Crown Overlay disabling request in main service

[antiero]

I've sent this to support and have complained on the forums, but posting here in the hope that someone who's a developer can escalate this...

Please please PLEASE can you add an option to disable to overlays which appear when you use the Crown on the Craft keyboard?

These overlays should be optional.. they get in the way of Creative Apps, are distracting, and totally unnecessary and completely remove the keyboard's 'Pro' feel. There's a number of online forums of people complaining about this, including:

https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360034833613-Logitech-Craft-option-to-disable-overlays-

https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360032761973-Logitech-Craft-Software-Annoyance

And many more!

[innocenzi]

Yes, please, please. I've been using this keyboard for months and I have disabled the crown because the overlay pisses me off so much. The whole point of this keyboard is the crown. I'd like to use it!

@ffrappereau can you do something about this? This is a major issue for many.

[Tuinpad]

Lets hope they do something about that!

[happystarling]

For Windows, if you rename following file, Overlay will be disabled. C:\ProgramData\Logishrd\LogiOptions\Software\Current\LogiOverlay.exe to LogiOverlay__.exe (or something else).

Additional note: You will need to restart computer, or just kill "Logi Overelay" process in Task Manager

It works until next Logitech Options update.

Not sure for Mac.

[innocenzi]

Oh, wow. I'll try this. Thank you!

[Tuinpad]

This won't work. The overlay is gone and the knob don't work anymore

[innocenzi]

Can confirm it won't work. Overlay is indeed disabled, but the crown malfunctions.

[SaveTheHuman5]

Take a look, https://hi.computer/forum-community/talk-about-anything/logitech-craft-elephant/

[innocenzi]

Looks like he managed to disable the overlay without breaking the crown, but I couldn't find how.

[SaveTheHuman5]

Done! and ready to use, read the update 5: https://hi.computer/forum-community/talk-about-anything/logitech-craft-elephant/

[SaveTheHuman5]

Looks like he managed to disable the overlay without breaking the crown, but I couldn't find how.

hawezo........"Magicians never reveal their secrets".......o wait....... i'm a coder lol! here we go!

Ok, here my answer for all developers want hide the overlay without broken the crown, in case the feature never is released or can't wait. The correct way and this is the way I use in my little software tool:

The overlays are just WS_EX_LAYERED windows. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/winmsg/extended-window-styles Anyway as any windows you can setup transparency using the MS Windows API, the tool I created just search for all overlay windows (child windows of LogiOverlay.exe) , this windows not have tittle and the only value to access (findwindow) is the class, what look like this:

HwndWrapper[LogiOverlay.exe;;0cec7227-501a-49c6-803c-bfe15d70cd40] HwndWrapper[LogiOverlay.exe;;ab128433-d1ba-4f73-ace7-552349c6fe0a] HwndWrapper[LogiOverlay.exe;;99c59958-a246-4782-ad40-d55a3864c9b6] HwndWrapper[LogiOverlay.exe;;b1572ef6-91dd-4452-8a15-1b59a8676026]

Duet new overlays windows are created every time you restart the OS, and of course the class are unique per new session and change, the only way hide that overlays windows is search with regular expression inside all opened windows, match the windows, and then make the overlay windows transparent. The overlay is there, just is setup with my code to 100% transparent.

Regular expression is something like this: (HwndWrapper[LogiOverlay.exe;;.*?]) So basically the regular expression allow to my code to match all overlay window class in all opened windows and apply 100% transparency to matched windows using the windows API.

When want back all to normal all what you have to do is kill logioverlay.exe process and restsart the process. Why not remove the transparency? Well that is a another large history, and I stay really busy working in other projects, but is the best and faster way kill the LogiOverlay.exe process, and instant restart instead have to write 400 lines of code just to remove the transparency. Is this a hack? yes is and is legal hack and is 100% compatible with future updates of Logitech Options. (or should be lol)

The dirty and incorrect way: There is another way to hide in permanent way the overlay. Just search the LogiOverlay.exe file what is located in C:\ProgramData\Logishrd\LogiOptions\Software\Current

Right click with your mouse over LogiOverlay.exe , select compatibility, and mark run as administrator, restart your machine and click yes every time the system ask run the LogiOverlay.exe as admin. This simple trick, make LogiOverlay.exe run with elevated permission, and duet is elevated non elevated software can pass messages to LogiOverlay.exe. This work, but maybe can cause troubles, and if Logitech decide block this behaviour they can doit in easy easy way, and for sure every time the OS start you have to make click on allow that exe run elevated one time, and the ask another 2 times, select no (can select yes software is protected by mutex to not duplicate multiple instances, anyway choose no the 2 seconds times) You no need restart for a faster test, just can kill the LogiOverlay.exe and restart elevated, I just suggest restart the machine so you can see what happen lol, is rally ugly, so stop to try with this method, is really a incorrect way.

