Razer Synapse Not Working Mac? Try This First
Razer Synapse not working Mac? Start with two things you can check in a minute, your Mac's chip and its macOS version, then move on to the cable, the port and any other lighting app that is open.
Razer Synapse not working Mac: check this first
When Synapse is not working on your Mac, or it opens without showing your Razer keyboard or mouse, check in this order: your Mac's requirements, then the cable, port or receiver, then other lighting apps. Anything specific to Synapse is a question for Razer's support.
Synapse for Mac is a Preview, and Razer's FAQ says it requires Apple Silicon and macOS 15 or later. On an Intel Mac, or on macOS 13 Ventura or 14 Sonoma, your Mac is outside those requirements. Does Razer Synapse work on Mac covers the requirements in detail.
Razer Synapse not detecting keyboard Mac (or your mouse)
The checks are the same for a keyboard, a mouse or both. Confirm your Mac's chip and macOS version, then ask Razer's support whether your exact model works with the Preview.
Razer Synapse not working Mac or Razer Synapse not detecting keyboard Mac?
Either way, start with the requirements. Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. Razer's FAQ asks for Apple Silicon, shown there as an Apple M-series chip, and macOS 15 or later. If you see an Intel processor or a macOS version below 15, your Mac does not match the FAQ, and no cable or port changes that.
Razer Synapse not detecting keyboard Mac: cable, port and receiver
If your Mac matches, rule out the connection. Plug the keyboard or mouse straight into the Mac instead of a hub, try another USB port and swap the cable if it is detachable. For a wireless model, plug its USB receiver directly into the Mac. Then restart the Mac and open Synapse again. If macOS asks for a permission, check System Settings → Privacy & Security.
“Please connect a Razer Synapse enabled device Mac” or “Razer Synapse 2 Mac please connect device”
If you see or searched for “Please connect a Razer Synapse enabled device” on your Mac, run the same checks. What that wording means inside Synapse is a question for Razer's support.
Others search for “Razer Synapse 2 Mac please connect device”. Whatever version your search names, Razer's Synapse for Mac page lists the current requirements.
Please connect a Razer Synapse enabled device Mac: close other apps
Two apps that control the same lights get in each other's way. Quit every other lighting app, RGB Studio included, before you open the one you want to test. When you switch, quit the first app fully before you open the next.
If your Mac does not qualify
If your Mac is outside the Preview's requirements, that is not something you did wrong. Requirements can change, so keep an eye on Razer's page. For the lights on an Intel Mac, or on macOS 13 or 14, you can use an app that supports that setup today.
Control the lights with RGB Studio
RGB Studio is an independent Mac app, compatible with Razer devices and not made or endorsed by Razer. It runs on macOS 13 Ventura or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel, with no account and no drivers to install. It is a beta and controls lighting only: no DPI, macros or button remapping, and no lighting control over Bluetooth, so wireless models work through their USB receiver. Per-key keyboards are controlled by columns (zones), not key by key.
Of its 120 Razer models, only the Razer Basilisk V3 and the Ornata V3 TKL have been tested on real hardware; the rest rely on known protocol data. Look up your model on the Razer keyboard on Mac or Razer mouse on Mac page, or read the comparison with Synapse for Mac and the OpenRGB comparison.
Common Razer Synapse problems on Mac
What should I check first for “Razer Synapse not working Mac”?
Work in this order. Confirm Apple Silicon and macOS 15 or later in About This Mac. Plug the keyboard, mouse or USB receiver directly into the Mac, try another port and restart. Quit every other lighting app. If Synapse still does not show the device, contact Razer's support with your Mac model, macOS version and device model.
Still stuck on “Razer Synapse not detecting keyboard Mac” after every step?
Then the open questions are about Synapse itself, so Razer's support is the right contact. Tell them your Mac's chip, your macOS version, the keyboard or mouse model and how it is connected.
Does a missing device mean my keyboard or mouse is broken?
Not necessarily. Check whether the keyboard types and the mouse moves the pointer: if they do, the Mac is receiving them. You can also try the device on another computer or port. If it fails everywhere, ask Razer's support about the hardware.
Can I control my lights without Synapse on a Mac?
Yes, as long as your model is supported. RGB Studio talks to the device itself, with no Synapse and no drivers: macOS 13 or later, US$ 8.79 once, in beta, lighting only, with 120 Razer models listed and two tested on real hardware. OpenRGB is free, open source and multiplatform according to its site; check there whether it covers your model.