The MSI Dragon Center is an application that comes with your MSI Dragon laptop. It is designed to help you easily optimize and monitor the system’s activities, change the settings of your battery and work on your game mode.
The MSI Dragon Center typically makes using your laptop easier, and as such, when it stops working, the best thing is to find the cause and then fix it. This article will discuss the reasons for the “MSI Dragon center not working” and the best fixes.
What Is MSI Dragon Center?
The MSI dragon center is a free Windows app that comes pre-installed on every MSI laptop. It is a hardware control and management app that can monitor, edit and optimize several different functions on the laptop. It contains all hardware adjustments, hardware monitoring, and system optimization options. It can also be used with MSI motherboards or GPUs – if you have one, you can also install the MSI dragon center.
Some features of the MSI dragon center include;
- The Battery Master displays the battery settings of the laptop. With this, you can calibrate the battery and edit its settings to make it last longer and perform better. It also offers battery modes like Balanced, Mobility, and Best for Battery.
- The System Monitor shows you a percentage of your RAM, video card, processor, and storage is in use at the time. It also displays your battery settings, system specifications, fan speed, and internet speed.
- The Gaming Mode of the MSI dragon center identifies your installed games and optimizes your laptop settings to the best possible ones for each game. These optimized settings include lighting up the most used keys for each game or adjusting the screen brightness to provide the best gaming experience.
- The System Tuner handles the performance profiles or modes for the laptop. You may choose meeting, performance, or theatre or decide to customize one according to your needs. The settings for each profile cover processor overclock, fan speed, DPI settings, and others.
Other features include LED wizard, voice wizard, SHIFT technology, and mobile center tools and help.
MSI Dragon Center Not Working: Causes
Corrupted Files and Outdated Drivers. A reason for your “MSI Dragon Centre not working” issue could be corrupted files. For example, if your laptop has a bug that has infected the software, the app will not open or malfunction.
Having outdated drivers could also affect your MSI Dragon center performance. The dragon center relies on the drivers to regulate RGB and clock speed. If the drivers are not up-to-date, the center might not open or work properly.
Waiting For SDK Initialization
A common problem with the MSI Dragon Center is waiting for the SDK Initialization message that keeps popping up.
This means the app is not processing correctly, and you’ll need to provide some app permissions to allow it to function properly. For example, for the MSI Dragon center to work correctly, you need to give the MSI central service permissions.
The MSI central service should be enabled and allowed to open, and to stop this problem; you’ll have to update your permission settings in Windows.
Also, you’ll need to ensure you have the correct and updated SDK files installed to fix this problem.
Read also: What does the MSI game boost do?
Outdated or Incorrect Software Version
If your MSI Dragon Center software suddenly stops working or doesn’t open properly, you might be experiencing this problem due to an outdated software version. This problem can be further compounded if your computer has just updated Windows to the latest version.
If you’ve not updated your software in a long time and it starts malfunctioning, you need to update your MSI Dragon software to the latest version and ensure you have the correct software files.
Read also: Are Gaming Laptops Good for Programming?
Compatibility Issues
Your MSI Dragon Center might have problems opening if it is not compatible with your laptop specs or the Windows package you are currently using. Ensure your Dragon Center is consistent with the required technical specifications so it performs seamlessly.
MSI Dragon Center Not Working? Best Fixes
Fix 1: Waiting for SDK Initialization Fix
- Close your MSI Dragon Center if it’s currently open, then press Control + S and search for Services
- Open services and search for MSI Central Service on your PC
- Locate MSI Central Service and right-click on it to see its Properties
- Open the General tab and click on Startup type.
- Set the Startup type to Automatic, then apply it by clicking OK
- Go back to MSI Central Service, right-click and click on Start.
- Copy everything inside the MSI Dragon Center folder
- Paste the copied files in C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\MSI\One Dragon Center.
