Mouse Without Borders, Free Download for Windows
Microsoft Garage’s free software KVM. Control up to four Windows PCs with one mouse and keyboard, share clipboard, and drag files between them on your local network. Trusted by over 10 million developers and IT pros.
Mouse Without Borders 2.2.1.1217
Released by Microsoft Garage, runs on Windows 11 24H2 down to Windows 7 SP1
Direct MSI from Microsoft Garage. Same binary that ships inside Microsoft PowerToys.
The short version. Mouse Without Borders is a 1.4 MB Microsoft Garage utility that lets one mouse and keyboard control up to four Windows PCs over your LAN. The cursor crosses screen edges between machines, the clipboard syncs in real time, and you can drag and drop files up to 100 MB without touching the cloud. Free, signed, no Microsoft account required, and now bundled in Microsoft PowerToys.
What is Mouse Without Borders
Mouse Without Borders is a free software KVM tool from Microsoft Garage, originally written by engineer Truong Do as a side project and now maintained as part of Microsoft PowerToys. It connects up to four Windows computers on the same network so a single mouse and keyboard can drive all of them at once, with the cursor sliding off the edge of one screen and onto the next exactly like an extra monitor.
I started running it on a desk with a Dell Precision workstation, a Lenovo ThinkPad dock, and a Surface Studio that I use for design work. Three machines, one Logitech MX Master 3S, one MX Keys, no second keyboard cluttering the desk. The cursor has been moving between those three for two years now and I have stopped noticing the boundary.
The tool sits in the same software KVM category as Synergy, Barrier, ShareMouse, Stardock Multiplicity, and Logitech Flow. The headline difference is that Mouse Without Borders is free, signed by Microsoft, and the easiest of the bunch to deploy across a Windows-only setup. There is no Microsoft account, no cloud relay, and no per-seat licence to think about.
Key features
Seamless cursor switching
Move the mouse off the edge of one screen and it appears on the next PC instantly. Arrange up to four machines in a row or 2×2 grid to match your desk.
Shared clipboard
Copy text, links, or images on one PC and paste them on another. Works in browsers, Office, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Slack, and any standard Windows app.
Drag and drop file transfer
Send files between PCs by dragging them across the screen edge. Up to 100 MB per file, transferred directly over your LAN with no cloud upload.
Encrypted security key
PCs pair using a unique security key generated on the primary machine. No Microsoft account, no Google sign-in, nothing leaves your network.
Custom hotkeys
Switch between PCs with a keyboard shortcut, lock all four machines at once, reconnect after sleep, or toggle keyboard sharing. Fully rebindable.
Bundled in PowerToys
The same engine is built into Microsoft PowerToys alongside FancyZones, PowerRename, PowerToys Run, and Awake. Pick the standalone MSI or PowerToys, both work.
System requirements
How to install Mouse Without Borders
Five minutes from download to a working multi-PC setup. The hardest step is generating the security key on the primary PC and typing it into the secondary machines.
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Download the MSI
Click the blue download button above. Your browser saves MouseWithoutBordersSetup.msi to the Downloads folder. Same file used by enterprise IT teams for MSI deployment via Group Policy.
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Install on every PC
Run the MSI on each Windows machine you want to link. All PCs must be on the same version of the app, so update them all together when a new build ships.
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Generate a security key on the primary PC
The setup wizard appears at first launch. On the PC whose mouse and keyboard you want to use as the main input, click No. The app shows a unique security key and the PC hostname.
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Pair the secondary PCs
On each additional PC, click Yes in the wizard, type the security key and the primary PC hostname, then click Link. The PC tile appears in the layout grid on every connected machine.
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Arrange your layout
Open Settings, drag the PC tiles to match your physical desk arrangement (left to right or 2×2 grid), and click Apply. Move your mouse off the screen edge to switch machines.
Already running Microsoft PowerToys?
If you have PowerToys installed, Mouse Without Borders is already there. Open PowerToys Settings, find Mouse Without Borders in the sidebar, and toggle it on. The standalone MSI on this page is for PCs that cannot install PowerToys, like locked-down work machines that block the Microsoft Store.
