I wasn’t planning to write about the red button on MSI monitors, but after getting a few DMs on Discord and a couple of emails asking, “What does that red button do?”, it made sense to finally sit down and write this. It’s one of those details you don’t think about when you’re setting up your gaming monitor, but once you start using it, it’s hard to go back.
I’ve tested plenty of MSI monitors for Best Monitor Radar, from basic 1080p displays to curved 165Hz QHD screens, and all of them have that small red joystick on the back or under the bottom edge. Once you get used to it, you wonder how you managed with those old row buttons.
What is the red button for?
That red button isn’t there just to look cool. It’s actually a joystick that lets you control the monitor’s On-Screen Display menu. Instead of pressing a bunch of small buttons, you just move the joystick up, down, left, right and press it to confirm your choice.
When I was testing the MSI Optix MAG272CRX, I noticed how much easier it was to change brightness while playing Apex Legends when Olympus felt too dark. I could sort it in a few seconds without messing up the start of the match.
Functions available via the red button
Picture Settings
You can quickly change brightness, contrast, and sharpness or switch between color profiles depending on what you’re doing. MSI monitors come with options like game, movie, or standard mode. I often use game mode when playing Valorant, but I’ll switch to standard when writing articles or checking reviews.
Some MSI monitors have HDCR (High Dynamic Contrast Range) that you can turn on with the joystick or GamingOSD software. It deepens shadows and brightens highlights, but sometimes it can hide details in darker scenes, so it’s worth trying to see if you like it.
Gaming Tools
You can enable crosshairs for games that don’t have one, adjust the refresh rate, or turn on Adaptive Sync to keep gameplay smooth without screen tearing. MSI also offers options like anti-motion blur. I keep Adaptive Sync on most of the time, especially when playing CS2 or Valorant, since tearing can be distracting.
Input Source Selection
If you have your PC, console, or a laptop connected to your monitor, you can switch between them easily using the joystick. You don’t need to crawl behind your desk or change cables every time you swap devices.
System Options
You can reset your monitor to factory settings, adjust advanced color options, and on some MSI monitors, check for firmware updates. Not many know that MSI sometimes releases firmware updates to add new features or improve stability, and you can manage these with the joystick or GamingOSD.
Why Is the Red Button Important?
Before using monitors with this joystick, I used models with small, stiff buttons you could barely see in a dim room. You’d press the wrong button and end up leaving the menu, then have to start over.
The joystick fixes this. You can find it easily, even in a dark room, and navigate settings without hassle. It’s helpful when you want to adjust brightness while playing at night or tweak the black equalizer if you can’t see shadows in a horror game.
Joystick vs Old Button Layouts
Older monitors often had four or five small buttons with hard-to-read symbols. Navigating them felt like guessing which button did what. You’d press one and accidentally exit the menu.
The joystick puts all the controls in one place, making it simpler to use. It’s a small change, but it makes using your monitor a smoother experience.
Extra Features You Might Find
Some MSI monitors also let you:
- Turn on Night Vision, which brightens dark areas in games.
- Show a frame rate counter in the corner of your screen.
- Adjust response time settings to help reduce ghosting.
- Use a KVM switch on certain models to control two devices with one set of peripherals.
Personal Experience with the Red Button
I’ve used the joystick on the MSI G273QF, MAG272CQR, and the MAG251RX during long review weeks, and it’s one of those things you appreciate after using it for a while.
Switching refresh rates between 144Hz and 165Hz, changing from DisplayPort to HDMI when moving from PC to console, or adjusting brightness in The Last of Us on PC when scenes felt too dark – all of it felt simple. It’s not something you think about much, but when you go back to a monitor without it, you miss it immediately.
Why Gamers Should Care
A monitor isn’t just a screen; it’s part of your gaming setup, and you want it to work for you, not against you. Being able to tweak your settings in a few seconds helps you get the picture you want, whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or working.
The joystick on MSI monitors makes that possible. Whether you’re adjusting the black equalizer so you can see enemies hiding in dark corners or swapping to a different input without touching cables, it saves time and keeps you in control.
Conclusion
The red joystick on MSI monitors isn’t just a design element; it’s a tool that makes your monitor easier to use. You can adjust your settings quickly, switch inputs without a fuss, and fine-tune your screen for whatever you’re doing.
If you haven’t tried using it yet, give it a go the next time you’re sitting at your setup. It’s one of those small things that you won’t want to give up once you get used to it.
For more guides and monitor reviews, check out the rest of our content on Best Monitor Radar. We’ve covered a wide range of monitors from MSI, AOC, and others to help you choose the best gear for your gaming and work needs.