You can control two computers with one keyboard and mouse by running input-sharing software on both machines. The software sends keystrokes and pointer movements over your local network, so you do not need a USB switch. It does not, however, change which computer your monitor displays; you must switch the monitor input yourself or use separate screens.
For two Windows PCs, Microsoft PowerToys Mouse Without Borders is the simplest starting point. For a Windows-and-macOS setup with compatible Logitech hardware, Logitech Flow can move the pointer between systems and have a compatible keyboard follow it. For Windows, macOS, or Linux, Synergy provides a cross-platform alternative. The right choice depends on your operating systems, network, security policy, clipboard needs, and whether you already own compatible peripherals.
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What software input sharing does—and does not do
A software KVM-style tool has a server component and a client component running on the two computers. Your physical keyboard and mouse remain connected to one computer. When the pointer reaches a configured edge of that computer’s desktop, or when you press a switching hotkey, the software sends input events across the local network to the other computer.
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This is different from video switching. The software controls keyboard and mouse input; it does not transmit a monitor signal and does not select an HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C video input. If one display is connected to both computers, use the monitor’s input control separately. With two displays, leave each display connected to its own computer and arrange the virtual screen layout so pointer movement matches the physical arrangement.
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All three options in this guide are intended for computers that can communicate directly on the same local network. They are not substitutes for a hardware switch when software installation is prohibited, the machines are isolated from one another, or you need guaranteed switching before either operating system loads.
Choose the method that fits your computers
| Situation | Best first option | What you need | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Windows computers | PowerToys Mouse Without Borders | PowerToys installed on both PCs, a shared local network, and the pairing key and computer name | Windows only; firewall rules, names, keys, or network segmentation can block pairing |
| Windows and macOS with supported Logitech devices | Logitech Flow | Logi Options+ on both computers, a Flow-compatible mouse paired to each on separate channels, and a shared Wi-Fi or Ethernet network | Support is model-specific; a compatible keyboard follows the mouse only when the keyboard itself supports Flow |
| Windows, macOS, and Linux mixed together | Synergy | Synergy installed and configured on each computer, plus direct local-network connectivity | Synergy shares input but does not switch monitor inputs; it does not support iOS, iPadOS, Android, or ChromeOS |
| Software cannot be installed or computers cannot communicate | Multi-device peripherals or a hardware KVM/USB switch | Keyboard and mouse with independent device-selection controls, or a physical switch | Verify that both devices can pair with every computer; this guide does not establish a particular model |
Before choosing, check five facts: each operating system, whether both computers can reach each other on the same network, whether you can install software with the required permissions, whether you need clipboard or file transfer, and how your monitors are connected. Also check the exact model numbers of any Logitech devices rather than assuming that every keyboard or mouse supports Flow.
Prepare the network and desktops
- Put both computers on the same local network. Use the same Wi-Fi network or the same wired LAN. Guest Wi-Fi, client isolation, VPN policies, and separate VLANs can prevent the computers from seeing one another even when both have internet access.
- Record computer names. Windows tools commonly identify a machine by its host name. Give each computer a short, unique name and note it before pairing.
- Decide how the screens are arranged. If the second computer’s display is physically to the left, place it to the left in the software layout. Decide whether the pointer should cross at the full screen edge or at a particular vertical section.
- Plan elevated and locked-screen use. Some tools need a service or additional permission to control an elevated application or a lock screen. Apply the least-privilege setting that meets your needs, especially on a work computer.
- Save a fallback. Keep a spare wired keyboard or the original input device available while pairing. A network or firewall mistake can otherwise leave you without an easy way to fix the second computer.
Option 1: Set up Microsoft PowerToys Mouse Without Borders on two Windows PCs
Mouse Without Borders is the most direct choice when both systems run Windows. Install Microsoft PowerToys on each computer, enable the Mouse Without Borders utility, and pair the machines with a security key and computer name. Once paired, the pointer can cross the configured edge and the same keyboard can type on the destination PC.
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Install and pair the computers
- Install the current Microsoft PowerToys release on both Windows computers. Open PowerToys Settings on each machine.
- Open Mouse Without Borders in the PowerToys sidebar and turn the utility on.
- On the computer that will initially host the keyboard and mouse, display its security key and computer name. Keep that window open.
- On the other computer, choose the option to connect to an existing computer, then enter the first computer’s security key and name exactly as shown. Confirm the connection on both machines if prompted.
- After pairing, open the screen-layout view. Drag the computer tiles until their positions match the physical monitors, then save the arrangement.
- Move the pointer across the edge toward the second computer and type a test sentence in a harmless text field. Return across the opposite edge to verify both directions.
Useful Mouse Without Borders settings
- Clipboard sharing: Enable it when you want ordinary text or clipboard content available on both machines. Treat copied passwords and confidential material as exposed to the other computer.
