Do HyperX Keyboards Work on Mac? (Full Setup Guide)

If you’re on this page, you either OWN a HyperX keyboard or are looking to purchase one.

But sadly–there are some things you need to know!

So do HyperX keyboards work on Mac computers?

Yes, all HyperX keyboards will function on Mac devices. However, you will need to make 1-2 minor tweaks in macOS system preferences (swapping the modifier keys) in order to set up the keys correctly. Even then, there might be some functionality that doesn’t carry over from Windows! And sadly, HyperX’s keyboard customization software, Ngenuity, does not support MacOS.

It’s not the most Mac-friendly gaming brand–but there IS a way to make it work!

Below I’ll show you exactly how to set up your HyperX to work on Mac, AND dive into some customization software you can use on MacOS instead of Ngenuity!

Let’s go ⌨️

Do HyperX Keyboards Work With a Mac?

Yes, they do. This should apply to every HyperX keyboard (mechanical or membrane), as well as their mice and gaming headsets:

  • HyperX Alloy Origins (mechanical)
  • HyperX Alloy Elite 2 (mechanical)
  • HyperX Alloy RGB (membrane keyboard)
  • Etc.
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  • HyperX Mechanical Switches rated for 80 million keystrokes
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All of these work on Mac.

However, it’s worth noting that HyperX keyboards (and most mechanical keyboards, for that matter) are technically set up for Windows keys by default.

When you first plug in into your Mac, it might not recognize the correct layout!

Here’s the main difference between Mac and Windows computers:

  • The Modifier keys: These are your Control, Option, Windows, and Command keys. On a Windows keyboard, the modifier keys are in a different order than they are on a Mac.
  • The Keycaps: This won’t affect functionality, but HyperX keyboards come with keycaps showing the Windows logo (and generally don’t come with a “Command” logo keycap
  • Various Functions: On some Apple keyboards, you might have access to the Launchpad, Mission Control, or Siri features. These don’t come on HyperX keyboards

And depending on which keyboard you have, there might be some Windows-related keys (scroll lock, pause break, etc) that don’t work on macOS out of the box (but see below!)

All that said, there are a few simple tweaks that can make ANY HyperX keyboard get 99% functionality on any MacOS device.

Let’s get into it.

How to Setup Your HyperX for Mac Computers:

More Tips: Can a mechanical keyboard work on a Mac? Full Setup Guide

Here are the steps:

  1. Plug your keyboard into your Mac
  2. Open System Preferences → Keyboard
  3. Under the “Modifier Keys…” dropdown, switch the Option and Command keys. This will put your modifier keys in the correct order for a Mac
mac swap modifier keys

That’s it! You should now have a functioning HyperX keyboard on your Mac.

Does HyperX software Work on Mac? (Ngenuity)

No. HyperX Ngenuity software is currently only available for Windows PCs (not MacOS or Linux).

If you’re using MacOS, technically you could install Ngenuity via the Boot Camp program (allows you to install Windows software & games on your Mac), but that process is tedious and might not be worth it.

Click here to learn more about Boot Camp assistant for MacOS.

If you’d like to read more about HyperX Ngenuity, head to their download page here.

Luckily, there are a few great MacOS apps that can replace HyperX Ngenuity for customization, macros, and more!

Check out the section below.

Troubleshooting Tips for HyperX Connectivity Problems

If you’re having trouble connecting your HyperX to a Mac, or if some keys aren’t working correctly, here are a few troubleshooting tips:

Reset your external keyboard for your Mac

When you first connect your HyperX to your machine, you should see a popup assistant asking you to press a few keys to determine the layout, etc.

But you can also delete your keyboard preferences file to start from scratch.

Here’s what you do:

  1. Disconnect the keyboard
  2. Head to Finder and click the hard drive icon (under Devices)
  3. Head to the Library folder, and then the Preferences folder
  4. Click on the file named com.apple.keyboardtype.plist and drag that into the trash!
  5. Empty your trash
  6. Reconnect the keyboard via USB

You should see the setup assistant again! Follow the instructions and you should be good to go.