- Reopen the MSI Dragon Center, and it should be working properly
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Fix 2: Download the Offline Version
Using the offline version of the MSI Dragon Center solves most of the problems encountered by users of the software, and it is more stable. Download the offline version with the following easy steps:
- Download the latest MSI Dragon center offline package
- Uninstall the previous MSI Dragon Centre application from your PC
- Search your programs and locate MSI Services
- Delete the Dragon center and One Dragon center from the Services folder
- Go to Downloads and Extract the downloaded package
- Open the MSI Dragon center setup file and set it as an Administrator
- Install the app following the instructions on your screen
- Restart your laptop and Open the app
- The MSI Dragon should be running just fine.
Fix 3: Make the MSI Dragon Center An Administrator
You can fix the “MSI dragon center not opening” problem by making the app an administrator as it might advance permissions to enable it to work properly. To do this:
- On your Desktop or Start menu, right-click the MSI Dragon Center to change its properties
- Once you open Properties, Click on the Compatibility icon and check the ‘Run This Program as an Administrator option‘
- Ensure you accept all confirmations to give MSI Dragon Center admin privileges
- Relaunch the program to check if it’s opening correctly.
Fix 4: Update All Drivers
Ensure you always have your drivers updated as outdated drivers can easily affect your MSI Dragon Center functioning capabilities.
- To update your PC drivers, visit your laptop’s manufacturer’s websites.
- Locate the correct installer for your laptop model
- Follow the step-by-step instructions to install the driver
- Reboot your PC
- Launch the MSI Dragon Center to check if the problem has been solved.
Fix 5: Clean Install MSI Dragon Centre
If you suspect that your MSI Dragon files have been corrupted, then the best fix is to clean install the app.
- Close the MSI Dragon Center app
- Download the latest MSI dragon package for your laptop model from the MSI website.
- Uninstall the Dragon center from your Apps
- Open your Program files and Click on Hidden Items on the Show/Hide tab
- Search for Program Data on the Hidden items
- Open the Program Data file and locate the MSI file
- Click on the MSI file to download the MSI Dragon center
- Extract the file and install it on your laptop following the instructions
- Restart your PC after installation
- Launch the app to see if it’s running fine.
How to Change Keyboard Color on MSI Dragon Center
To change keyboard color on MSI dragon center;
- Launch the MSI Dragon Center application
- Tap System Tuning >> Keyboard Lighting
- Choose one of the available presets or customize the keyboard color as desired
- Save the changes
It is important to note that if you are trying to change the color of an external keyboard, be sure to connect the keyboard before attempting the color change.
How to Update MSI Dragon Center
To update the MSI dragon center, you can either use the auto-update feature or manually update it by uninstalling the current version to download and install the newest version. The auto-update dialogue box pops up every time a new version of the dragon center is released and available for download. Simply click OK when the dialogue pops up to download and install the update automatically. Restart the laptop once the update is completed.
It is important to note that the update dialogue box will only come up when the system is connected to the internet.
To manually update MSI dragon center;
- Uninstall your current version of the dragon center
- Search for Control Panel from the taskbar and launch it
- Select Programs and Features
- Locate the MSI dragon center, tap it and click Uninstall
- Visit the MSI website and download the new version
- Unzip the file and run the Setup.exe file
- Follow the prompts to install
- Restart the laptop to complete the process
From the dragon center settings, you can visit the MSI official website, check Microsoft for updates, or toggle on Always Update and Dragon Center Auto Update. Simply tap the settings or gear icon at the bottom left corner of the screen after starting up the MSI dragon center app to view these options.