- File transfer: Microsoft’s documentation limits direct copy/paste and drag-and-drop to a single file with a maximum size of 100 MB. Folders and multiple files do not transfer directly; put them in an archive or use another file-sharing method.
- Hotkeys: Configure a keyboard shortcut for changing computers if edge crossing is awkward, if a full-screen application captures the pointer, or if the screens are not adjacent.
- Firewall support: Use the utility’s firewall-rule option when available, or create the required Windows Firewall allowance. A rule should permit the two trusted computers to communicate on the private network, not expose the service broadly on public networks.
- Service mode: Microsoft documents a mode that can allow control of elevated applications and lock screens. It runs with System-account privileges, which increases the security impact of a compromise. Enable it only when that capability is necessary.
Mouse Without Borders limitations and fixes
- Pairing fails: Recheck the security key and host name, confirm both machines are on the same subnet or otherwise permitted to communicate, and inspect Windows Firewall rules. Temporarily disconnecting a VPN can identify a routing conflict; restore your organization’s approved VPN policy afterward.
- The pointer reaches the wrong screen: Return to the layout editor and reorder the computer tiles. The software follows the saved virtual arrangement, not what it guesses from your desk.
- Keyboard input stops in a remote desktop or virtual machine: Microsoft’s documentation notes that a full-screen focused Remote Desktop or virtual-machine window can prevent the keyboard from following the mouse. Exit full-screen mode, use the configured switching hotkey, or release focus before crossing to the other PC.
- A file will not copy: Check that it is one local file and no larger than 100 MB. Network files, folders, and selections containing multiple files require a different transfer method.
Option 2: Use Logitech Flow with compatible Logitech hardware
Logitech Flow is useful when one computer runs Windows and the other runs macOS, or when you already own supported Logitech peripherals. Logitech’s instructions require Logi Options+ on both computers, a Flow-compatible mouse paired to each computer on separate channels, and a common Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. Logitech says a Flow-compatible keyboard follows the mouse between systems.
Check compatibility before installing
Open Logitech’s current supported-device list and verify the exact mouse and keyboard model numbers. Similar-looking products can have different feature sets, and a keyboard that is not listed as Flow-compatible will not automatically follow the mouse. Also confirm that Logi Options+ is available for both operating systems and that your organization’s policy permits it.
Configure Flow
- Install Logi Options+ on both computers and sign in or complete its local setup as requested.
- Pair the Flow-supported mouse with the first computer using one device channel. Pair it with the second computer using a different channel. Test the hardware on each computer before enabling Flow.
- Connect both computers to the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. Avoid guest networks that isolate clients.
- Open the mouse’s settings in Logi Options+ and enable Flow. The application should discover the other computer on the local network.
- Arrange the computer icons to match the physical screen positions. Choose whether the pointer crosses at an edge or whether a keyboard shortcut is required, if that option is offered for your device and software version.
- Move the pointer across the selected edge. If the keyboard is a supported Flow model, type in a test field on the destination computer to confirm that it follows the mouse.
Flow-specific failure points
- The computers are not discovered: Confirm both are on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network, disable client isolation on a network you administer, and check local firewall prompts for Logi Options+.
- The mouse moves but the keyboard does not: Recheck the keyboard’s exact model against Logitech’s supported list, ensure it is paired to both computers, and confirm that its second channel is selected and working.
- Movement crosses in the wrong direction: Correct the screen arrangement in Flow rather than changing the physical cable connections.
- Company-managed computer blocks the app: Ask an administrator whether Logi Options+ and its network communication are approved. Do not bypass endpoint controls.
Option 3: Share input across Windows, macOS, and Linux with Synergy
Synergy is a commercial software option for mixed desktop operating systems. Its current Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 products support Windows, macOS, and Linux. The vendor states that they do not support iOS, iPadOS, Android, or ChromeOS. Synergy sends keyboard and mouse input to one computer at a time over a direct local-network connection; it is not a screen-sharing system and does not change monitor inputs.
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Plan a Synergy layout
Designate one computer as the server (the one physically connected to the keyboard and mouse) and configure the other as a client. Give each screen a distinct name, place the screens in the same left-to-right order as your desk, and choose whether pointer-edge movement or a hotkey should change computers. The vendor’s architecture documentation describes direct local-network connections and says no cloud relay is used.
Install and connect
- Install the current Synergy release on each supported desktop operating system. Product labels and setup screens can change between Synergy 1 and Synergy 3, so follow the instructions for the edition you installed.
- On the computer with the physical keyboard and mouse, select the server role. On the other, select the client role and enter the server’s network name or address when requested.
- Allow the application through each computer’s private-network firewall when prompted. Limit the rule to the trusted local network.