I add in the next days a logic to hide in permanent way the overlay with my little software. From now you can hide/unhide at any time using a custom hotkey. My software is free, so I suggest wont use this dirty method. https://hi.computer/free-tools/#overlay-tool-for-logitech-craft

[antiero]

This is a nice hack for Windows, but it’s not a “fix” and I imagine a large number of creatives are using the Craft on macOS.

The issue in doing this is that someone from Logitech (maybe a Product Manager), will hear/see there’s a workaround, and lower the priority of actually fixing it properly in the supported software package.

This ticket should not be closed IMO, until Logitech have acknowledged the feature request to allow users to enable/disable this in their software.

Good hacking though 😊

[SaveTheHuman5]

I imagine a more large amount of creatives using MS windows lol........just kidding!

"The issue in doing this is that someone from Logitech (maybe a Product Manager), will hear/see there’s a workaround, and lower the priority of actually fixing it properly in the supported software package"

Let's see from another point of view: Maybe now they can put all focus just to fix macOSX only, what will be more easy duet reduction of the hours they need for deploy and release a fix.......just kidding again...........or not!........kidding

Let's talk seriously: The fix is very easy from Logitech side, is a pure decision from Logi team and what I do not change in anyway what they decide do or not.

This ticket not should be closed, what I do is a "is a MS Windows fix only" , yes, I agree 100% with you

The same fix I exposed can be applied on macOSX, a tool for patch fix on MAC can be created in relative easy way, of course the general idea I expose not apply directly to macOSX, but is possible. Some mac coder here? Hello! mac community need help!!

Anyway, if a official fix won't appear in some months, maybe I can take a look on mac, I not own a mac but can virtualize the OS and try for a fix......I really not like Objective-C lol grrrrrrrr I think a high level lang is needed on mac, maybe no. O wow!! me again.........if they read this won't do the fix......trust me, the things won't work in that way in a serious company as Logitech.

About OSX, In the past I remember play with transparency using the API of OSX, but maybe that not is available any more, no idea.

Now, I try enter in contact with developer team, I need some things from they in order make compatible the craft with my software Elephant instead to go with another hack or just abandon the project. If they reply, I also try check/talk with they about this overlay issue.

Logitech usually listen to the users, I have that experience with my BRIO cameras and some ugly troubles, I have an array of five BRIO cameras right now + one C920 and I add other C920 soon, all this for a very special live streaming project from my studio, the show start soon. About Brio they fixed a large list of issues with the BRIO in a very elegant and deep way as they do usually with all their products, i'm very happy with Logi support, even when some things take some large time.

Maybe they do the official fix, will see!! I do this fix duet is the first step to make my software "Elephant" compatible with Craft keyboard, the overlay is a interference for my software in the same way is for you antiero and all users...... I see users in troubles, so I decide share my fix, a simple portable exe tool to do the job.

My best wishes for you antiero and all mac craft community users!

[Arty2]

It's unbelievable this isn't an option for the range of this keyboard. The overlay popup is extremely obstructive!

I devised a quick hack with AutoHotKey, which you can use to close the window when it first opens. It will remain closed until reboot, where you can to activate the window for the 5 second timer to catch it.

; make Logitech craft windows transparent
; ← everything after this character is a comment
SetTimer, LogiOverlay, -5000 ; this timer runs once, after 5 seconds

LogiOverlay(){
If WinExist("ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe") {
    WinClose, ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe ; close the window, comment to disable
    ; WinSet, Transparent, 20, ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe ; uncomment this line to change its opacity instead
    }
}

AutoHotKey is not trivial to get started with, but it's worth it for several other tricks you can have running a script.

[DuckDungeon]

Unfortunately on a Mac and have trouble figuring out workarounds. Isolated it to something definitely with the LogiOptions Daemon. Kinda got it working for a second when I force quit that, but then, obviously, all the other keyboard functions stopped working. Anybody have any knowledge of this?

