Alienware AW420K User manual

Internal Use - Confidential
Alienware Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard
AW420K
User’s Guide
Keyboard Model: AW420K
Regulatory Model: AW420K

Internal Use - Confidential
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make
better use of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or
loss of data if instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage,
personal injury, or death
Copyright © 2022 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are
trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
2022– 10
Rev. A00

Internal Use - Confidential
What’s in the box ........................................................... 4
Features ......................................................................... 5
Setting up your gaming keyboard ................................ 7
Using your gaming keyboard ...................................... 10
Alienware Command Center ...................................... 11
Installing AWCC through Windows Update ......................... 11
Installing AWCC from the Dell Support website .................. 11
Using Alienware Command Center ............................ 12
Setting up lighting and animation on AWCC ............ 13
Setting up device setting on AWCC .......................... 14
Disabling the modified keys temporarily ................... 15
Specifications ............................................................... 16
Troubleshooting ........................................................... 17
Statutory information .................................................. 18

What’s in the box |
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Internal Use - Confidential
1. USB-A to USB-C cable
2. Alienware 420K Tenkeyless (TKL) Gaming Keyboard
3. CSERI
4. QSG
5. Alienware sticker
NOTE: The documents shipped with your keyboard may vary depending on the region.
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2
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4

Features |
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Internal Use - Confidential
Callout Features Description
1 Multimedia key
2 Volume control
Enables you to forward/play/stop/
backward the movie and music
 Press to mute the speaker
 Press to increase volume
 Press to decrease volume
3 Three-angle adjustable feet Enables you to adjust the keyboard
feet tilts in three different angles
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2
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Features |
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Internal Use - Confidential
Alienware 420K Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard is a compact, minimalist mechanical
gaming keyboard in a slim, space-saving tenkeyless layout.
Compact & Portable
 Space-saving Tenkeyless form factor
 Integrated cable routing on the underside of the keyboard (routed left, right or
center) for improved comfort
 Detachable USB paracord cable to make travel and storage simpler
 Flip-up risers offer three different keyboard height settings
High Performance Gaming
 Cherry MX red mechanical switches with 100 million keystroke life-span
 Double-shot PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) keycaps for dependable rigidity
and wear resistance
 Fully programmable keys with anti-ghosting and N-key rollover
 Onboard memory for effortless control
 Dedicated audio control allows for distraction free gaming
 4.0 mm total travel distance
 1000 Hz (1 ms) polling rate
 Five-profile onboard memory
Premium Experience
 Alien FX per-key RGB lighting configurable with Alienware Command Center
with up to 16.8 million colors
 Mechanical Switches mounted directly on smooth metal top plate

Setting up your gaming keyboard |
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Internal Use - Confidential
1. Connect the USB cable (USB-C) to your gaming keyboard and
connect the USB cable (USB-A) to the USB port on your computer.
 Connect the USB cable for accessing all the keyboard functions such as
typing, macro, or lighting animation.

Setting up your gaming keyboard |
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Internal Use - Confidential
2. Steps to download the Alienware Command Center application
1. Go to www.dell.com/support.
2. In the Enter a Service Tag, Serial Number, Service Request, Model, or
Keyword field, type the model number of your device.
3. Select the product from the results to load the product page.
4. On the product support page, click Drivers & downloads.
5. Click Find drivers.
6. Select the operating system as Windows 10 or Windows 11 from the
Operating system drop-down list.
7. Choose the category as Application from the Category drop-down list.
8. Locate the Alienware Command Center application package.
9. Click Download. Turn on your computer.
3. Install Alienware Command Center
Prerequisites
 Download the latest Alienware Command Center application package from
www.dell.com/support. See, Download the Alienware Command Center
application package.
 Ensure that Microsoft Store updates are turned on before installing
Alienware Command Center 5.5 manually.
NOTE: From version 5.5, Alienware Command Center Package Manager is
introduced. Alienware Command Center core application, overclocking controls,
and peripheral installer packages are installed together using the Alienware
Command Center Package Manager. There is no separate package for overclocking
profile.
Steps to install
1. Browse to the location where you have downloaded the application
package file and double-click the file. The Dell Update Package window is
displayed.
2. Click Install.
The Alienware Command Center Package Manager window is displayed.
3. Click Next >.
Dell Software License Agreement is displayed.
4. Read through the license agreement and select the I accept the terms in
the license agreement radio button to continue.