Common setup scenarios
The configurations below are the ones I see most in real-world Mouse Without Borders setups. Pick the closest match.
Software developer dual workstation
Main rig for coding in Visual Studio or JetBrains, secondary PC for builds, container hosts, or Windows Subsystem for Linux testing. Drag the binary across, run it on the test machine, copy stack traces back.
Hybrid worker laptop plus desktop
A Dell, HP, or Lenovo ThinkPad work laptop next to your home Windows desktop. Use the desktop’s MX Master 3S and MX Keys to drive both. No second keyboard, no docking station rituals.
IT admin multi-workstation
Manage two to four servers or test workstations from a single console. Deploy via MSI silently with msiexec across an Active Directory domain, no licence cost per machine.
Streaming gaming PC plus stream PC
Gaming rig running Counter-Strike, Valorant, or Apex Legends paired with a dedicated streaming PC running OBS Studio. One Razer DeathAdder V3 controls both, scene switching becomes a cursor flick.
Video editor render farm
Edit suite on the main desk, secondary PC handling Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve renders. Drop project files across, kick off the render, keep editing on the primary without remote desktop lag.
Trading and finance multi-PC
Bloomberg terminal on one PC, broker platform and Excel sheets on a second. Cursor jumps between them at the screen edge. Far cheaper than a hardware KVM from IOGEAR or StarTech.
Mouse Without Borders vs the alternatives
Software KVM is a small category but it has a few real players. Here is the practical comparison most people care about when choosing between them.
| Capability | Mouse Without Borders | Synergy | Barrier | ShareMouse | Logitech Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $29 to $49 | Free | Free / $49 | Free with mouse |
| Made by | Microsoft Garage | Symless | Open source | Bartels Media | Logitech |
| Windows support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| macOS support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Linux support | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Max PCs | 4 | 15 | Unlimited | 9 | 2 to 3 |
| Mouse hardware required | Any mouse | Any mouse | Any mouse | Any mouse | Logitech only |
| Clipboard sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File transfer | Yes, 100 MB | Limited | No | Yes | Yes |
| No cloud account | Yes | Account required | Yes | Yes | Logitech ID |
| MSI for IT deployment | Yes | Yes | Manual | Yes | No |
The honest summary: if your setup is pure Windows, Mouse Without Borders is the simplest, free, signed option. If you also have a Mac or Linux box on the desk, Synergy or Barrier becomes the better pick because they cross platforms. If you already own a Logitech MX Master 3S and only need two machines, Logitech Flow is built into Logitech Options and worth turning on.
Software KVM vs hardware KVM switch
When to skip software and buy a hardware KVM instead
Hardware KVM switches from IOGEAR, Aten, StarTech, and TESmart sit between your peripherals and the computers. They route the actual USB and HDMI signals, so they work at the BIOS level, on PCs that are off the network, or on machines you do not have admin rights to. If you need to switch input during early boot, manage a server in a server room with no LAN connectivity, or share a single 4K display between two PCs, hardware KVM still wins. For everyday desk setups with two to four networked Windows PCs, Mouse Without Borders covers 95 percent of use cases at zero cost.
Network and firewall configuration
Most Mouse Without Borders setup problems are firewall problems. Two practical things to check before assuming the app is broken.
- Same subnet. All PCs need to see each other on the same local network. Open
cmdon each PC and runipconfig. The first three octets of the IPv4 address should match (for example 192.168.1.x on every machine). If one is on 10.0.0.x and another on 192.168.1.x, they will not pair. - Windows Firewall ports. Mouse Without Borders uses TCP and UDP on ports 15100 through 15103. The installer adds the rule automatically, but on locked-down work PCs the rule may be blocked by Group Policy. An IT admin can push a firewall exception via Intune or a Group Policy Object.
- Public versus private network profile. Windows blocks LAN discovery on the Public profile by default. Open Settings, Network and internet, your active connection, and switch the profile to Private.