Little bit of a novice with some web design background, but I usually try to figure things out with just Google, but no solutions that I could find.

[DuckDungeon]

@SaveTheHuman5 Do you have a mac version of your program available?

I've found a lot of stuff snooping around in the files of the Logi Options and the Daemon associated. I figured out some ways where I could (kind of) turn them off. Although it was tedious and only one by one, and still, they were mainly just relegated to the main screen (So woopie for desktop switching).

I really tried to figure out a way to set their transparency to 0 or something similar, but I am afraid I am officially out of my depth.

[SaveTheHuman5]

Hi, no, really sorry, I code only for windows, not own a mac. Really expensive here in my country.

[DuckDungeon]

That's alright, it is understandable.

At this point I am looking to develop something similar to what you did. Problem is, I'm not a developer. I don't know if anyone has resources that they can point me to that might help in making that?

Otherwise, I can also share what I have learned from the source files in efforts that someone who knows more than me might know what to do?

I'm mainly a design/video guy, I just poke around in files trying to fix something I don't like (learning along the way).

[DuckDungeon]

So I found this Readme.txt and talked to a friend of mine who actually knows what is going on. Basically apparently I need to go and learn obj c and c++. >.< I'm still gonna look for a work around, but it's not gonna be elegant.

The readme details how the overlay function works. If it makes sense to you, please lmk. Readme.txt

[SaveTheHuman5]

Well I not work with a Apple computer from over 12 years, when I switch to windows and never back. I think the way is go trough Accessibility API, you can hide or just simple move the window out of the screen. But again no idea hw much changed OSX in over 12 years:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/21069066/move-other-windows-on-mac-os-x-using-accessibility-api

[DuckDungeon]

Thanks @SaveTheHuman5 I have a feeling logi isn't going to do anything about this, so will give anything a shot.

[DuckDungeon]

I ended up returning it. Got Better Touch Tools and made some virtual knobs I use with my Wacom (could work if you have a trackpad too). It's not perfect (yet, needs tweaking) but I have full control over what the knobs do and there's no damn overlay every time I use it. $180=>$20 and I have better control. Still… it could have been so awesome…

Anyway, that's my fix suggestion for Mac users (disappointing really), invest in a product that works. In the end it was too expensive to warrant dealing with it (maybe I woulda stuck around if it were cheaper :/ ).

[Elvincth]

When will this feature be add?

[Tuinpad]

When will this feature be add?

Never, that's why we need these kind of " hacks"

[mika76]

It so strange that for such an amazing keyboard this little software feature makes me stop using it...

[JonathanInTheClouds]

This keyboard would be perfect if you can simply disable the overlay... It is a shame because all it would take is a simply if-else statement in the correct place. The market they are trying to reach with this keyboard are designers, developers, etc all people who need these types of customizations. We really don't like things that we can't control in our work environment.

[mika76]

What's more telling is how they are just ignoring certain issues. People have been complaining about things all over writing to support forums, reddit, github and Twitter but there's no comment from them. Really irritating to be ignored like this.

[DuckDungeon]

Honestly, if they fixed this, I would probably re-buy it. It was a good keyboard, and the knob was awesome. But yeah, the workflow was hindered rather than supported.

[Elvincth]

Still.. no update on this?

[Elvincth]

This is ALL we want.

[ChrisThiesen]

Hi all! I just found this post before I discovered the solution. Perhaps this helps some of you: https://savethehuman5.com/free-tools/

C U Chris

[alexsmartens]

Yo, any updates on this? This overlay stays on for minutes on my Mac :angry:. Is it a bug? Or this is how it works?

I just got a craft keyboard and thinking of returning it if the overlay thing is not solvable

[Tuinpad]

Yo, any updates on this? This overlay stays on for minutes on my Mac 😠. Is it a bug? Or this is how it works?

I just got a craft keyboard and thinking of returning it if the overlay thing is not solvable

Better to return it then. Most of use the savethehuman5 hack, as far i know its only for Windows computers. Logitech don't care and you can read it in their forum. Yes they do answer but never READ you :-)

[alexsmartens]

Logitech don't care and you can read it in their forum. Yes they do answer but never READ you :-)

That's so surprising!

