To create a macro on a supported SteelSeries keyboard or mouse, install SteelSeries GG, open Engine, select your device, choose a key or button, and use Quick Record or Macro Editor. Then assign the macro to a game profile, apply the configuration, and test it safely.
Engine is not a separate current download: it is the device-configuration area inside GG. Exact controls vary by model, firmware, operating system, and GG version. Some macros require GG to remain open, while others can be stored in onboard memory.
Before you start
- A supported SteelSeries keyboard or mouse
- SteelSeries GG installed from the official download page
- The peripheral connected and visible in GG
- Any requested firmware updates installed
- A game profile, if the macro should work only in a particular game
Windows provides the fullest current GG experience. SteelSeries says macOS remains usable on supported systems but no longer receives regular new features or ongoing updates; Linux is not supported by GG. Console compatibility does not imply full GG compatibility, so configuration usually needs to be completed on a supported computer.
Before using automation in a game, check its current terms, server rules, tournament regulations, and anti-cheat guidance. A macro can be technically functional but still prohibited in a particular game or mode.
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What a SteelSeries macro does
A macro stores a sequence of inputs and assigns it to one keyboard key, mouse button, media button, or other supported control.
- Remap: One key or button sends another key.
- Key combination: One control sends a modifier combination such as Ctrl plus another key.
- Macro sequence: One control sends multiple inputs in a defined order, potentially with delays or repetitions.
- Dual Actuation: Different key-travel points trigger separate actions on supported Apex Pro keyboards. This is not the same as recording a conventional macro.
SteelSeries Engine supports bindings for keyboard keys, mouse buttons, media controls, and macros, but support is model-specific. Do not assume every SteelSeries product exposes identical recording, timing, playback, or onboard-memory options.
How to create a SteelSeries macro
- Install or update GG. Download GG from SteelSeries and restart it after installation or a major update if your device does not appear.
- Connect the peripheral. For first-time setup, connect it directly to the computer where possible. A wired connection is preferable during setup if the device supports one. Allow GG to install firmware updates when prompted.
- Open Engine. Launch GG, select Engine, choose your keyboard or mouse, and open its configuration page. SteelSeries describes Engine as the GG area for device settings, bindings, macros, profiles, DPI, and firmware-related configuration. See the GG overview.
- Select the target control. Click the key on the virtual keyboard or select the desired mouse button from the device controls. Open the key-binding or action dropdown. The label and location can differ between devices and GG releases.
- Choose Quick Record or Macro Editor. Use Quick Record for a short combination or simple modifier action. Open Macro Editor when you need several inputs, explicit press and release events, delays, repetitions, or later editing. SteelSeries documents both options in its Engine and Dual Actuation guidance.
- Record or build the sequence. Start recording or add events manually, press the inputs in order, and stop recording. Review the event list, remove accidental inputs, and adjust timing only if your device and GG version expose those controls. Give the macro a descriptive name.
- Assign the macro. Return to the selected key or button, choose the new macro, and apply or save the device configuration. Confirm that the control now displays the macro assignment.
- Test it safely. Test first in a text editor or key-display utility, then in a practice range, training mode, or private lobby. Check the order, timing, key releases, profile behavior, and whether the macro continues after the control is released.
Quick Record versus Macro Editor
| Tool | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Record | Short combinations and simple bindings | Usually offers less control over event timing and editing |
| Macro Editor | Multi-step sequences, delays, repetitions, and explicit key events | Requires more review and testing; available controls vary by device |
If a recorded macro behaves inconsistently, inspect the event list rather than assuming the game is at fault. Accidental key presses, missing release events, or delays that are too short can all change the result.
Assign the macro to a game profile
A game-specific profile prevents a game macro from changing your normal desktop or work behavior. Profiles can contain keybinds, macros, lighting, DPI, and audio settings.
- Create or select a profile in Engine.
- Name it clearly, such as
Game – Build MacroorDesktop – Default. - Assign the macro only to that profile.
- Set the desktop profile as the default when no game is running.
For automatic switching, use GG’s Library Apps and QuickSet where your device supports them. QuickSet can watch for a game executable and switch to the associated profile when the game launches, then return to the default profile when it closes. The executable path must be correct, and a launcher may be separate from the actual game executable. See SteelSeries’ QuickSet documentation.
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If automatic switching fails, verify the actual .exe path, confirm that the correct device profile is attached to the game entry, update GG and firmware, and use manual switching if the device does not support QuickSet.
How to create a mouse macro
- Open GG and enter Engine.
- Select the SteelSeries mouse.
- Choose a side button or another assignable control.
- Open its action or key-binding menu.
- Choose Quick Record for a simple combination or Macro Editor for a longer sequence.
- Record or construct the inputs, review them, and save the macro.
- Assign it to the button and apply the configuration.
- Place the assignment in the appropriate game profile and test it outside a live competitive match.
Mouse behavior is particularly model-dependent. SteelSeries documents that some mappings on products including Rival 5, Prime, Prime+, and Prime Wireless require Engine to remain running, while other settings may continue through onboard memory. A macro that works while GG is open may therefore stop working after GG is closed.
