Apps > Home.
- Find entries like Razer Synapse, Razer Central and, if it appears, Razer Chroma SDK.
- Set the switch to Off for each one you don't want to load at startup.
2) From Task Manager (Startup tab)
- Right click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager (or Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
- Go to the tab HomeIf you don't see it, click on "More details."
- Select Razer inputs and press Disable. This prevents Synapse and its launcher to run automatically.
3) Razer Services: Stop, restart, or change startup type
As suggested in the Microsoft support thread, it is worth checking Razer Central Service y Razer Synapse Service to confirm their status. If you want them active only when you open the app, You can leave its “Startup Type” as Manual.
- Opens Task Manager > Services and check if both services are running.
- If Synapse is not responding, right-click on each service and choose Start o Restart.
- For more control, press Windows + R, type
services.mscand press Enter. In the services console, open the properties of each Razer service and adjust the Startup type to Manual.Therefore, they will not load on startup and will only start if you open Synapse.
If you prefer to cut to the chase, you can put them in Disabled, but remember that this may affect advanced features such as cloud profiles or Chroma effects.
Update Windows and reinstall drivers if you notice instability
In the same Microsoft community conversation, preliminary steps were suggested in case you detect errors or corruption. Keep Windows up to date and renewing drivers usually avoids conflicts with services like SearchIndexer:
- Update Windows: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Install everything pending.
- Reinstall Razer drivers from the Device administrator: open panel, expand Mice and other pointing devices, Keyboards y Human interface devices. Right click on Razer devices and choose Uninstall device.
- When the dialog box appears, you can choose to remove driver software from that device if you intend to do a clean reinstall. If you're not sure, do not check the box and then reinstall with Synapse.
- Disconnect Razer peripherals for a few minutes, restart the pc and reconnect them so that Windows can load fresh drivers.
This cycle “update, uninstall, reboot, and reconnect” fixes corruption and abnormal startups in many cases, especially if Synapse's background startup was hanging.
Avoiding Crashes After Closing Games: What the Community Says
A user described that his PC It froze when leaving the games and after observing the behavior, he discovered that it occurred just when Razer was “restoring” elements. When closing Razer processes from the Task Manager, the crashes They disappeared immediatelyIf something similar happens to you, try the following:
- Disable autostart with the above methods to prevent Razer from loading on startup.
- Open Synapse only when you need to change a profile and then close it from the notification area (right click > Exit Razer Synapse).
- Go into Synapse settings and disable features that react to game events (e.g., lighting effects or automatic profile restoration) if you suspect that they clash with the closure of the title.
- Apply the previous section of reinstatement for corrupted files; according to Microsoft support, these errors are usually caused by Corrupt or missing components.
Keep in mind that Not all peripherals need Synapse to work: The mouse and keyboard will continue to operate with basic functions even if the software doesn't start, which is useful if you prioritize stability.
Complete Uninstall of Razer Synapse (Windows)
If you prefer to remove Synapse completely, there is a sequence that is usually cleaner than just uninstalling. Close it first from the notification area (right click on the icon and choose exit) and then follow these steps:
- In Windows 10/11, search "Add or Remove Programs" from the taskbar and open it.
- Finds Razer Synapse, select it and press uninstall. Repeat with other Razer components if they appear.
- You can also do this from the Control Panel > Programs, or right-click on the Razer Synapse shortcut > uninstall.
- Open the File Browser, go to “This PC” and type Razer in the search for locate residual folders and files that the uninstall did not delete. Delete them if they are clearly from Razer.
There are “perfectionist” users who also clean the Windows RegistryIt's a delicate step: make a backup before touching anything. Open the Registry Editor (regedit), go to File > Export to save the copy, and then use Ctrl + F to search Razer. Go through the results and delete any keys, values, or data belonging to Razer, being careful not to touch anything foreign. If you don't feel comfortable, you can skip this step: orphaned entries do not significantly harm or hinder performance.
Complete uninstallation of Razer Synapse (macOS)
Although this guide focuses on Windows, there is a useful reference for Mac: on macOS you can perform a deeper cleanup using Bus Terminal to unload launch agents and clear remnants. Common commands are:
launchctl remove com.razerzone.rzdeviceenginelaunchctl remove com.razer.rzupdatersudo rm /Library/LaunchAgents/com.razerzone.rzdeviceengine.plistsudo rm /Library/LaunchAgents/com.razer.rzupdater.plist
Then you can drag Razer Synapse to the Trash from Applications and, if you want to finish cleaning, delete residual folders:
sudo rm -rf /Library/Application\ Support/Razer/rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Razer/
If you are not familiar with Terminal, It's okay to leave these remains; they do not harm the system, although freeing up that space helps keep the disk tidy.
When to Keep Synapse and When Not to
If you take advantage macros, game profiles, Chroma or cloud synchronization, you'll want to keep Synapse, but control its startup so that it doesn't consume resources in sessions where you don't need it. However, if you use peripherals in a basic way or have detected associated crashes, disabling startup or uninstalling the app will likely improve the experience.
Community and Support: Where to Look if You Need Help
The Razer community on Reddit is huge and very active —Thousands of members and users connected at all hours—, designed by and for redditors who discuss the brand's hardware and software. Keep in mind that the official support is centralized in a pinned post Within the subreddit; outside of it, these are community contributions. It's a good place to check if others see Synapse launching automatically after an update.
On the other hand, in the Microsoft forums there are responses from moderators that, although sometimes automatically translate, point to what is important: updating Windows, reinstall drivers from the Device Manager and review the Razer servicesThis approach often resolves issues with abnormal startup or crashes after closing games.
Practical tips for living with Synapse without being bothered
A balanced configuration goes through disable autostart, keep services on Manual and open Synapse only when you're going to change something. This way, you don't give up its advanced features but you avoid unnecessary load at startup and reduce the risk of conflicts in gaming sessions.
- When you finish adjusting a profile, closes Synapse from the notification area icon so that it does not remain in the background.
- If something fails, open it Task Manager and restart the Razer services in the “Services” tab.
- Avoid mixing older driver versions with the current client: clean reinstall and DisplayFusion updates up to date.
Additional documentation
If you also use tools like the Razer Cortex, you can check out its official PDF guide to understand how it interacts with your games and the system. Here's a helpful resource: Razer Cortex Guide (PDF). While it's geared toward optimization, It is useful to know which processes are loaded to avoid duplications with Synapse.
FAQs
Can I use my Razer mouse/keyboard without Synapse? Yes. The peripherals work with their basic functions without the software, although you will lose macros, advanced profiles and Chroma effects.
Does disabling Synapse startup affect my drivers? No. The device drivers will continue to load; what you avoid is the software layer that manages extras and synchronization.
Is it safe to edit the Registry to clean up leftovers? It is a step for advanced users. Make a copy (File > Export in regedit) before and only delete entries that you clearly identify as Razer. If in doubt, Do not touch anything.
I keep getting Razer services running.. Check in services.msc that the startup type is set to Manual or Disabled and in the Startup tab of the Task Manager that everything is disabled. Also check that Synapse is not left open in the notification area.
You should Regain control over Razer Synapse startup on Windows, avoid resident processes when you don't need them and, at the same time, prevent potential crashes when closing games. If at any time you miss a feature, you can always open Synapse punctually or revert the startup type of its services; the important thing is that it is your choice and not something imposed when you start your PCFor more information we leave you the official Razer support.
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