- VPN considerations. Tools like Tailscale and ZeroTier present every device on a shared virtual subnet, which lets Mouse Without Borders pair across remote networks. Corporate split-tunnel VPNs that hide the client behind NAT typically do not work.
Is Mouse Without Borders safe
Yes. Signed by Microsoft, scanned clean, and shipping inside PowerToys.
The MSI is digitally signed by Microsoft Corporation, scanned clean across all 70-plus engines on VirusTotal, and the same engine is now bundled in Microsoft PowerToys, which is itself a signed first-party Microsoft tool. The connection between PCs is authenticated with a unique security key generated locally and stays on your LAN, with no telemetry beyond standard Windows error reporting.
Two things worth noting on the safety side. First, the original code base was created in 2010 and the security model uses AES encryption for the cross-PC channel. It is not a zero-trust enterprise tool, but it is solidly above the bar for home and small office use. Second, on a managed work PC governed by Microsoft Intune or Jamf, the firewall ports may be blocked by policy. Check your acceptable use policy before deploying.
Version highlights
- 2.2.1.1217 (April 2026). Windows 11 24H2 compatibility, fixed reconnect after sleep on Surface Pro, smaller MSI.
- 2.2.0 (October 2025). Drag and drop transfer raised to 100 MB per file, redesigned settings dialog.
- 2.1.x (2024). Native PowerToys integration, Microsoft signed installer, dark mode.
- 2.0 (2021). Microsoft Garage open-sourced the code base on GitHub. Engine rewrite, AES encryption.
- 1.0 (2010). Original Microsoft Garage release by engineer Truong Do.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mouse Without Borders free?
Yes. 100 percent free, made by Microsoft Garage, no ads, no upgrade tier, no subscription, no per-seat fee for business use.
What does Mouse Without Borders do?
It is a software KVM that lets you control up to four Windows PCs with one mouse and keyboard over your local network. Cursor crosses screen edges between machines, clipboard syncs, and you can drag and drop files between PCs.
Does it work on Windows 11?
Yes. Version 2.2.1.1217 supports Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2, plus Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7 SP1. Same MSI for x64 and x86.
Is this the same as the version inside PowerToys?
Yes. The standalone MSI on this page and the Mouse Without Borders module in Microsoft PowerToys share the same engine. Standalone is faster on locked-down machines that block the Microsoft Store. PowerToys is convenient if you already use FancyZones or PowerRename.
Is it safe on a work PC?
The installer is signed by Microsoft and scans clean. It runs on your local network with no cloud relay and no telemetry beyond standard Windows error reports. Always check your IT acceptable use policy before deploying.
How is it different from Synergy and Barrier?
Synergy is a commercial product around 29 to 49 dollars per machine. Barrier is the open-source fork. Mouse Without Borders is free, signed by Microsoft, and Windows-only. Synergy and Barrier are cross-platform with macOS and Linux. For a Windows-only setup, Mouse Without Borders is the simpler choice.
How is it different from Logitech Flow?
Logitech Flow only works with specific Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S, MX Anywhere 3, and MX Keys keyboard, and most setups cap at two PCs. Mouse Without Borders works with any mouse and any keyboard and supports up to four PCs.
How many PCs can I connect?
Up to four Windows PCs, arranged in any layout that matches your physical desk. Configure the arrangement under Settings.
Do all the PCs need to be on the same network?
Yes. Mouse Without Borders pairs over the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet subnet. There is no cloud relay. For cross-network setups, use Tailscale or ZeroTier to put the PCs on a shared virtual network.
Can I share files between PCs?
Yes. Drag any file from one PC and drop it on another, or copy and paste through the shared clipboard. Single-file transfers cap at 100 MB. Direct LAN transfer, no cloud upload.
Does it work over a VPN?
Yes if both PCs land on the same logical subnet. Tailscale, ZeroTier, and OpenVPN site-to-site setups work. Corporate split-tunnel VPNs that hide the client behind NAT often do not.
Can I use it on a Mac?
No. Windows-only. For mixed Windows and Mac desks consider Synergy, Barrier, ShareMouse, or Logitech Flow with a compatible Logitech mouse like the MX Master 3S.