Elgato Control Center

Version 1.3.0 solves the problems I ran into with the previous version, and has been working reliable on both iOS and Mac. Original review: I’ve had the same issue in both the iOS and Mac version of this app: the setup works fine and I can see the light is connected to my Wi-Fi network, but it never shows up in the app. At one point I got the light to show up briefly on my iPad today, after restarting it. During that brief time the app worked okay, though the brightness slider jumped around a bit when moving it. The Windows version of the app works fine. I was able to use that to update the firmware on the light, but that didn’t help with the problem on iOS and Mac. (Oddly I did not have any issues with Elgato’s newer Ring Light, aside from it being too large for my setup.)

It seems like most the negative reviews are about connectivity. For me everything just works. I added my key light as a Wi-Fi device using my MacBook Air. Later I downloaded the control center to another Mac and it was already configured and ready to go. When I downloaded the app to my phone, I didn’t even have to add my light. It was already there. Love it. Great UX.

While l like the Key Light, I’ll probably end up returning it. I have a very difficult time getting the app to connect to the light consistently. I believe it’s because I have wifi range extenders and sometimes the light or my phone might connect to a range extender while the other connects to the router. For whatever reason the app can’t see the light when this happens. I’d also love to see either some automation or at least some defaults. For example I use a completely different setting in the morning than I do in the afternoon given the natural lighting in the room.

I’m sure it’s amazing when it’s able to connect to the light. I see the network for the light. Connected. App says it can’t find it. 🤷‍♂️ Update: You have to put the light in config mode by holding the switch to the left (facing the front of the light) until the light throbs. After it throbs, turn the light on. From there you can connect to it via WiFi. Apple has a process where it configures the light automatically to your router. Open the Elgato app and It should work after that.

I really like the light. My only gripe is that one out of my two consistently has trouble connecting to the WiFi so that it doesn’t turn on when the other one does (either from the app on my iPad or from my stream deck). So I have to sometimes turn it off and then back on manually. Other than that, the light is great - great aesthetic, lots of options (temperature, intensity) and goes well with the rest of my Elgato products (streamdeck, Facecam).

I used to forget to turn off the key light when I turn off my computer, so I’m glad elgato made this accessible through the app! If your internet router resets, you may have to reset the key light as well. Seems to be an IP thing. A bit of a pain, but I love being able to control from my phone, so app stays on my home page! Thanks Elgato

This is app would be great only if it would stay connected. Once the IPhone closes the app disconnects and that’s okay but when I try to reopen the app, it never connects back to the lights. Frustrating!! It is convenient to have if it works. Please fix Corsair, love your products. This is the only thing I’ve used that doesn’t work as intended. Thanks.

Unfortunately, the app does not function well or reliably with the light. It constantly loses connection and when it does work, there’s a huge delay when turning it on and off. I keep hoping a firmware or app update will resolve this issue. If this were fixed, the light would be a great value, but like this, it has proved to be the weak link in my setup. It often stands in the way of creativity when I’m ready to roll. Please fix.

Because of the software, this light’s going to have to be returned. I intended to add these for use at home and then for my wife’s media space. It’s 3 hours since I opened one up and it’s now clear that this isn’t going to work. Older Verizon FiOS router is the gateway, Apple Time Capsule handles DHCP, about 35 devices on the network. I’ve tried to add the Key Light from my iPhone 13 Pro, from an iPad Pro, from a MacBook Pro M1 max. I’ve tried via WiFi, tried the suggestions for doing it without wifi first. Powered everything off before trying again. This just isn’t working…

App is trash and doesn’t show connections to my wifi6..after a bunch of wasted time I found that I could connect my light to my phone with no internet connection and then go into Wi-Fi settings on my phone and click on the light to set up a connection to my Wi-Fi that’s connected to my phone. Then reopen this control app and magically everything is connected and I can control my light through the app. Hope this helps everyone that’s having connection problems

The larger Elgato Light works no problem. Light mini troubles me all the time. Hard to connect to Wi-Fi. Impossible practically. Found one site where one of users shared that the issue could be with WiFi 5g usage. You have to remove 5g out, and live 2.5g only. After performing that change my mini worked. Still with some issues to connect to WiFi. Sad that it is so difficult to connect. Update Firmware please.

The app almost never connects to the lights on either platform. On my PC it’s rock solid every time but most of the time I don’t want to turn on my PC just to control the lights. I’ve done all the troubleshooting instructions from Elgato directly and from people on various forums and it continues to be a problem. After reading reviews here it seems this has been an issue for years with no real improvement. Had I purchased the lights myself I’d be returning them but since I cannot I just deal with it.