Software macros versus onboard macros
| Type | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Software macro in GG | Easy editing, profile automation, and broader configuration | May require GG to run and can be affected by permissions, updates, focus, or overlays |
| Onboard macro | More portable and may work after moving the device to another computer | Storage capacity, profiles, connection modes, and supported features vary by model |
| Manual in-game binding | Low software complexity and usually the safest competitive option | Less suitable for multi-step sequences |
Never assume that a macro automatically travels with the peripheral. Check your exact model for:
- Whether onboard memory exists
- Whether macros are among the settings it stores
- How many onboard profiles are available
- Whether USB, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and console modes differ
- Whether the assignment is hardware-stored or dependent on GG
For example, SteelSeries says Engine-created macros can be saved to both the wired and wireless Rival 3 Gen 2 models. That is a documented model-specific behavior, not a universal rule. SteelSeries also documents that the Rival 5 has one onboard profile and that the profile active when Engine quits becomes its onboard profile.
Windows, macOS, Linux, and consoles
Windows
Windows is the recommended platform for the latest GG features and updates. It is the best choice for creating and maintaining profiles, macros, firmware, and automatic game switching.
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macOS
GG may still configure supported devices on macOS, but the interface and available features may differ from Windows. SteelSeries says macOS will not receive regular new features or ongoing updates, although critical bug, security, and certain firmware updates may still be released. New macro functionality should not be assumed to arrive on Mac.
Linux
SteelSeries does not support GG on Linux. Hardware-stored settings may work in some model-specific cases, and third-party tools may exist, but those are unsupported alternatives rather than an equivalent SteelSeries workflow.
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Some SteelSeries keyboards and mice work with consoles, but macro configuration generally must be completed on a supported computer and then used only according to the device’s onboard capabilities. Console compatibility does not guarantee access to all GG profiles, software macros, or automatic switching.
Macros versus Dual Actuation, Rapid Trigger, and Rapid Tap
| Feature | Purpose | Hardware or software requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary macro | Sends a sequence or combination of inputs | Supported device and Engine controls |
| Dual Actuation | Triggers different actions at different key-travel points | Omnipoint-equipped Apex Pro keyboard |
| Rapid Trigger | Changes how key actuation and release are detected | Supported keyboard feature |
| Rapid Tap | Provides a specialized key-actuation behavior | Supported keyboard feature |
Dual Actuation can assign separate actions to a light and deep press, such as walk and run. It is not conventional macro recording, although a macro may be one of the assigned actions. SteelSeries says Dual Actuation is limited to Omnipoint switches and unavailable on certain function, arrow, and numpad zones. Trigger points set too close together can cause missed or inconsistent activation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are SteelSeries macros allowed in games?
There is no universal yes-or-no answer. Permission depends on the specific game, mode, server, tournament, and anti-cheat rules. Repetitive automation may be acceptable in one context and prohibited in another, especially in competitive games.
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When the rules are unclear, use a manual in-game binding instead. Avoid macros that automate aiming, combat decisions, repeated actions, or human timing in competitive play. If a game or tournament prohibits automation, do not use the macro even if GG and the peripheral support it.
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Troubleshooting
GG does not detect the keyboard or mouse
- Reconnect the device.
- Use a direct USB port instead of a hub.
- Restart GG and then restart the computer.
- Check for firmware updates.
- Confirm that the model is supported by current GG.
- Try another cable or connection mode where applicable.
- Reinstall GG only after preserving important profile information where possible.
SteelSeries identifies GG as the software for current device setup, customization, and firmware management. Its software-download guidance can help distinguish current GG from older Engine terminology.
The macro is visible but does nothing
- Confirm that the correct key or button is selected.
- Check that the intended profile is active.
- Apply the macro again after editing it.
- Keep GG running if the feature is software-dependent.
- Check whether the device is in a different onboard, wireless, Bluetooth, or console mode.
- Make sure the assignment is not attached to a layer or Dual Actuation level you are not triggering.
- Test an ordinary remap first to separate a binding problem from a macro problem.
The macro works on the desktop but not in a game
The game may use raw input, have a focus or permission conflict, block the sequence through its anti-cheat system, or fail to load the intended profile. Test in a practice environment, verify the game executable path, recreate the profile if necessary, and use manual in-game bindings where possible. Stop using the macro if the game’s rules prohibit it.
The macro fires only sometimes
Inspect delays and press/release events, then check wireless stability, profile selection, game input buffering, and overlays. For Dual Actuation, separate the two trigger points by a larger distance if inputs are skipped.
The macro disappears after GG closes
This usually indicates a software-dependent assignment rather than a confirmed onboard macro. Check whether your model stores macros and whether the current profile was written to onboard memory. Some mouse mappings explicitly require Engine to remain active.
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The macro does not transfer to another computer
The profile may be stored in GG rather than on the device. Export, synchronize, or recreate it only if your particular GG version and hardware support that function; do not assume universal cloud synchronization or profile portability.
Best practices
- Use descriptive macro and profile names.
- Keep game profiles separate from your desktop profile.
- Test in a text editor, training mode, or private lobby before using the macro elsewhere.
- Keep a manual fallback binding for important actions.
- Review assignments after GG or firmware updates.
- Document which macros are software-dependent and which are stored onboard.
- Avoid excessive automation and follow the rules for every game and competitive environment.
Conclusion
The dependable path is GG → Engine → device → key or button → Quick Record or Macro Editor → profile → safe test. The exact result depends on the peripheral, operating system, firmware, connection mode, and whether the macro is stored in GG or onboard memory. Treat model-specific storage and game-policy compliance as separate questions from whether Engine can record the input.
Quick Recap
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