Razer Kiyo Webcam Broken? Here’s How I Got Mine Working Again

You’re not alone. All over Reddit and other forums, Kiyos are dropping like flies – the camera stops showing up on your computer, the ring light flickers like it’s trying to send Morse code, and no amount of driver reinstall voodoo helps.

Good news: There’s a fix.
Bad news: It involves a soldering iron and voiding your warranty.
Credit where credit’s due: I didn’t invent this fix. It’s been floating around the internet (see links at the bottom), but I’ll walk you through the steps with a bit more clarity.

Legal Disclaimer

The following fix involves hardware modification, specifically bypassing a fuse (component F1) on the Razer Kiyo webcam. This may void your warranty, cause permanent damage to the device, or, if done incorrectly, pose a risk of electric shock or fire. Do not attempt this unless you are experienced with electronics and soldering. By continuing, you accept full responsibility for any consequences. This guide is for educational purposes only. You’ve been warned. Seriously.

What You’ll Need

Flat plastic tool or spudger (no metal, please)
Precision Phillips screwdriver
Soldering iron + a bit of solder
Steady hands, nerves of steel, mild disregard for warranty terms

Step-by-Step: Reviving the Undead Kiyo

1. Pop off the white diffuser ring

Use your spudger to gently pry at four evenly spaced points around the ring. It’s held in by clips, so it should click out without much force.

2. Remove the five screws holding the front housing

You’ll now see five little Philips screws. Remove them, and carefully lift off the front cover of the camera.

3. Remove the heatsink (yep, this thing has a heatsink)

Flip the PCB over – you’ll find a small metal heatsink held in by three more screws. Unscrew and remove.

4. Find the fuse (F1), curse its existence, and bridge it

Locate the component labeled F1. This is the tiny SMD fuse that has given up on life.

Now for the fix:
Blob a small drop of solder across F1, bridging it. That’s it. No resistor, no wire – just a tiny solder blob.

⚠️ Yes, this bypasses the fuse entirely. Again: only do this if you know what that means.

5. Reassemble everything

Screw it all back together in reverse order, clip the ring back on, plug it in… and if the gods of electronics are merciful, your Kiyo should now come back to life.

Useful Links

Final Thoughts

This fix worked for me, and for many others – but yeah, you’re bridging a fuse. So maybe don’t do this if you’re not comfortable with electronics. Or at least don’t blame me if you let the magic smoke out.

That said: welcome back, functional webcam. Let’s never speak of this again.