Try performing a factory reset

This isn’t guaranteed to fix any keyboard problem, but it might do the trick for some keyboards in some situations!

To perform a factory reset for your HyperX keyboard, press and hold the Function Key + Escape until the keyboard backlight flashes once.

If this doesn’t fix anything, move on to other methods 👇

Try updating the keyboard firmware

The “firmware” is basically the software directly inside of your keyboard (if that makes sense).

This process isn’t easy, so I’d recommend trying this as a last resort.

Reach out to HyperX support or post on Reddit

If you’re still having issues connecting the HyperX to your Mac, you might either…

  1. Head to HyperX’s website and contact their support team. HyperX is a large, established company with a full customer support team. They should be prompt and helpful!
  2. Post on the r/mk subreddit with your issue (be detailed)

Additional Mechanical Keyboard Tips for Mac Users

There are a few other tips and tricks to making the most out of your mechanical keyboard on a Mac:

  • Via (only for Via-supported keyboards)
  • Keyboard Maestro: A SLICK hotkey & macro tool that’s cheap and flexible!
  • Karabiner: Another popular key remapping app for MacOS

Sadly, HyperX keyboards do not support Via or QMK–so the only way to change keybinds or other custom programming is to use Keyboard Maestro.

(Or a keybind tool like Karabiner, but Keyboard Maestro is more powerful)

Keyboard Maestro for HyperX Keyboards

keyboard maestro

Keyboard Maestro is a GAME-CHANGER for any Mac user, especially keyboards that don’t support Via (like HyperX).

It does cost about $30-40 (one time, not a subscription), but it’s totally worth it.

You can use Keyboard Maestro to…

  • Set up custom keybinds for ANY key on your keyboard
  • Create custom macros
  • Change modifier keys
  • SO much more

It’s an insanely powerful tool. We highly recommend it (then check out some tutorial videos on YouTube, or here’s a great setup guide).

Karabiner for Mac

Karabiner is a simple tool for customizing SEVERAL things in MacOs, including…

  • Mapping one key to another
  • Changing modifier keys
  • Enabling extra keys on PC keyboards that are not recognized by default in MacOS

It’s also easy to install and setup, and it’s free!

Here’s their documentation that walks you through the setup process, etc.

Other Mac-friendly keyboards

Though we love everything that HyperX puts out, there are several other keyboards that work great for Macs too!

Want to see our full list? Read this post: The 7 Best Mechanical Keyboards for Mac.

If you’re still shopping for your mech, you can also gauge more of our setup guides here:

Happy clacking, Mac friends!

Mac Keyboards F.A.Q.s

How do I connect HyperX QuadCast to Mac?

HyperX QuadCast microphones do work with MacOS. To connect, you’ll simply plug in the USB cable and navigate to System Preferences > Sound, and then select HyperX Quadcast in the Output and Input tabs. 

Does HyperX Alloy Origins work on Mac?

Yes, the HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard does work on Mac devices. However, you will need to change the modifier key settings under System Preferences first (to switch the Command & Option keybinds). You can also use software like Karabiner or Keyboard Maestro to adjust keybinds, macros, etc, to your preferences. HyperX Ngenuity software does NOT work on MacOS. It’s Window’s only.

Does HyperX alloy core RGB work on Mac?

Yes, the HyperX Alloy Core RGB keyboard will work on MacOS. Similar to other HyperX keyboards, however, you’ll likely need to swap the modifier key settings under System Preferences > Keyboard (switch Command & Option keybinds).

Are all keyboards Compatible with Mac?

Yes, 99% of computer keyboards are compatible with Mac computers. However, you will generally need to change some keyboard settings (specifically the modifier keys like “Command”) in order to maintain the normal Mac keyboard layouts. This is easily accomplished by going into the Mac System Preferences under “keyboard” and “modifier keys.”

Do HyperX keyboards need software?

No, HyperX keyboards will work on both Windows and Mac when you plug in your keyboard (although you’ll want to swap your modifier keys on MacOS under System Preferences). Additionally, the customization softrware from HyperX (Ngenuity), is only compatible with Windows PCs (not Mac or Linux).