1. I watched many reviews of this keyboard and no one said a thing about this issue
2. I've had a few warranty issues with Logitech products in the past and their support always exceeded my expectations

[ChrisThiesen]

I use windows, put it in the autostart and it works like perfect.

But I was also suprised because no one said a word about that...

[alexsmartens]

Is there any hack to at least move this thing to a different place on the screen? or change its size?

[alexsmartens]

Maybe some trick to block the permission to display this thing? Do you know what piece of software displays the overlay hint Logi options or Logi options daemon?

[alexsmartens]

@davidwieler, @ogay, @andipollok, @rgopalakrishna, @nsathappan there is now way it's difficult to improve this, could you please help?

[Elvincth]

Logitech don't care and you can read it in their forum.

Yes they do answer but never READ you :-)

That's so surprising!

1. I watched many reviews of this keyboard and no one said a thing about this issue

2. I've had a few warranty issues with Logitech products in the past and their support always exceeded my expectations

I have tried email, forums and noting are working.

[alexsmartens]

I asked YouTube reviewers about this issue. Maybe influencers can advocate for us?

[Elvincth]

I asked YouTube reviewers about this issue. Maybe influencers can advocate for us?

Definitely , that would be great

[antiero]

Maybe worth popping some messages on LinkedIn to Logitech folks who worked on the Craft Keyboard? I've not heard back from the Logitech Support team. Perhaps their Github Admin has a contact? @horace0119dev

[ogay]

@alexsmartens Hi Alex, I've forwarded this request internally to the appropriate people at Logitech.

[Tuinpad]

Il hope for you that this works.. but i'm afraid they dont care that much. Let me give you another example Last year i made a ticket at Logitech for the Craft keyboard backlights (max brightness when you start your computer) you have always bring it manual back otherwise it drains your battery. Logitech solution: "send back the keyboard for repair." They never admit that this is a software issue.

[antiero]

I wonder whether spamming them with visuals would help?... If everyone could take a screen recording of how the crown overlay frustrates them, I'm happy to edit them all together! (or spam Logitech on LinkedIn 😂 )

Here's mine... Zooming a Logic Pro X timeline! 😬

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/4693265/108045780-c37c0b80-703b-11eb-9bf4-f1611e8a95b1.mov

[Elvincth]

Any updates??

[alexsmartens]

dude, that's so sad :[ I ended up selling my keyboard, did not have much use of the crown because of its annoying UI. Also, the battery life was poor...

[moonstruckcreatives]

It's unbelievable this isn't an option for the range of this keyboard. The overlay popup is extremely obstructive!

I devised a quick hack with AutoHotKey, which you can use to close the window when it first opens. It will remain closed until reboot, where you can to activate the window for the 5 second timer to catch it.

; make Logitech craft windows transparent
; ← everything after this character is a comment
SetTimer, LogiOverlay, -5000 ; this timer runs once, after 5 seconds

LogiOverlay(){
If WinExist("ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe") {
  WinClose, ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe ; close the window, comment to disable
  ; WinSet, Transparent, 20, ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe ; uncomment this line to change its opacity instead
  }
}

AutoHotKey is not trivial to get started with, but it's worth it for several other tricks you can have running a script.

@Arty2 man can you give us a video tutorial on how to make this work? Keep doing it but nothing happens

[Arty2]

@moonstruckcreatives difficult to squeeze time to do that, but there are now several video tutorials on how to run and create a script on AutoHotKey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7e9MrP-U_g

Then you can copy/paste the code in my previous post. You first have to run AutoHotKey (I have it running on startup) and then do something that makes the overlay show. The script then closes the respective window and it won't show up again until you reboot. Should mention this method only works on Windows.

So unfortunate this annoying thing isn't officially fixed.

[moonstruckcreatives]

@Arty2 thanks for the reply, I did the one in the video link and that one works fine. But when I copy/paste the code on your previous post it didn't do anything. The Icon https://imgur.com/FsUyTUR doesn't show up when I use the code you've given. Not sure why its not running

[Arty2]

@moonstruckcreatives here is my exact configuration, I hope that helps:

#SingleInstance, force
#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
#persistent
#KeyHistory 0
;#NoTrayIcon

; make Logitech craft windows transparent
SetTimer, LogiOverlay, -5000

LogiOverlay(){
If WinExist("ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe") {
    WinClose, ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe
    ; WinSet, Transparent, 20, ahk_EXE LogiOverlay.exe
    }
}