How to Download MSI Dragon Center
To download the MSI dragon center;
- Click here. Scroll down to find the Download button and click on it
- Choose your OS and click Download
- The dragon center will now be downloaded as a .zip file
- Create a folder on your desktop for the dragon center and extract the .zip to that folder
- Find and run the Setup.exe file from the folder
- Follow the prompts to install
- Once done, click Finish and restart the system
How to Fix MSI Dragon Center Blocked by Firewall
To fix MSI dragon center blocked by firewall;
- Open File explorer
- Tap View at the top and check Hidden items to display any hidden files
- Go to C: >> Program Files (x86) >> MSI >> One Dragon Center
- Locate and right-click on the MSI.CentralServer.Exe file
- Select Run as Administrator
- Also, ensure that the One Dragon Center folder is added to your antivirus whitelist or excluded from antivirus scans
You can also try this method:
- Search for Services from the Windows taskbar and open it
- Locate and double click on MSI Central Services
- Change the Startup type to Automatic instead of Manual
- Tap OK to save
- Right-click MSI Central Services and select Restart to relaunch it
- If the Startup type is already set to Automatic, then skip steps 2 to 4 above
If the methods above do not work, you can also try the auto-update option (mentioned above) or something more permanent – uninstall, delete and reinstall the program – to get rid of the error. It is important to note that deleting the file will also delete all configuration files.
To perform this permanent method;
- Uninstall your current version of the dragon center
- Search for Control Panel from the taskbar and launch it
- Select Programs and Features
- Locate the MSI dragon center, tap it and click Uninstall
- Delete the dragon center file
- Open File explorer
- Go to C: >> Program Files (x86) >> MSI
- Delete the Dragon Center file from the folder
- Visit the MSI website and download the new version
- Unzip the file and run the Setup.exe file with admin
- Follow the prompts to install
- Restart the laptop to complete the process
You should also note that RGB light controlling apps, asides from the MSI dragon center app, might cause a clash resulting in the firewall error. In this case, all you need do is uninstall the other RGB light controlling apps or close them from the task manager when running the MSI dragon center.
How to Add MSI Dragon Center to Startup
To add MSI dragon center to startup;
- Go to File explorer >> Desktop
- Locate and copy the MSI dragon center shortcut
- Simultaneously tap the Windows and X keys
- Type shell:startup in the dialogue box that pops up
- Another file explorer window will open
- Paste the copied shortcut here
Alternatively, you can tap the settings or gear icon at the bottom left corner of the screen after starting up the MSI dragon center app and toggle on Start Dragon Center automatically when system starts.
How to Control Fan Speed on MSI Dragon Center
To control the fan speed on MSI dragon center;
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Go to Home >> User Scenario >> Customize >> Fan
- Click the settings icon next to either the CPU, PUMP, or SYS fan option
- You can now choose to use the smart fan control panel or manual fan control panel
- To use the smart fan, click the Smart fan tab and adjust the smart speed slopes by dragging the four red dots on the curve – this will change the fan speed and the smart speed curve
- The number displayed at the left of the curve is the current fan speed
- The white dot on the curve will form a real-time strip chart
- The Default button in the bottom right corner is for default settings
- The Fan Tune button at the right of the curve automatically improves the smart fan settings
- To use the manual fan control panel, click the Manual Fan tab and control the speed by clicking on the percentage in the dial – points a, c, and d above also apply here
Method 2:
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Click on System Adjustment >> Settings>Basic
- Tap the settings icon next to Basic to reveal a control strip that can be used to increase or decrease the fan speed
Method 3:
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Go to Home >>User Scenario >> User
- Under the Fan Speed option, click on the dropdown to select a preferred mode
- You can also tap the settings or gear icon next to the dropdown for more settings
Method 4:
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Tap the System Tuner tab; you should see the Auto (applies the system default settings), Basic (allows basic configuration of the fan RPM), or Advanced (allows complete configuration of the fan RPM) modes under the Fan Speed section.
- You can choose either of the modes as desired
- For the Basic mode, you can click on it to reveal a bar that can be dragged up or down to increase or decrease the fan RPM of every temperature stage.
- For the Advanced mode, click on it and then click on the setup or settings icon to reveal a modal of advanced settings – here, you can adjust the settings for both CPU and GPU fan RPM for different temperatures. After editing, click on Save to apply your changes.
- It is important to note that some of these settings might vary depending on the model of the system
How to Add Games to MSI Dragon Center Gaming Mode
To add games to MSI dragon center gaming mode;
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Go to Main >> Gaming Mode
- Enable gaming mode by toggling on Gaming Mode in the top right corner of the page
- Then tap Add game and locate the file directory of the game you want to add
- Select the .exe (executable) file of the game and add it
- You should now see the added game listed on the gaming page
- Click on the settings or gear icon in the right corner of the game to view supported optimization options
How Do I Turn ON the Led Wizard with The MSI Dragon Center?
