I personally prefer to skip the step to reach for my mouse, and honing keyboard shortcuts has helped me immensely. On the server machine, click Synergy’s Configure Server button. Once both computers have Synergy installed and running, you’ll need to get them talking to each other. There are more ways you can configure Synergy, so check out the server settings for additional hotkey customizations and other tweaks. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Some smaller laptops don’t have numpad keys or the touchpad is not compatible, so it can’t be applied. Click on Ease of Access. You can press Windows key + E to open the File Explorer (My Computer), or navigate to it from the desktop or the start menu. That way, your mouse should easily “hop” over to the other PC when you drag it to the correct edge. Want to control multiple computers simultaneously with the same keyboard and mouse? Enter your query and hit Enter to search for it. Important keyboard keys to control Windows: Arrow Keys: These keys allow you to move up, down, left and right on a page or a menu (where it is possible). Synergy: Paid, Smooth, and Cross-Platform. Once the browser launches, your cursor will be inside the search bar. 2. Try it out for yourself and see if it works well enough for your use case; if not, check out Synergy below. You cannot navigate between desktop items with the Arrow keys, and so you need to bring focus to the desktop items in order to move between them. Otherwise, choose Client. If you already have multiple monitors, you may only need a simple USB switcher. All Rights Reserved. These instructions should be enough to do a basic search on the web. Numpad keys 8, 4, 2 and 6 are used for moving around and you can press the numpad key 5 to execute left-click. A KVM switch allows you to push a button or input a keyboard command to switch between controlling and viewing the two (or more) computers. You must use the Left Alt and Left Shift keys otherwise this will not work. While you can copy and paste text between them, dragging and dropping files doesn't currently work that great. Windows allows you to control your mouse with the keyboard buttons. Of course, it is not even nearly as intuitive as using an actual mouse, but when you are stuck; it can be astonishingly helpful. It’s also very easy to set up, which makes it a good first step if you’re just starting out with these programs. Turn on the Control your mouse with a keypad toggle switch. Of course, it requires memorizing the function of some keys or shortcuts, but in the time of need, it’s worth it. Publishing policy ‐ Privacy Policy, 200 Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows) to Boost Your Productivity. As mentioned above, you can press the Tab key on the desktop to move between taskbar items and press the enter key to open one. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Keep an eye on your inbox! https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-control-multiple-computers-with-one-keyboard-and-mouse. Below is a list of Windows keyboard shortcuts that will help you immensely : The above are just few of the basic Windows shortcuts that will make it easier to navigate and perform common tasks. Each option has its own pros and cons, but there are two methods that stand out from the pack: Mouse Without Borders and Synergy. 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PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. For example, my desktop is to the left of my laptop, so I made sure the icons matched that layout. You press a button on the device to move your keyboard and mouse from one PC to another. Synergy says it's “Mac to Mac only” right now as a beta feature. However, it costs $30, is a bit difficult to set up, and is currently in a transitional period in terms of features. If neither of these options work for you, there are some other methods worth exploring to see what works best for you. Open the Start Menu. It may become even more easy for you to use Windows with the keyboar as compared to the mouse. Keep pressing the Tab ↹ key until the Control Panel icon is highlighted. They should automatically connect to each other, no extra hassle required. Mouse Without Borders works well for free, but I find it’s a bit stuttery at times. If you want to select multiple items, then press and hold the Shift key and use the arrow keys to start selecting multiple items. Your subscription has been confirmed. You can do this with the keyboard by pressing the ⊞ Win key. When you come back, Synergy will ask you whether the current computer is a Server or a Client. Once you’ve done so, click the Start button. Download and install Mouse Without Borders on your main PC—the one whose keyboard and mouse you want to use across all machines. You can also use the Tab key to move to the each section of the Start menu. Synergy is the more well-known program in this space, … These software and hardware options can help. I will also recommend you to go through our ultimate list of over 200 Windows keyboard shortcuts. Pressing the Tab key on the desktop will start switching the focus between desktop and items on the taskbar. For other platforms, Chrome Remote Desktop is easy to set up and works like a charm. Copy that address into the Server box on the client PC’s Synergy window, as shown above. Whether you want to select an operating system, cancel disk check or enter your Windows password, all can be effortlessly done with Arrow keys and the Enter button. Still, if drag and drop is a necessity, it may be a better option for you. You can even learn these handy keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity. From the main Mouse Without Borders window, you can click and drag the icons to rearrange your PCs to match how they appear in your physical space. (You’ll need to click Apply every time you start Synergy on the server computer, even if you don’t change any settings.). By pressing Windows Key + D will take you to the desktop from anywhere. Click No when asked if you’ve installed it on other PCs. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. There’s basically no setup required since it automatically detects other Sharemouse computers on the network. Steps 1. If this computer is the one with the mouse and keyboard hooked up to it—that is, the mouse and keyboard you want to use between both PCs—choose Server. (Optional) Check the Hold Ctrl key + to speed up and the Shift key to slow … Simple KVM switches like this HDMI JideTech model or this DisplayPort IOGear model act as a simple A/B switch. Before software could easily perform this task, hardware devices known as KVM switches served a similar purpose. Just drag it to the edge of your main computer’s screen and it’ll hop on over to your other PC, as if they were the same machine. 2. Try using basic keyboard shortcuts. There's no program that works perfectly and does everything. Once enabled, you can use the keys on the numpad to move the mouse around and click on items, similar to how a mouse works. Click the Keyboard icon to display the Keyboard Properties dialog box. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. After installation is complete, restart your computer. Remembering important keyboard shortcuts will help a lot in controlling Windows and its functions in a snap. More expensive models may support higher refresh rates for your display, or may trick your display into staying connected so your icons don’t rearrange themselves. Many users do not use a mouse (or similar pointing device): 1.