How to use logitech flow for mice and keyboards across multiple computers

Slide seamlessly from one PC to the next, cut and paste between PCs and more. And it’s free!

Senior Editor, PCWorld |

Today’s Best Tech Deals

Picked by PCWorld’s Editors

Top Deals On Great Products

Picked by Techconnect’s Editors

Microsoft’s Mouse without Borders app is an unsung productivity tool whose ability to let a mouse and keyboard hop from one Windows device to the next is worth checking out. It unlocks a versatility similar to that of Logitech’s Flow, but for far, far cheaper—because it’s free to use with any Windows device.

Mouse without Borders originally launched in 2011, long before Logitech debuted Flow. The app resurfaced Wednesday as part of Microsoft’s inaugural Microsoft Garage Wall of Fame, a celebration of smaller apps developed within Microsoft. You should try it out.

Like Flow, Microsoft’s Mouse without Borders allows you to use the same mouse and keyboard (yes, keyboards too) across multiple PCs. Once you move the mouse cursor to the edge of one screen, it hops over to the next connected computer—exactly as if it were a passive monitor, allowing you to bring in additional PCs into your workspace.

Both Flow and Mouse without Borders also allow you to cut and paste files across PCs, and type on multiple PCs using the same single keyboard. But while Flow is locked to a small coterie of Logitech-equipped peripherals, Mouse without Borders promises to work with just about anything.

To be honest, Logitech’s Flow also factored into our endorsement of Logitech’s Craft keyboard and MX Master 2S mouse. While we still stand behind those reviews, Mouse without Borders serves to highlight that Flow isn’t as exclusive as you might think.

Mark Hachman / iDG

You’ll see this screen more than once, as you need to download Mouse without Borders on multiple PCs. But how you answer this question will differ.

Setup: Still rough around the edges

Even several years after its debut, the 1.3MB Mouse without Borders app feels like a throwback to Win32 utilities of old, rather than the more polished UWP apps Microsoft is promoting within Windows 10. You’ll need to enter encryption keys manually, tweak options, and so on. But it’s a live app, whose most recent update was released in January.

First, you’ll need the Windows without Borders app itself, which runs on everything from Windows 7 and above. Up to four PCs on the same network can share the same mouse and keyboard. The author, Truong Do, recommends that both PCs be connected via ethernet, though wireless worked acceptably in some cases. Obviously, you’ll need to download and install the app on more than one PC. This is where it gets a bit confusing.

When Mouse without Borders first loads, the app will ask you if you’ve downloaded it on any other machine. Even though you’ve probably downloaded the utility to two PCs at about the same time, you’ll need to pick one of these PCs and select No. Doing so reveals the name of the PC you’re working on, as well as an encryption code. (Though it’s not essential, you may want to change the PC name within Settings > System > About to rename it something intuitive, rather than just a collection of letters.)

Mouse without Borders will generate an encryption code to enter manually on the other connected PCs. (You can also ask it to generate a new code later, if you’d like).

On the second PC, you’ll need to respond Yes to the question of whether the app appears on any other PC. It’s here that you’ll enter the name of the first PC, as well as the complex encryption code/password that the first installation of the app generated. Clicking Link will then connect the second PC to the master PC.

Like Flow or the Smart Switch technology Microsoft tied to its Surface Precision Mouse, the PC layouts can be organized either vertically or next to one another, as on a desk.

Your firewall may negatively affect how well Mouse without Borders works. I found that turning off Windows Defender, enabling Mouse without Borders, then re-enabling Defender worked well. (ZoneAlarm, another popular firewall, allowed Mouse with Borders to work, though the mouse moved very slowly.) To be fair, I had the same wireless troubles with Logitech’s Flow, too.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We used this image to illustrate Logitech’s Flow software, but it applies here as well: Mouse without Borders allows you to bring in multiple PCs into one shared workspace.

How it works: Quick and slick

Once connected, I found that my mouse cursor zipped from one PC to the other, with surprisingly little lag. It was easy to cut and paste text from one PC to the other, and copy files up to 100MB in size—right now, 100MB is a hard limit, unfortunately. You can even do tricks like lock all of the PCs at once, simultaneously, or virtualize a keyboard-video-mouse setup, so that your mouse and keyboard input are duplicated exactly across multiple PCs. Again, to be clear—Mouse without Borders works with mice and keyboards.

The main screen of Mouse without Borders. Here, you can generate a new passkey, align your PCs, and more. Note that you can also re-initiate the setup experience. Connecting and disconnecting PCs with Mouse without Borders installed is as easy as clicking the checkbox.

