Free Share Mouse And Keyboard Between Computers
Stayla Casillas
I have a doubt, there is a free program to share mouse between linux and windows, I have a PC and a laptop, on the laptop I have w10 and ubuntu mate 18.04, and the pc w10, when I use the PC and laptop with w10, I use the windows software called "Mouse without borders" but it is only for windows, I am looking for a free one for linux and windows, I know that there is sinergy but it is paid
There used to be small print on the Synergy website stating that the payment is to download synergy. It's still open source, and you can might be able to build it yourself, but it might need proprietary binaries.
I'm trying to share my mouse and keyboard between my laptop and PC. The issue is both are connected to university WiFi (Glide) and I'm pretty sure LAN security is tight. I've tried various software: Synergy, Barrier, LogiOptions... None work because they're designed to work on a Local Area Network. I was wondering if there was something I can do to have this work over WAN... It's the only plausible solution I'm seeing.
The way to do this, is by using software that creates a local network through a VPN. One example of such is LogMeIn's Hamachi. One computer sets up as a server, and the others connect to it to create a new network with its own ip range.
Control multiple computers with one Flow-enabled mouse. Automatically switch between computers by moving your cursor to the edge of the screen. Your mouse flows with you, even between Windows and macOS operating systems.
Not sure what an IP address is? No problem, setting up Logitech Flow is extremely easy and you won't need a system administrator by your side. Auto-discovery finds and configures your computers in seconds and all the data is transferred using a secure connection, with SSL and AES-256 bit encryption.
I have a Mac and pc sitting beside each other. Each has an independent monitor. Currently I am using a two port usb switch to move between the two systems, but it can sometimes be cumbersome to switch between the two quickly. Anyone have any other suggestions for ways to switch between the two systems?
Sharemouse has considerable lag, I can't recommend it. I've been using J5 Create JUC400 Wormhole Switch for years. About 90% of the time it is great. The other 10% it will make you tear your hair out. Having just upgraded to a new Mac I may take this opportunity test Synergy. But if you don't mind the occasional problems, the J5 unit is pretty awesome. Joe Bob says check it out.
I have an old Belkin OmniView KVM switch which I used to use to share one keyboard, monitor and mouse between a few machines. Unfortunately, it was only for the older VGA connectors, not the newer DVI/DP/HDMI type. However, I found later after I moved to DVI that it did support swapping the USB connector for the keyboard and mouse despite there being no VGA connections.
I would imagine that if you're fine with the two separate monitors and thus the video connector doesn't matter, you could find an older KVM on craigslist/ebay fairly cheap and just use the keyboard/mouse switching.
The only problem you'll run into is that the numeric keypad, Command, Alt Menu and Windows keys don't quite map the same between the platforms (e.g. the Command key becomes the Windows key which can be annoying to muscle memory of copy/paste functions). But a keyboard remapping can solve most of this.
You can use the Share Mouse app as long as both computers are on the same network. All Share Mouse features will work for the first thirty minutes after installation. After that, the free version will limit its features, limiting you to two displays only. So if you have a triple-monitor desktop computer and a laptop, you must purchase the Pro version to use Share Mouse. But if you do upgrade to the paid version, this increases the limit to nine computers, with up to four monitors per computer, for a total of 36 displays.
When you get the Pro version, you also get additional features like locking and unlocking all connected devices simultaneously, synced screen savers, and even remote login. You can even install it on your desktop and laptop, allowing you to use your desktop PC as an extended display for your laptop. Best of all, every Share Mouse licenses have a portable version so that you can use it on other computers without extra installation.
This free, powerful, and feature-rich software keyboard, video, and mouse switch (KVM) offer various switching options. However, it is only compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 7. This app won't work on Apple or Linux systems.
What separates this from Share Mouse is that all its features are available for the free version. It offers multi-monitor support, key bindings, macros, and enhanced security options. You can limit which computers can control your Input Director app by name, IP address, or even subnet.
