How to control multiple computers with a single mouse and keyboard

In this guide, we explain how to easily connect a single mouse and keyboard to multiple computers at the same time using Mouse without Borders or Input Director. With the help of the options listed on this page, you will be able to use the same wireless or wired keyboard and mouse on multiple computers at the same time. You can even set up your monitors to switch machines when you move the mouse to the side.

Microsoft Garage Mouse without Borders

Mouse without Borders is a Microsoft Garage project by Microsoft employee Truong Do that allows you to control up to four computers from a single mouse and keyboard. It was first published in January of 2018 and has a good online reputation.

Supported Operating System

Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016

1. Download and install the same version of Mouse without Borders on each of your machines.
2. Follow the instructions to configure Mouse without Borders.

Input Director

Input Director is a free program written by Shane Richards and available at inputdirector.com. Just like Mouse without Borders, Input Director allows you to control multiple Windows systems with a single keyboard and mouse. Input Director supports a shared clipboard which allows you to copy on one computer and paste on another.

When you use Input Director you will assign a master and a slave system. This means that one system is the master and has the keyboard and mouse plugged into it. The slave system is the machine without the primary keyboard and mouse.

Supported Operating System

Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7, Windows 2008, Windows Vista, Windows 2003 and Windows XP(SP2)

What you’ll need

Your master and slave system’s hostname: The name of your computers (Go to Settings >System > About > Device name).

1. Download and install the same version of Input Director on each of your machines.
2. Run Input Director on your slave system.
3. Go to the Slave Configuration tab and click the Add button.
4. Add the hostname of your master system and click OK.
5. Go to the Main tab and click the Enable as Slave button.
6. Run Input Director on your master system.
7. Go to the Master Configuration tab and click the Add button.
8. Add the hostname of your slave system, configure how many monitors the slave system uses, set a hotkey (optional), use data security (optional), and click OK.
9. Go to the Main tab and click the Enable as Master button.