Setting up your gaming keyboard |
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Internal Use - Confidential
5. Click Install.
The installation of the Alienware Command Center application is initiated.
Alienware Command Center core application, overclocking controls, and
peripheral installer packages are installed automatically through the
Alienware Command Center Package Manager.
NOTE: Alienware overclocking control package is only installed on computers
that support overclocking, and you must restart the computer to complete the
installation.
6. Click Finish.
You can restart now by selecting the check box. Do not select the check
box if you prefer to restart the computer later. The Alienware Command
Center application is installed successfully.
4. Updating Alienware Command Center from Microsoft Store
If you have an older version of Alienware Command Center, it gets updated
automatically to the latest version from Microsoft Store. You must ensure that the
Microsoft Store update is turned on. If there is an update, when you launch the
Alienware Command Center application, a message that states Additional
components required is displayed. The additional components are automatically
fetched from Microsoft Store. Wait for the installation to complete and restart the
computer if required.
NOTE: To enable or disable Microsoft Store updates, click the profile icon at the
upper right corner of the Microsoft Store page, and go to App settings. Use the
App updates toggle switch under App settings to enable or disable Microsoft
Store updates.
5. Launch the Alienware Command Center application on your
computer
You can launch the Alienware Command Center application from the Start menu.
If you have an Alienware Command Center desktop icon, you can also launch the
application by double-clicking or tapping the icon.

Using your gaming keyboard |
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Internal Use - Confidential
Callout
Function Function keys Keyboard behavior
1 Fn Lock + Esc to toggle Locks the F1 to F12 media-
control functions
2 Win Lock + (Fn+F1) Disables the Windows key
function
3 Profile switch + (Fn+F3)
(press once to cycle) Enables you to switch between
profiles stored onboard
4 Brightness
control  + (Fn+F5) Decreases the keyboard-
backlight intensity
 + (Fn+F6) Increases the keyboard-
backlight intensity
NOTE: Default keyboard-backlight is at maximum intensity.
5 Media
playback
 Press + (Fn+F9) Fast backward
 Press + (Fn+F10) Play/Pause
 Press + (Fn+F11) Stop
 Press + (Fn+F12) Fast forward
6 Mute The mute key Mutes the speaker
7 Volume
control
(computer)
Press to increase Increases computer volume;
Press to decrease Decreases computer volume
8 Fn Toggle Press and hold Fn + F1~F12 Toggles different Fn function
for F1 to F12
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Alienware
Command
Center
Alienware Command Center | 1
1
Internal Use - Confidential
Installing AWCC through Windows Update
1. Navigate to the program folder to ensure that the AWCC installation
is complete.
2. Launch AWCC and perform the following steps to download the
additional software components:
- In the Settings window, click Windows Update, and then click Check for
updates to check the Alienware driver update progress.
- If the driver update is not responding in your computer, install AWCC
from the Dell Support website.
Installing AWCC from the Dell Support website
1. Download the latest version of the following applications at
www.dell.com/support/drivers.
2. Navigate to the folder where you saved the setup files.
3. Double-click the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to install
the application.

Using Alienware Command Center | 1
2
Using
Alienware
Command
Center
Internal Use - Confidential
Keyboard basic color function
1. Launch Alienware Command Center application from the start menu.
2. Select FX and edit Lighting.
3. Select Effect from the drop-down list.
4. Define the effect of the keyboard LEDs.
5. Adjust the brightness.

Setting up lighting and animation on AWCC
Setting up lighting and animation on AWCC | 1
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Internal Use - Confidential
1. Select Effect from the dropdown list for Static or
On Key Press modes.
2. Select Standard key groupings.
3. From the menu of supported animations: Color,
Pulse, Breathing, Morph, Spectrum, Single
Color Wave, Scanner, Rainbow Wave, and
Static Default Blue.
4. Adjust the tempo of the animation effect.
5. Choose color using the color wheel bubble.
6. Define the color of the keyboard animation effect.
7. Adjust the brightness.