Certain situations, like Remote Desktop windows or other virtual machines, may confuse the app, the developer notes. And you unfortunately can’t copy and paste multiple files, unless they’re compressed into a single file that’s less than 100MB.

When set up properly, though, Mouse without Borders is fast, faster than Flow. I used it on the same machines by disabling Mouse without Borders and turning on Flow. Granted, Flow was using a wireless Logitech MX Master 2S mouse, rather than a wired connection. But Flow can also copy multiple files without apparent issue. Any file above 100MB is copied with a progress bar visually indicating how quickly it will transfer.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mouse without Borders offers tons of options. For more details, you can hover your mouse over each one.

The one key advantage that Mouse without Borders offers is the freedom from dedicated hardware. There’s no guarantee that it will work with everything, but I used a wired Razer mouse and keyboard to test it, and it seemed to work flawlessly. If it works just as well for the generic corded USB mice and keyboards that populate our desks, Microsoft’s Mouse without Borders sounds like a utility worth owning. (A Logitech spokeswoman points out that Mouse without Borders is restricted to Windows, while Flow migrates across Macs and PCs — a fair point.)

Will Mouse without Borders eventually migrate into Windows? Certain features that allow cross-PC collaboration, such as upcoming Timeline and Near Share features within Windows 10’s Redstone 4 feature update, signal that Microsoft is thinking about tying Windows devices closer together. For now, though, there’s Mouse without Borders—and it looks like a handy app to add to your PC’s bag of tricks.

Updated at 10:01 AM on March 2 with a comment from Logitech.

We’re used to a pretty steady flow of mice and keyboards coming out of Logitech, but today the focus is almost entirely on software. Citing its own in-house research that shows one-in-ten people work across multiple computers, Logitech has launched new software called Logitech Flow. This new software is meant to help streamline the process of working across multiple computers at once.

It does this in a couple of different ways. First (and perhaps most importantly), Logitech Flow will allow you to use the same mouse across a total of three different computers. This, obviously, means that you can trim the number of accessories you have on your desk, and work between your computers faster.

Allowing you to control multiple computers with a single mouse is just one part of the Logitech Flow equation, though. You can also use Logitech Flow to easily copy and paste files, photos, and text between your computers. Before, the best solution before was to send that content in email attachments or upload them to Dropbox, but Logitech Flow lets you move those files between machines much faster.

To go along with the launch of Logitech Flow, Logitech is re-launching two of its mice with Flow functionality. The Logitech MX Master and the MX Anywhere 2S are the mice getting updates today, but more beyond Flow compatibility is being added to these new versions. For instance, we can look forward to an increased resolution of 4,000 DPI, along with a battery life that tops out at 70 hours.

More mice beyond those two will be compatible with Logitech Flow – the trailer you see above lists five at the end of it. In addition to the MX Master and MX Anywhere 2S, look for this functionality in the M720 Triathlon, M590 Multi-Device Silent, and M585 Multi-Device. Logitech Flow will be available as a free download on both Windows and Mac through the Logitech OptionsTM software.

Logitech Takes Multi-Computer Functionality to the Next Level with New MX Mice and Flow

Finally Let Your Cursor Flow Across Multiple Computers

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and NEWARK, Calif. —June 1, 2017 — Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) announced Logitech Flow, a groundbreaking new software that allows you to seamlessly control up to three computers with one mouse. The software is compatible with Logitech’s next-generation flagship mice, Logitech® MX Master 2S and the Logitech MX Anywhere 2S,designed for those who need advanced multi-device connectivity and precise sensor accuracy in a stunning design.

Tweet now: All systems Flow. Unlock cross-computer features w/ the next-gen
conferencecam with a super-wide FOV for #huddlerooms:

“One computer used to be enough, but we’ve moved into an era where roughly one in 10 people are working across multiple computers at the same time,” said Anatoliy Polyanker, global portfolio and brand director at Logitech. “Using multiple computers can help you avoid distractions and speed up processor-intensive operations, but working across multiple computers can be a hassle. That’s where Logitech Flow comes in. With Flow and a new MX mouse, you can enhance your productivity — for instance, copying and pasting files from one computer to another — helping you become more precise and focused in the multi-computer world.”

The latest mice are part of the Logitech MX lineage, which included the Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse and the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mobile Mouse. The next-gen MX mice pack even more functionality, including compatibility with Logitech Flow.

Logitech Flow

With Logitech Flow, available as a free download as part of Logitech® OptionsTM software, you can take multi-computer use to a new level. With the MX mice, you can seamlessly control up to three computers with one mouse, and even copy and paste content, images and documents between the three computers. Logitech Flow is easy to set up, and has a simple user interface.