I purchased the Elgato Key Light and used this app to control it with. Absolutely easy to use that even a caveman can figure it out! Simple on/off as well as ability to vary brightness and the cool/warm light. Will be purchasing for family for Christmas!

Lights have never worked well. Control Center can’t find them half the time and they made them impossible to turn on manually (who does that?) The latest firmware update was supposed to improve things and instead they got way worse, going from working half the time to maybe 1/10 the time. I’m done with elgato. I recommend steering clear and buying lights that can be physically turned on without relying on a buggy app.

I love how easy it is to use this app to control my Elgato Ring Light but sometimes it’s a hassle just to get it to connect, and the connection is never stable enough to install firmware updates. I will hold out hope that the Elgato team will fix this (I’ve already been through all the troubleshooting) but right now, it’s a guessing game as to whether or not my light will even turn on due to inability to connect.

Quite surprised with the reviews here. The app has worked flawlessly for me. No connectivity issues either. The MacOS app is terribly convenient. Purposefully writing this review because 2 stars really make no sense. The app and the light have been stable with zero issues for me.

Great functionality, but a touch slow to connect. I would love to see an iOS widget and a watchOS app for macros or even just all-on/ all-off functionality. Some way to integrate with home kit would also be an appreciated feature. Otherwise, the app does what it says on the can. I enjoy centralized control over my lights

Understand that WiFi can have all sorts of issues, but everyone I open the app to turn the light off, the controls are in responsive. When I refresh, it looses connection and won’t find connection until I turn off WiFi on and off again from my phone. Otherwise this app would be fine and does its job.

Very pleased with the hardware quality, and quality of the LED lights. Wide range of adjustment for the brightness and color temp. The app doesn't connect reliably. A better interface is needed for precise settings - and presets! Hopeful a software update will remedy these shortcomings for 5 stars.

Before upgrading my networking equipment (unifi) the app would lose my key light air about 10% of the time. After upgrading to new access points (still unifi) no matter what I do (single AP with 2.4Ghz only ssid and no auto settings) control center cannot find the keylight. The keylight will connect to WiFi totally fine, it’s just control center that can’t find it. Be nice if we could enter an IP address manually.

The latest firmware and app updates have made my lights wireless function useless. You can no longer control them remotely. Sometimes one of the two lights connects but not the other. I now have to power them off with the switch instead of the app. It only works when my computer is on and I control it with the stream deck. Pretty frustrating. I wish I could downgrade my firmware to when it actually worked.

Just to do basic functions. I bought two key light air and out of the box it says I need more software. I understand Corsair now owns Elgato but this would’ve been a great opportunity to pair with iCue software as another option or at the least give me some options behind the lights. Dim, bright, and blindingly bright. I’m happy I can use these as they are - but I shouldn’t need to use wi-fi or an app, and when I do try and connect, the light turns off and then I get an error, which prevents me from using the app. Seems like I’m not the only user having the same issues. I just purchased these lights as of this writing. So far not happy with Elgato’s decision, here. In the mean time - I’m going to browse Reddit and see if I can find a solution.

After 4 hours of trying wouldn’t pair with my router. It would not show network in the new accessories window. Fortunately, I had a new router and when I installed that one it worked fine. Seems the problem is it does not work with 2 in 1 combo Modems/Routers. If you have one of those you may have a problem.

I love having my lighting system for all of my virtual training and online meetings. It saves me so much in terms of space so I can usually attach it to my electronic standing desk and move it around the room.

When using a WiFi 6 mesh network, where the SSID is the same across both frequencies, the iPhone will add the light to the network without issue in step 1, but the app cannot find the light in step 2. After failing to access the light with the iOS app, I used a hardwired desktop (no WiFi on the desktop) and immediately found the light no problem. So it works from a wired device to 2.4Ghz, but not 5GHz to 2.4GHz.

I have the key lights and find that the app is good for brightness and temp control. I have t had any issues with those two things. It’s responsive and not complicated.

I’ve used two key lights since the pandemic started, and they’ve generally been rock solid for me. This last update rendered them borderline unusable. One or both lights won’t appear in the app on a consistent basis. I’ve done all of the reset and resync steps multiple times. Both the firmware on the lights and my app are the latest versions available.

The Elgato key light is pretty awesome.... in fact I have two of them. Despite being an awesome product the light and app lacks Siri functionality and we constantly have to open the app to turn on and off the light. Automation would make this product complete and bring it into the digital age. Please, please, pleeeeeeeease Elgato or apple add this feature to the app and lights.

When I first bought my two key lights, they would connect very quickly. Nothing in my environment has changed except for the Elgato updates. Now I have to turn the key light lights on and then back to neutral to get control center on my iPhone and on my Mac mini to connect to them. This makes me hesitant to acquire the stream deck as I don’t think it is going to maintain continuous conductivity.