Setting up device setting on AWCC | 1
4
Setting u
p device setting
on AWCC
Internal Use - Confidential
1. Click FX menu and select Settings tab, then choose the AW420K keyboard
device.
2. Click Update to view the firmware version and check if any new firmware is
available. Or you can click Restore Factory Defaults button to reset the
device to the manufacturing state.

Disabling
the
modified
keys
temporarily
Disabling the modified keys temporarily |
15
Internal Use - Confidential
Query Solution
Working behavior
of modified keys
Disabling the
modified keys
Using modified keys
When a key is programmed with macro, it will
continue to send macro commands during normal
usage.
Press Fn + any key (except Function keys).
Example:
Q key was programmed to “ABCD” and in order
for Q key to output “Q”, press Fn + Q.
Password entry for log in.

Specifications
Specifications |
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Internal Use - Confidential
General
Model
n umber
AW420K
Connection type USB
Supported operating systems Microsoft Windows 10 – RS3 and higher
Electrical
Operating voltage 5V
Operating power current Max. to 900mA
Physical Characteristics
Height 19.01 mm. ( 0.5mm±.)
Length 367.3 mm. ( 0.5mm±.)
Width 147.7 mm. ( 0.5mm±.)
Weight KB: 787g ( 10g)± Cable: 49g ( 5g)±
Environmental
Operating temperature 0°C to 40°C
Storage temperature -40°C to 65°C
Operating humidity 90% maximum relative humidity,
non-condensing
Storage humidity 90% maximum relative humidity,
non-condensing

Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting | 1
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Internal Use - Confidential
Error
Possible solution
Keyboard is not
functioning
 Disconnect the keyboard and connect it back
in to the USB port on your computer.
 Connect the keyboard to another USB port.

Restart the computer.
Keyboard lighting is
off
 Make sure the light is not dimmed off, press
Fn+F6 to light up the keyboard.
 Disconnect the keyboard and connect it back
in to the USB port on your computer.
 Connect the keyboard to another USB port.
 Restart the computer.
 Adjust keyboard brightness via AWCC
(Alienware Command Center)
.
The selected
configuration is not
working in Alienware
Command Center
 Ensure that the Alienware Command Center is
running on your computer.
 Open the Alienware Command Center and
ensure that the configuration for your gaming
keyboard is set properly and is stored by
clicking on the
SAVE THEME
.
For more information about the Alienware Command Center features
1. Open the Alienware Command Center.
2. Click the Help icon. The Alienware Command Center Online Help appears.
3. Click the Contents tabs.
4. From the Contents tabs, click the required topic to find more details on
Alienware Command Center features.

Statutory
information
Statutory information |
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Internal Use - Confidential
Warranty
Limited warranty and return polices
Dell-branded products carry a two-year limited hardware warranty. If purchased
together with a Dell computer, it will follow the computer warranty.
For U.S. customers:
This purchase and your use of this product are subject to Dell’s end user
agreement, which you can find at www.dell.com/terms. This document contains
a binding arbitration clause.
For European, Middle Eastern, and African customers:
Dell-branded products that are sold and used are subject to applicable national
consumer legal rights, the terms of any retailer sale agreement that you have
entered into (which will apply between you and the retailer) and Dell’s end user
contract terms.
Dell may also provide an additional hardware warranty—full details of the Dell
end user contract and warranty terms can be found by going to www.dell.com,
selecting your country from the list at the bottom of the “home” page and then
clicking the “terms and conditions” link for the end user terms or the “support”
link for the warranty terms.
For non-U.S. customers:
Dell-branded products that are sold and used are subject to applicable national
consumer legal rights, the terms of any retailer sale agreement that you have
entered into (which will apply between you and the retailer) and Dell’s warranty
terms. Dell may also provide an additional hardware warranty—full details of
Dell’s warranty terms can be found by going to www.dell.com/terms, selecting
your country from the list at the bottom of the “home” page and then clicking
the “terms and conditions” link or the “support” link for the warranty terms.