Logitech MX Master 2S and the Logitech MX Anywhere 2S

The Logitech MX Master 2S and the Logitech MX Anywhere 2S feature an improved DarkfieldTM High Precision tracking, which boosts the mice cursor speed, accuracy and increases the resolution to 4,000 DPI so you can have the most versatile mouse at all times, no matter what screen you are using.

The mice also track on any surface – even glass – so you get flawless control and have an improved battery life, with a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 70 days on a full charge, depending on usage. And when you do need to recharge, it’s fast and easy.

The Logitech MX Master 2S has a speed adaptive scroll wheel that auto-shifts from click-to-click to hyper-fast scroll, so you can scroll through long documents or Web pages with ease. Plus, you get side-to-side scrolling with a thumb wheel, and can customize additional functions with Logitech Options. The Logitech MX Anywhere 2S has a precision wheel, which lets you switch between click-to-click to hyper-fast scrolling.

Both mice are crafted to fit your hand. The Logitech MX Master 2S supports your hand and wrist in a comfortable and natural position, while the Logitech MX Anywhere 2S provides comfort and control anywhere you need – at home, at work or on the go.

Adjust pointer and scroll experience, customize buttons and keys, and work across multiple devices using Flow.

Logitech wants to make setting up and customizing your keyboard and mouse as simple and intuitive as possible, so the peripherals company has redesigned the existing Options app and relaunched it as Options+.

Available as an open beta for Windows 10 and macOS, the emphasis is clearly on offering a visual experience (see the video below). Logitech includes predefined settings for the most popular apps, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, but it’s easy to add more app configurations. Customizing your buttons and keys, as well as adjusting pointer and scrolling experiences is also really simple, and Logitech includes support for time-saving gestures.

Options+ also includes a feature called Flow, which allows you to seamlessly switch to another computer “by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen.” There’s also the option to transfer text, images, or files between computers using copy and paste thanks to Flow. An Easy Switch key allows for one tap switching between your difference devices, meaning quick pairing between your keyboard and mouse and a desktop, laptop, or even a smartphone is possible.

Compatibility is, as you’d expect, limited to Logitech’s own peripherals. In beta form, Options+ is compatible with the MX Master 3 and MX Anywhere 3 mice for Windows and Mac, as well as the MX Keys keyboard for both platforms. There’s also the option of light or dark themes, and English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish language options.

Recommended by Our Editors

Logitech says Options+ is set to “become the single stop to help you create and communicate more effectively with your Logitech mice and keyboards.” It’s also apparently “just the beginning” and we should expect “new features and experiences not possible before.”

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

Adjust pointer and scroll experience, customize buttons and keys, and work across multiple devices using Flow.

Logitech wants to make setting up and customizing your keyboard and mouse as simple and intuitive as possible, so the peripherals company has redesigned the existing Options app and relaunched it as Options+.

Available as an open beta for Windows 10 and macOS, the emphasis is clearly on offering a visual experience (see the video below). Logitech includes predefined settings for the most popular apps, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, but it’s easy to add more app configurations. Customizing your buttons and keys, as well as adjusting pointer and scrolling experiences is also really simple, and Logitech includes support for time-saving gestures.

Options+ also includes a feature called Flow, which allows you to seamlessly switch to another computer “by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen.” There’s also the option to transfer text, images, or files between computers using copy and paste thanks to Flow. An Easy Switch key allows for one tap switching between your difference devices, meaning quick pairing between your keyboard and mouse and a desktop, laptop, or even a smartphone is possible.

Compatibility is, as you’d expect, limited to Logitech’s own peripherals. In beta form, Options+ is compatible with the MX Master 3 and MX Anywhere 3 mice for Windows and Mac, as well as the MX Keys keyboard for both platforms. There’s also the option of light or dark themes, and English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish language options.

Logitech says Options+ is set to “become the single stop to help you create and communicate more effectively with your Logitech mice and keyboards.” It’s also apparently “just the beginning” and we should expect “new features and experiences not possible before.”

• Ted Kritsonis
• November 5, 2020 3:41 pm

Whether you’re self-employed running a business from home, or setting up something more permanent with multiple screens, Logitech’s MX Master mice and MX Keys keyboards may be one way to tie them together.

A desktop setup could work well for both posture and convenience, but bringing together multi-screen setups needs the right tools. That means being able to switch from one screen to another, or even better — switching from one computer to another — even if it is a PC and Mac. That’s what makes these two products compelling.

To switch from one computer to another with little effort is a huge productivity gain, especially if your tasks between them are collaborative. Having used them myself, I’ve seen my own home office change in ways that will be permanent.

