# SteelSeries Apex 3: reconstructing RGB control over USB HID

> The SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Controller uses recovered USB HID reports to set the keyboard’s lighting colors from Linux. Its technical notes identify the device interface, a 32-byte report, color opcode 0x0B, and RGB values for ten zones. The repository includes a command-line program for sending color settings.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Protocol
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-08
- Original resource: <https://github.com/Shank404/Apex3_RGBController>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/Shank404/Apex3_RGBController/blob/c98d861cd34c8f5c531b39ec5901a5b869ed89b4/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/apex3-rgb-controller-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/apex3-rgb-controller-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/apex3-rgb-controller-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires Linux, Python 3, python-hidapi, and access to the SteelSeries Apex 3 HID device.
- **Scope:** The source describes Arch Linux specifically and notes that other distributions may need adaptation.
- **License:** No licence file in the repository.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/Shank404/Apex3_RGBController/blob/c98d861cd34c8f5c531b39ec5901a5b869ed89b4/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.