And if you're planning to employ this in a network to which several other users connect, you can encrypt your data to keep them safe. Again, this powerful app is free for personal use. But if you want to employ this in a commercial and corporate setting, you must contact the maker.
Mouse Without Borders is a side-project created by engineers under the Microsoft Garage program. While this is not an official Microsoft product, it is developed and supported by its employees and is recognized as such by Microsoft. However, because of this, it's also available for Windows devices only.
Like the other software KVMs above, you can share one keyboard and mouse across four computers connected to the same network. You can also set custom shortcuts, making it easier for you to navigate across devices.
The single greatest advantage this app has over the other options is its relationship with Microsoft. Since their engineers and programmers created this app, you can expect fewer issues with the operating system. The developers are already familiar with the app's working environment to issue updates ensuring compatibility faster than other third-party software companies.
This app is one of the more powerful software KVM options. Although it's only free to try, the paid licenses will let you do much more than just control multiple computers through one keyboard and mouse set.
The KVM and KVM Pro licenses allow you to stream multiple computers on a single monitor. And all licenses can connect to any computer, whether connected to your local network or via a VPN. So even if you're physically distant from a device, you can use it like it's right in front of you.
Audio sharing is also enabled across all licenses, so if you play an audio file on a secondary device, the sound will output on your main computer. And with Multiplicity, your control inputs are not limited to the keyboard and mouse. It also accepts hot-key and touch-switching for touchscreen computers, allowing you to use it even with Microsoft tablets and 2-in-1s.
You're bound to run into some compatibility issues when using multiple systems together. However, there are times when this is unavoidable, like if you're a developer working on software for macOS and Windows using a Linux system. So if you want to use KVM software, finding an app that will work well on all three different operating systems could be challenging.
It only has two features: it lets you control multiple computers with one keyboard and mouse and shares clipboards across your devices. But since this is an open-source project, you can tweak the program to your needs if you're into programming. So if you want to connect your PC to your Mac for free or connect any system to your Linux computer, Barrier is your only solution.
Instead, you must shell out $29 for a Personal use license that lets you connect up to three devices to one keyboard and mouse set and copy and paste files and documents between them. If you want to connect four to 15 devices, you need to go for the Advanced Personal use license, which will cost you $59.
Although this is the most expensive option among the bunch, it's also the one you should choose if you want to have technical support and free updates for one year. Furthermore, you do not need to pay a subscription to use this app after that (unless you choose the Business use plan). With a one-time purchase, you'll have download access to the Synergy version that you bought forever.
Software KVMs are helpful for automatically connecting multiple devices. You no longer have to press a switch or turn a dial just to control your other device. This will save you time and desk space, letting you get more done.
When I first started doing cross-platform development I used a KVM switch to share my mouse, keyboard, and monitor between several physical systems. I also used VNC and remote desktop software to see what things looked like on other operating systems. Then I obtained a second monitor, which gave me multiple options for different window layouts.
Eventually, I stopped using the KVM switch, and ended up with a mess of keyboards and mice strewn all over my desk. It was at this point, well over ten years ago now, that I discovered Synergy, an open source software replacement for a physical KVM switch.
Back then it did not have any kind of graphical interface to configure your desktops, but it did have a simple text configuration file for the server where you expressed where each monitor was in relation to the others. I always used a simple layout, such as the one shown above, to share my keyboard and mouse. Each machine gets its own monitor(s), and the client machines connect to the server (which has the keyboard and mouse physically attached) to receive events. The interface in the screenshot above (taken on a Linux system) is all new, and it enables you to graphically layout your screens using a friendly Qt-based interface.
I generally run the server on my Linux machine, and the one at work has two 4k monitors attached to it. I have a Windows test machine to the right of my main screens, and a Mac machine to the left. I have also run configurations that included laptops. The way it works is quite simple: The software sets the screen edges as special areas, and when you push to the edge of the screen your mouse will appear on the other monitor. You can copy and paste between operating systems, and applications cannot tell that the mouse and keyboard are remote.
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