How they work

Logitech pulls this off with dedicated software it calls Flow that pairs with a USB adapter you plug into a computer. If you have, say, two computers, it’s best to plug an adapter in to each one (you get one with each mouse and keyboard). You may not have to if your computer can connect them directly via Bluetooth. In my experience, though, the adapters were very reliable.

This lets you drag the mouse cursor over from one screen to another as if they were one screen together. You can do the same with the keyboard, where you assign up to three different computers to dedicated keys. Press the one corresponding with that computer and type away. Press another one and you control that computer.

In essence, this gives you one keyboard and mouse for a whole desktop, helping clear up space on your desk, while also offering some seamless interaction. Mind you, this works just the same with two laptops, so it’s not exclusive to desktop spaces.

Flow runs through a desktop application called Logitech Options that you download on your PC or Mac. Go through the motions, and it should start working relatively quickly.

How Logitech MX can ‘Flow’ across screens

Doing this between two computers can be supremely satisfying. The main reason why is because the various functions you’re used to on one computer apply to both. For example, you could copy something from one computer, and then copy it to the other. I’ve personally done that several times with Zoom links.

Another is to drag-and-drop a file between the two machines for a super easy way to share without having to connect the two computers through a network share. As an example, imagine getting an email attachment that you need to use on the other computer. Or to bring a photo you edited from a MacBook Pro laptop to an iMac to include in a video. The same is true of using the keyboard to type out a document on one, while switching to respond to a message or email in the other. You get the point, but the idea is that workflows ‘flow’ with less friction.

MX mouse and keyboard

It also helps that the mouse is more ergonomic. The MX Master 3, in particular, has both vertical and horizontal scroll wheels, and back and forward buttons. There’s even a button embedded in the thumb rest, along with the primary scroll wheel. With a fair bit of customization, you can pull off some useful navigation tricks here.

I found the mouse really comfortable to use, especially because of the palm rest that angles the wrist on a straighter angle. I saw a reduction in the wrist-related stiffness and pain I used to feel when using my laptop’s trackpad throughout a day. Just wish I had done it sooner.

The MX Keys is a full-length keyboard that includes a number pad, as well as programmable keys you can assign to specific apps or functions. It’s backlit, using onboard sensors to light up when your hands are near, and the key travel is nice and responsive. Like the mouse, it charges up via USB-C, and has a convenient on-off switch to preserve battery life.

While it has a slight incline, it doesn’t have an adjustable one all its own, so you would need to do that yourself, if necessary. It’s lightweight enough to take with you if you needed to move to the couch or another table, for example.

The bottom line

Unfortunately, the MX Master 3 isn’t made for left-handed folks. Logitech never released a variant to accommodate those who use a mouse with their left hands. It’s an omission that truly feels short-sighted for how it cuts out left-handers out in the cold. Even the MX Anywhere 3, which is a smaller and lighter version, doesn’t come with one for lefties.

Despite that, Logitech put together a solid combination of tools here. They do a great job bridging together more than one computer, while also maintaining a greater feel for ergonomics. If you work from home in a somewhat irregular or makeshift office environment, you’ll appreciate that. But even if you have a better layout, they deliver just the same.

However, they do come at a price. It’s $130 each for the MX Keys and MX Master 3, whereas the MX Anywhere 3 comes in at $100. So, it is a pricey proposition, but it does pay for itself in the convenience and productivity you get out of them.

Is it possible to make mouse follow the keyboard when eas-switching?

For example if mouse and keyboard are connected to 1 I press “swtich to 2” key on my keyboard I’d like the mouse to automatically switch to 2 as well.

As it is now, the keyboard would switch and mouse is stuck on 1untill I manually “easy-switch” it.

Is there a solution for it?

Comments

Wouldn’t get your hopes up — been waiting two years for this.

do you have a solution ?

I’m going to go and write this missing feature into Amazon reviews, as now that I’m over £200 investment into Craft + MX mouse setup, this is one blinder of a stupid roadblock to seamless working!

This would be really handy . Logitech product support any reason why this has not been implemented

Just wanted to +1 this, surely they could implement this into the Logi Options app?

I also feel this is a problem.. the Easy-Switch keys are a great idea – and the only reason I coupled my MX Master 2S with a MX keys – but they are pretty useless if the mouse does not follow the keyboard!

I totally support this idea for new feature. I invested in both MX keys and MX Master 3 and it would be great to switch both of them just by pressing the keyboard easy-switch buttons.

Flow is offering this functionality somwhow but my experience with linking the keyboard was not very successful (it would only switch the keyboard every other time when moving the mouse over) and since installing Options is not an option anyway on my work laptop, Flow is just not the right solution.