To turn on the LED wizard or Mystic light with the MSI dragon center;
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Tap the Live Update icon at the bottom of the display
- Tap the Scan icon at the top to see what software you are missing
- Tap Mystic Light and click Install at the bottom right corner of the page
- Restart the system after the installation is complete
- Relaunch the app and tap the Mystic Light option to set it up
How to Set Up Fans on MSI Dragon Center
To set up fans on MSI dragon center;
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Tap the System Tuner tab; you should see the Auto (applies the system default settings), Basic (allows basic configuration of the fan RPM), or Advanced (allows complete configuration of the fan RPM) modes under the Fan Speed section.
- You can choose either of the modes as desired
- For the Basic mode, you can click on it to reveal a bar that can be dragged up or down to increase or decrease the fan RPM of every temperature stage.
- For the Advanced mode, click on it and then click on the setup or settings icon to reveal a modal of advanced settings – here, you can adjust the settings for both CPU and GPU fan RPM for different temperatures. After editing, click on Save to apply your changes.
- It is important to note that some of these settings might vary depending on the model of the system
How to Overclock with MSI Dragon Center
To overclock with MSI dragon center;
- Launch the Dragon Center
- Go to System Tuner and tap either the Profile 1 or Profile 2 tabs to customize
- Tap the option under Shift to open a dropdown and select Turbo, then tap the setting or gear icon next to it
- Edit the Core Clock Offset and VRAM Clock Offset as desired
- Tap Save
- An Overclocking Warning dialog box will come up; it is essential to note that clicking Confirm will void your warranty – if you’re okay with this, tap Confirm to save your changes; otherwise, don’t
- Also, tap the dropdown under Fan Speed and select Cooler Boost
- Tap the dropdown under Nahimic and select Gaming
- Tap the dropdown under True Color and select Gamer
- Tap Save in the right corner to save changes
Note that Nahimic and True Color settings can be adjusted depending on your preferences. Also, to keep your computer safe, we recommend customizing Profile 2 as well – setting Shift to Comfort, Fan Speed to Auto, and Nahimic/True Color to the same settings above or your preferred setting.
How to Make MSI Dragon Center Display Fahrenheit Instead of Celsius
To make MSI dragon center display Fahrenheit instead of Celsius, simply click on the temperature to toggle between Celsius and Fahrenheit. After launching the app, you can try clicking the temperature noted under CPU to toggle between Celsius and Fahrenheit. You can also try this method from the System Turner >> Fan Speed page.
What Do MSI Dragon Center Power Settings Mean?
The MSI dragon center power settings help to configure and optimize the performance of the system. In the User Scenario tab in the dragon center, you can choose your preferred performance status for your system – the options are;
- Extreme Performance
- Balanced
- Silent
- Super Battery
- User
You can also adjust the system’s performance level and fan speed here.
What Does Clicking High Performance on Device Setting Do on MSI Dragon Game Center?
Selecting ‘High performance’ on the device setting on the MSI dragon game center gives a higher system performance, increased power usage, and maximum CPU frequency to improve the gaming experience.
What Is Fan Tune on MSI Dragon Center?
The Fan Tune button in the smart fan control panel page on MSI dragon center is used to optimize the smart fan settings. It sets the system fans to operate at a low speed/low load and increases the speed as the system’s temperature increases.
Conclusion
We’re not even going to take credit for all the new information you just got from this article. The MSI dragon center offers so many features that for newbies – it might be confusing to use, and for those familiar with it – it might hold some hidden features that you just never came across.
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A tech writer with a passion for demystifying complex technology for the masses. With a background in computer science and a knack for clear and concise communication, I have made a name for myself in the tech industry as a go-to source for understandable and engaging explanations of the latest developments. Learn more about tekpip and the team here on our about us page.