Control Pad Setup Guide | Software, Keys, And Reset

Most compact keypads arrive with confusing software, but the ControlPad’s setup is refreshingly direct. You plug it in, load one application, and start assigning macros within minutes. This Control Pad setup guide walks through the physical connection, the MasterPlus software, and the reset shortcut you’ll need if the pad ever stops responding.

What Is The Cooler Master ControlPad?

The Cooler Master ControlPad is a wired programmable keypad built for PC use. It gives you six fully programmable keys, RGB backlighting with 16.7 million colors, and a 1000 Hz polling rate with a 1 ms response time. Both the Gateron Red version (CP-01-GKGR1) and the Cherry MX Red version (CP-01-GKCR1) use linear switches, so the feel is smooth and consistent across the two models.

The keypad connects with a detachable 1.8 m braided cable that uses USB-C on the keypad side and USB 2.0 Type-A on the computer side. The body is gunmetal black with a plastic and aluminum construction, and the removable magnetic wrist rest uses soft PU leather. The whole unit measures 129 × 104 × 42.5 mm, with the wrist rest adding a 104 × 85.5 × 21 mm footprint. Inside, a 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller and 512KB of on-board memory handle the key assignments without needing the software running in the background.

Setting Up The ControlPad: What The Manual Doesn’t Say

Hardware setup is straightforward. The one detail most people miss is the connector layout: the cable’s USB-C end goes into the keypad, and the USB-A end goes into your computer. If your PC only has USB-C ports, you’ll need a USB-A to USB-C adapter or a hub.

From there, the official steps are minimal:

1. Connect the cable to the keypad and your computer.
2. Wait for the RGB lighting to turn on, which confirms power.
3. Download MasterPlus, Cooler Master’s unified configuration software, from their official product page.
4. Open MasterPlus, select the ControlPad, and remap the keys to your preferred macros or keybinds.

MasterPlus is the only officially supported software for the ControlPad, and it handles both key remapping and the RGB lighting effects. The on-board memory stores your profiles directly on the keypad, so assignments persist even when you unplug it or move it to another computer.

How Do You Reset The ControlPad?

If the keypad freezes or a profile becomes corrupted, Cooler Master’s reset sequence uses a three-key hold. Keep holding until the ControlPad reboots on its own, then release.

This restores the keypad to a working state without wiping your saved profiles, and it’s the only reset instruction the manufacturer publishes. It’s worth trying before you uninstall and reinstall MasterPlus. If you’re shopping for a control pad and want to see how the Cooler Master compares to other options, our tested roundup of the best control pads on the market covers the alternatives side by side.