So, you recently bought a new Razer product for your Mac and you want to customize some settings. You noticed the product mentioned it supports macOS and it does work when you plug it in.
However, there’s no option to customize any features. It’s frustrating when you can’t use any of the additional features of your new Razer product. Certain Razer features, such as changing the RGB lighting effects, creating new key binds, and adjusting the DPI on a mouse, require Razer Synapse software.
Unfortunately, the software is extremely limited on Macs. In this article, I will cover some alternatives to Razer Synapse on Mac and how to unlock the full potential of your Razer products on macOS. Don’t return your Razer product just yet.
Is Razer Synapse Compatible with Mac?
The latest version of Razer Synapse, Razer Synapse 3.0, is not compatible with macOS. It’s only available on Windows at this time. There are no immediate plans to support Razer Synapse 3.0 on Mac.
However, Razer Synapse 2.0 is available on older versions of macOS and can be used to customize certain Razer products. Razer Synapse 2.0 is not compatible with new Razer products, released in the last few years or so.
Razer Synapse 2.0 is only available on macOSX 10.6-10.14 (Mojave). It is not compatible with the latest version of macOS, which is macOS 14.
To give you an idea, macOSX 10.14, Mojave, was released in 2018. So, as you can see, the software hasn’t been updated in quite some time.
How to use Razer Synapse with Mac
Since only Razer Synapse 2.0 supports Mac, your options are quite limited. If your version of macOS is compatible with Razer Synapse 2.0, then you can use it to customize the features of certain Razer products.
Check macOS Compatibility with Razer Synapse
If you have an old Mac that hasn’t been updated in a few years, it may still be running a version of macOS that is compatible with Razer Synapse 2.0. To check your macOS version, click on the Apple logo and select About This Mac, the latest information about your operating system will be shown here. If your Mac is running anything above macOSX 10.14 (Mojave), you won’t be able to use Razer Synapse 2.0.
Browse Razer Synapse 2.0 Supported Devices
But you might be in luck. Now it’s time to check if your Razer product supports Razer Synapse 2.0. Take a look at the list of Razer Synapse 2.0-supported devices. If your product is on the list, there’s a good chance you can use Razer Synapse 2.0 to configure settings and effects on macOS.
From there all you need to do is install Razer Synapse 2.0, plug your Razer product into an available USB port on your Mac, and it should automatically detect it. Then you can configure and customize the effects as you please.
How to use Razer products on Mac without Razer Synapse
Chances are your Mac is running the most recent version of macOS and it’s not compatible with Razer Synapse 2.0. So, if Razer Synapse 3.0 is not available on macOS, and Razer Synapse 2.0 is only available on old Macs, what are your options? As it turns out, there are third-party tools that can unlock some of Razer’s features.
Razer MacOS GitHub
There’s a third-party application you can use to customize some features of Razer products on macOS. It doesn’t offer the full functionality of Razer Synapse 3.0, but it’s better than nothing.
The application is called Razer Mac OS and it’s available on GitHub for free. Head over to GitHub, select the latest release, and click on the DMG file to start the download. Open the file, drag it to applications, and open it from the applications window.
When you plug in a Razer product, the program should automatically detect it. Otherwise, click on the application icon in the top right corner, and either select Refresh Device List or choose your specific Razer product from the menu.
Once your device is found, a list of customization options will appear. If you have a supported mouse, you’ll be able to change the DPI, polling rate, RGB colors, RGB effects, and much more.
How to Customize Razer Key Binds on Mac OS
So, Razer Mac OS on GitHub works fine for customizing RGB and some other features, but it doesn’t support custom key binds. Most Razer keyboards have special buttons that you can map to certain hotkeys. Of course, you can’t customize the buttons on macOS because Razer doesn’t support Mac. We will have to use a third-party program for this feature as well.
BetterTouchTool (BTT)
The app I use to create custom key binds and macros with my Razer keyboard on Mac is called BetterTouchTool. You can also use this to customize the buttons on your mouse.
Unfortunately, BetterTouchTool is a paid application, although there is a 45-day free trial. It costs $10 for a standard 2-year license and $22 for a lifetime license. Let’s walk through how to set it up with your Razer products.
Once you download BetterTouchTool and agree to the permissions, you can start customizing buttons on your keyboard or mouse. Once you select the product you want to configure, press the plus icon to add a new trigger. From there, hover over the grey box and either press a button on your keyboard or mouse to assign that button to an action.
Next, click on an empty space, and then click on the plus icon to assign an action to that button. You can choose from a wide range of preset macros and shortcuts or make your own. Repeat the process as many times as you need to. It should detect any button that is pressed on your keyboard or mouse.
The Bottom Line
So, while Razer hasn’t shown macOS users much love in recent years, you can still use Razer products on Mac and customize them as you please. The only problem is that you will need to use third-party apps to do so.
Hopefully, Razer will release a version of Razer Synapse that is compatible with the most recent macOS, but it likely won’t come anytime soon. Either way, you can still make the most of your Razer products, even if they’re not fully supported on macOS.
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