- In the server’s screen configuration, add the client computer and place it relative to the server. Save the configuration and start the connection.
- Test pointer movement and typing in an unsaved text field. If one monitor is connected to both computers, use the monitor’s own input menu or button to select video; Synergy will not do this for you.
When to prefer a Synergy hotkey
Edge crossing is natural with adjacent monitors, but it can be confusing when one computer is on a laptop screen, a monitor is above the other, or a full-screen program traps the pointer. Configure a Synergy computer-change hotkey for those layouts. A hotkey is also useful when you want to switch input without moving the pointer through a particular application.
Handle monitors separately
Two monitors, one per computer
Connect each monitor to its own computer and use the software’s screen arrangement to mirror the desk. This is the least confusing arrangement: the pointer crosses to the display that represents the destination computer, while video remains independent.
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One monitor connected to both computers
Use the monitor’s physical input button or on-screen menu to change between the two video sources. The keyboard and mouse software can change which computer receives input, but it cannot press the monitor’s input selector. If the monitor has an automatic source feature, treat it as a separate display setting and test it under sleep and wake conditions.
Laptop plus desktop
Place the laptop’s internal panel and the desktop monitor in the software layout exactly as they sit on the desk. A laptop may sleep, lock, or change display geometry when its lid closes; after waking or reconnecting a dock, verify the layout again.
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Input sharing and data transfer are separate features. Clipboard synchronization can make text available on both computers, but it also moves whatever you copy—including credentials, tokens, customer data, and proprietary text—across the local connection. Disable clipboard sharing on shared or managed computers unless you need it.
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Mouse Without Borders documents a particularly narrow file-transfer behavior: one file at a time, up to 100 MB, with drag-and-drop not supporting network files. It does not directly transfer folders or batches of files. Use an approved network share, cloud storage, removable media, or a compressed archive when the files exceed those limits or contain a directory tree. The Flow and Synergy material covered here establishes input sharing, not a universal file-transfer capability; do not assume that moving the pointer also copies files.
Security and network considerations
- Keep the scope local: These tools are intended for a trusted local network. Do not expose their listening services to the public internet or forward ports from your router.
- Use authentication: Mouse Without Borders uses a security key and computer name. Treat the key as a secret during setup and regenerate or re-pair if an untrusted person has obtained it.
- Review firewall prompts: Permit communication only on the private network profile and only for the computers that need it. A public-network allowance can expose input control on an unsafe network.
- Consider endpoint policy: On business machines, software that can control another computer, read clipboard contents, or run with elevated privileges may require administrator approval and security review.
- Lock idle computers: Input sharing does not replace normal screen-lock, password, and multi-factor-authentication practices. Lock both systems when you leave them unattended.
- Check current documentation: Product support and compatibility can change. Recheck the vendor’s requirements and version notes before deploying in a managed environment; the details here reflect documentation available on October 13, 2026.
Troubleshoot a connection that works intermittently
- Confirm the destination is awake and logged in. Sleep, hibernation, a disconnected dock, or a lock screen can make a healthy pairing appear broken.
- Test basic network reachability. Ensure both computers are on the intended Wi-Fi or wired network and are not separated by guest isolation, a VPN route, or a firewall profile.
- Check the software status on both ends. Restart the input-sharing service or application after an operating-system update, and verify that both installations are supported versions.
- Recheck the virtual layout. A pointer that crosses to an unexpected display is usually a layout problem, not a network failure.
- Use a hotkey to bypass edge detection. Full-screen applications and unusual monitor geometry can capture the pointer at the edge.
- Re-pair only after recording settings. Save the current layout, clipboard choice, and hotkeys before removing a computer from the configuration. Then pair it again with a new key or approved credentials.
When a USB switch is still the better answer
Choose hardware instead when either computer cannot run third-party software, the systems are intentionally isolated, you must switch input at a pre-boot screen, or your security policy forbids clipboard-capable utilities. A physical USB switch or KVM also remains useful when you want one button to change both USB devices and a monitor source. Multi-device Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz peripherals can avoid a switch, but both the keyboard and mouse must support pairing with every computer and have a practical selection control.
Quick Recap
Final setup checklist
- Both computers use a supported operating system for the chosen tool.
- Both can communicate on the same trusted local network.
- The software is installed and allowed by your administrator or security policy.
- The screen layout matches the physical desk, including laptop panels and monitors.
- You have tested pointer movement, typing, lock/unlock behavior, and sleep/wake recovery.
- Clipboard sharing is enabled only when its privacy implications are acceptable.
- You understand any file-transfer limit, including Mouse Without Borders’ one-file, 100 MB maximum.
- You have a separate plan for switching monitor inputs if one display is connected to both computers.
- You keep a fallback keyboard or mouse available for future network or software failures.
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