This free clever app made all my computers feel like one

I have a Logitech mouse and keyboard setup, which makes it easy to switch between multiple devices at the press of a button. This works well when I’m switching from one device to another occasionally, but it becomes impractical if I need to move my mouse across multiple displays connected to different computers.

While a KVM switch is an option, I wanted a software solution that wouldn’t require any additional hardware. Fortunately, PowerToys has the perfect solution in the form of Mouse Without Borders. This free utility lets you move your mouse seamlessly across multiple Windows PCs over a secure and encrypted local connection.

What is Mouse Without Borders, and how does it work

Emulating a KVM switch

Some keyboards and mice, like the ones in Logitech’s MX series, come with built-in device switching. When paired with the Logi’s Options+ app, you can switch inputs using the dedicated keys on the keyboard and the mouse from one device to another. This is convenient for occasional switching, but not very practical when you’re constantly moving between machines throughout the day.

A KVM switch is a more conventional and reliable solution here. It’s a hardware device that lets you control multiple computers with one set of peripherals. But they come with obvious drawbacks. You need to buy the hardware, which isn’t cheap, and it’s only practical when you have multiple computers connected to a single monitor. Most KVM switches also require all your devices to be physically close together.

A software solution falls somewhere in the middle as it’s more convenient than the dedicated switches on your keyboard and cheaper than a dedicated hardware setup. Mouse Without Borders works by creating one continuous workspace across all your computers. You simply move your mouse to the edge of one screen, and it seamlessly appears on the next computer. Your keyboard input follows your mouse, typing on whichever machine your cursor is on. The tool also lets you copy and paste text between computers and drag and drop files from one PC to another.

Setting up Mouse Without Borders

Installation and linking devices

First, you’ll need PowerToys installed on all the computers you want to connect. Download the app from the Microsoft Store if you don’t have it already. Once installed, open PowerToys settings and navigate to the Mouse Without Borders section under Windowing & Layout.

On your primary computer, enable Mouse Without Borders and click New Key to generate a security key. This creates a unique code that links your computers together. Write it down along with your computer’s name, which appears in the same window.

Head to your second computer, enable Mouse Without Borders there, and enter the security key and host computer name when prompted. Click Connect and wait a few seconds for the machines to find each other. The status indicator should turn green once connected.

Mouse Without Borders shows your connected computers as boxes you can drag around to match your physical setup. If your second computer sits to the right of your main machine, drag its box to the right to arrange the boxes accordingly. This works the same as the multi-display layout setup in Windows 11, so it’s easy to get the hang of it. You can connect up to four computers total and only need to repeat the process to add each additional machine.

Using Mouse Without Borders

Configuring behaviors and shortcuts

To test the setup, push your cursor past the edge of one screen, and it should appear on the corresponding edge of the next computer. However, there are a few more advanced options that you can toggle to make the most of this PowerToys utility.

The clipboard sharing, though not unique to this app, is a handy feature. It lets you copy text on one computer, move your mouse to another machine, and paste. File transfers work the same way, though there’s a 100MB limit per file. For larger files or folders, you’ll need to zip them first or use other ways to transfer files between your PCs.

Mouse Without Keyboard also supports Keyboard shortcuts for faster switching between devices. For example, press Ctrl + Alt + 1 through 4 to jump directly to a specific computer without moving your mouse and press Ctrl + Alt + F12 to lock all connected machines simultaneously when stepping away from your desk. The Easy Mouse toggle (Ctrl + Alt + M) temporarily disables edge switching if you’re working in full-screen apps or games to avoid accidental switches.

In the Advanced Settings, you can adjust how close to the screen edge your mouse needs to get before switching, add delays to prevent accidental switches, or disable switching entirely when certain apps are full-screen. The service mode option, which requires administrator privileges, ensures Mouse Without Borders works with elevated applications and at the Windows lock screen.

Mouse Without Borders keeps things simple

For most Windows users, the free Mouse Without Borders hits the sweet spot between functionality and simplicity. It’s part of PowerToys, so you don’t need to install additional tools, and for anyone like me who only needs to use it a couple of times a day, Mouse Without Borders works perfectly.

While Mouse Without Borders works well, it’s not perfect for everyone. Alternatives like Input Director offer a smoother experience with better multi-monitor support and more granular control options, though it takes more effort to configure. Synergy is a more intuitive tool to use and works across Windows, Mac, and Linux, with the smoothest performance of any solution I’ve tested. But at $29, it’s only worth it if you need cross-platform support or absolutely seamless switching.