Don’t use the app that often. And every time I have to remember to type “control”… when I’m thinking “light”

The app is fine but the lights disconnect and connect randomly. Also, don’t turn on lights and then close app, everything just stops working and your lights will stay on requiring you to physically turn them off and reconnect them.

A very disappointing experience with an otherwise satisfactory product. A shame i’ve spent hundreds of dollars on lights and am unable to use them due to a malfunctioning application. Seems like an extreme oversight by Elgato, who I’ve previously been very happy with. The app fails to recognize the lights that have been connected and reconnected to the correct network. Utterly unintuitive and unreliable.

This app probably has one of the worst price of hardware to quality of software ratios of all time. Where to begin: intermittent connectivity, no support for HomeKit, no support for automations or shortcuts, no widgets, no extensions, no lighting presets (adjust sliders and remember your settings every time). Oh and best of all you have to use it because the stupid light has no controls on it. Incredible that they can get away with this.

The lights are awesome but the app is trash. I’ve had the lights for 2 weeks and still can’t connect my 2 lights for more then 5 seconds. And I’ve only gotten them to connect 3-4 times max. My computer doesn’t have WiFi capability to I’ve been trying to connect with my iOS so I can use with my stream deck. No point of having these lights if you can’t adjust as advertised.

Since getting my elgato air lights a year ago, the connection has been trash even across app software updates. The app used to lose connection once every 2 weeks or so requiring manual restart of the light. With the most recent update, the app needs to restart every 2 times I turn on/off the light. This is trash. I use the light daily

Windows Desktop Control Center works fine. The iOS app worked fine too but suddenly stopped working. After it stopped working I updated the software and the lights’ firmware. I see the app that requires a monthly subscription to control accessories has high reviews but this free app has poor reviews. I just want to control my Elgato Key Lights. Please fix.

This app is quite tedious. Although your product is connected to a power source, and your wifi is running completely fine, the app connection fails 9 out of 10 times. Its quite a hassle because even though your product worked with the app half an hr ago, it might not work in the next 15 minutes..

i’ve been tolerating re-establishing a connection to my Wi-Fi network regularly for the last two years. It doesn’t seem as though any of their updates fix this problem. The hardware is great. The software leaves a lot to be desired.

I wish legato would add HomeKit support or Siri support to this app. If I bought the key lights I should have have to pay for stream deck mobile to get that functionality. Other then that I love being able to control my key lights from the app

After app and lights update my app can’t recognize lights on my network, i reset the lights reconnect them to my Wi-Fi network still getting messages no accessory found. Done that 20 times, finally both lights appeared in the app but after exiting app and lunch it again it shows no accessory found. So frustrating. Now to control lights i need to turn on my pc

If you’re trying to setup on your LAN connected device, the lights won’t show up. You have to use a WiFi connected device. I used an iPhone to connect each light to my WiFi network (2G only, 5G won’t work) and then you can control them using the PC/Mobile app or the Elgato decks. Once you have it setup properly you can control your lighting with a single button.

Very often, the app isn’t able to find a device that is clearly connected to my wifi (I can control it from my PC). When the app finds my device, it’s simple enough and well designed.

I don’t know how this product could be so bad at connecting. At least once every few days, the two Key Airs fail to connect to the app. The devices are on my network (via my routers app) but this app still struggles to connect. Highly recommend getting a non elgato key light for your streams if you’re looking for a consistently performant option.

You need to go to wifi setting on your iphone first and add the light to your local wifi. This is not stated in the manual or in the app. I just got lucky. I can see how this is super frustrating. After that it’s straight forward and works. Also the naming of the app is non intuitive.

The light is good fixture and size and when connected provides a good experience. However the app loses connection with the light at almost every use. Very frustrating and the updates to the app are few and far between.

You keep asking for a review, so here it is: The app is slow, unresponsive, and tends to take much longer to react on iOS than a desktop request. If the app can not turn off a light within 30 seconds, maybe that’s something you should fix?

9 times out of 10 if you have more than one light it can only find one and the others never show up so you have to manually turn them off. What’s the point of the app if you have to do it manually?

Wish the connectivity was better for my lights. Sometimes doesn’t recognize them and it’s a pain. Otherwise works great when connected.

While the key lights are fantastic, the application needs work. I could set up the lights from my phone, but until I installed the windows app on my desktop the control app kept telling me the lights could not be found. Elgato needs to fix this issue.

The actual lights work great as far as brightness is concerned but the app fails 70% of the time for me when I want to turn off the lights while away from my desk. Sometimes one of my lights can’t be found on my desktop app either. The software needs work before I can recommend this product or app.