I just wanted to make a post about exactly this.
I cannot believe that the keyboad follows the mouse if Flow is active but that
I cannot let the mouse follow the keyboard when I switch by pressing the key on the keyboard.

Logitech – Please implement this feature. The keyboard switching is easy, but switching the mouse is a pain. It would be great if we could switch both with the keyboard button.

Are we still waiting for this feature with no response from Logitech?

looking for the same – why you can’t do some grouping of the devices to do easy-switch for all group members.

I bought a K780 initially to share the keyboard with an iPad and Mac Mini. I was so blown away by how brilliantly simple the system was, that I bought an easy switch mouse to go along with it. Little did I know that adding a mouse to the mix would make the easy-switch system not-so-easy: because I have to manually switch both devices to the target system.

This is a little more difficult to do with the mouse (M720) as the easy switch function is accessible through a single button and an LED indicator to show you which device you’re currently connected to. This means that, for the mouse, switching is not just one-click but multiple clicks depending on how many devices you have and if you clicked one-too-many times and need to go through the cycle again.

As the keyboard has dedicated switch buttons, it would have been most convenient just to set the mouse to follow the keyboard. Did Logitech not have the foresight that people would want both a keyboard and a mouse with easy-switch functionality?

I realize that there are some special scenarios when you want the keyboard to control one device and the mouse to control the other. but this to me is the exception.

I hope Logitech is able to fix this issue, which seems to be an easier task than their fancy Logitech Flow.

Adjust pointer and scroll experience, customize buttons and keys, and work across multiple devices using Flow.

Logitech wants to make setting up and customizing your keyboard and mouse as simple and intuitive as possible, so the peripherals company has redesigned the existing Options app and relaunched it as Options+.

Available as an open beta for Windows 10 and macOS, the emphasis is clearly on offering a visual experience (see the video below). Logitech includes predefined settings for the most popular apps, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, but it’s easy to add more app configurations. Customizing your buttons and keys, as well as adjusting pointer and scrolling experiences is also really simple, and Logitech includes support for time-saving gestures.

Options+ also includes a feature called Flow, which allows you to seamlessly switch to another computer “by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen.” There’s also the option to transfer text, images, or files between computers using copy and paste thanks to Flow. An Easy Switch key allows for one tap switching between your difference devices, meaning quick pairing between your keyboard and mouse and a desktop, laptop, or even a smartphone is possible.

Compatibility is, as you’d expected, limited to Logitech’s own peripherals. In beta form, Options+ is compatible with the MX Master 3 and MX Anywhere 3 mice for Windows and Mac, as well as the MX Keys keyboard for both platforms. There’s also the option of light or dark themes, and English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish language options.

Logitech says Options+ is set to “become the single stop to help you create and communicate more effectively with your Logitech mice and keyboards.” It’s also apparently “just the beginning” and we should expect “new features and experiences not possible before.”

Does anyone have an issue with Logitech Flow? I am trying to enable between a Macbook Pro and iMac. Same operating system and on the same Eero device/network. Macbook has the Unified Reciever and the iMac is connected to the Logi Mouse/Keyboard via Bluetooth.

Logitech states below for network connection and not sure if something should be set up within Eero to assist with this.

Note: Logitech Flow uses the network to link multiple (up to three) computers and allow them to share a mouse and keyboard. To accomplish this, Flow uses a few different techniques depending on your network configuration:

• For computers on the same subnet that can ping each other using UDP broadcasts, Flow uses a fixed UDP port (59867) to listen for and discover other peers.
• For those computers that are behind routers or firewalls, Flow uses a Logitech cloud service to assist with peer discovery. This discovery technique uses TCP port 443 to communicate with the server and UDP port 59868 to listen for pings from peers.

Only certain device information are sent to the server and is sent and stored encrypted for security. Once peers discover each other, they use TCP port 59866 to establish a secure peer network to send control data. All traffic sent across this network is also encrypted for security purposes.

• ilansalviano
• ilansalviano
• $0 ” data-fmt=”MMM D, YYYY · h:mm a” data-tip-class=”infodate”>1 yr ago
• 1
• Questions & answers
• Reported – view

I’m having the same issue. mine is a bit trickier . it’s a MacBook and windows 10 setup behind the Eero network.

I’m not sure to proceed either. for IPV4 devices I can only do Port forward and for IPV6 I can actually create firewall rules. I don’t have IPV6 enabled so. port forwarding doesn’t seems the way to go !!

Will need help on this one too ! Anyone out there knows the secret to get this done ?