First run
The setup wizard, appearance, notifications, tray controls and saved configuration.
On a normal first launch, Arsenal offers a setup wizard. You can revisit it from Settings → Setup → Run setup again.
What it detects
Arsenal uses model information, firmware responses and driver capabilities to decide which controls to offer. Firmware or driver access problems can also affect detection.
| Detected information | Used for |
|---|---|
| Model, BIOS and CPU | Model-specific defaults, tuning ranges and supported CPU controls. |
| GPU and MUX support | Graphics switching and dedicated-GPU tuning. |
| Panel capabilities | Refresh rate, overdrive, Mini-LED, OLED and colour controls. |
| Keyboard and lid lighting | Available Aura effects, preview zoning, AniMe Matrix or Slash controls. |
| Supported peripherals | Devices-page controls for connected mice and keyboards. |
The setup wizard
- Welcome: review the detected machine.
- Startup: choose startup, administrator access and charge-limit restoration after reboot.
- Notifications and updates: choose floating notifications and startup update checks.
- ASUS software: review the option to stop competing ASUS services.
- Your phone: optionally allow private-network access and pair a companion.
- Finish: check which actions completed, were skipped or failed.
Choose the actual battery percentage on the Battery page. Setup’s charge option concerns restoration after reboot.
Settings and everyday preferences
- Minimise to tray on close: closing the main window keeps hotkeys, automation and enabled companion access available. Use the tray’s Quit action to exit.
- Theme: System, Dark, Light or Arsenal. System follows Windows; Arsenal changes the shape and motion of rows, section cards and navigation as well as their colours. Compare the themes.
- Disable transparency: use opaque surfaces. Accent colour follows Windows or uses a custom colour, including a hex value.
- Notifications: enable floating feedback, choose its design, location and duration, and show or hide the countdown bar. Use Preview notification to check the result.
- About: view the app version and detected system specifications, check for Arsenal updates and open What’s new.
Use Automation for power-source behavior and Home to arrange daily controls.
Example readings. The current app refreshes visible telemetry about once a second and stops that polling timer when its windows are hidden. The overlay and companion read telemetry separately when needed.
Saved data
| Location | Contents |
|---|---|
%AppData%\Arsenal\config.json | Normal per-user settings, layouts, profiles and fan curves. |
config.json beside the executable | Optional portable configuration, used in preference to the normal per-user file when present. |
%ProgramData%\Arsenal | Shared configuration fallback and logs for actions running as SYSTEM, including the charge task. Readable by every account on the PC, so the copy written here withholds the companion’s private keys. |
%AppData%\Arsenal\log.txt | The normal application log. |
%LocalAppData%\Arsenal\Companion | The PC’s companion certificate identity. |
Back up configuration before resetting it. Reusing another laptop’s configuration can carry over model-specific tuning values; review those values for the destination machine.
Tray controls
- Left-click: toggle Quick Panel.
- Double-click: open the main window.
- Right-click: open Arsenal or Quick Panel, select the built-in Silent, Balanced or Turbo performance mode, choose a GPU mode, toggle the overlay, open Settings or quit.
- The tooltip reports the charge limit.