Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Switching monitor, keyboard, and mouse inputs between M1 (Max) Macbook pro and a windows desktop
- Thread starter SHNXX
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I suppose it really depends on your workflow, but what has worked for me, as someone who works on both Mac and PC daily, is that I use a software mouse/keyboard sharing utility (Sharemouse) that allows me to connect one of my laptops to my dock and display, and share a mouse/keyboard/clipboard between the two. My second laptop is positioned off to one side and acts as an additional monitor of sorts. If I need to switch which device has access to the big screen, I simply move the cable. For me this is not a common switch so it works well. Better than involving additional hardware.
I have LG 34 5k2k with thunderbolt connection and have Logitech MX keyboard and mouse with unity receiver plugged into monitor’s USB port. USB upstream connects to windows and thunderbolt/usb-C connects to MBP so all the inputs changes automatically as I switch between windows and mac.
I have been using an usb kvm and a displayport kvm, both from Aten, for many years now with four different macbook pro (2013, 2016, 16 2019 and M1Max 2021) without any issues.
I use a separate switch because I don't always want to switch monitor and keyboard mouse at the same time: I do have a dual monitor setup with one monitor hooked to the kvm and one connected directly to the mac, so depending on the situation I use both monitors with the mac or one with windows and one with the mac and decide which one to use the keyboard with. I use a software called Sharemouse that will let me share the mouse/keyboard with the other system for when I need to work with both at the same time.
I mostly keep the mouse/kb connected to the mac and switch only for gaming.
Over the years I tried many different combos of software and kvms but this one is almost perfect so I settled on it.
I use a separate switch because I don't always want to switch monitor and keyboard mouse at the same time: I do have a dual monitor setup with one monitor hooked to the kvm and one connected directly to the mac, so depending on the situation I use both monitors with the mac or one with windows and one with the mac and decide which one to use the keyboard with. I use a software called Sharemouse that will let me share the mouse/keyboard with the other system for when I need to work with both at the same time.
I mostly keep the mouse/kb connected to the mac and switch only for gaming.
Over the years I tried many different combos of software and kvms but this one is almost perfect so I settled on it.
KVM switches don't NECESSARILY suck. However, the good ones are quite expensive.
I have 2 32" 4K displays and wanted to share them between multiple machines (Windows/Linux desktop PC, multiple Macs for work/personal use).
I use an ATEN KVM switch. In order to connect my MBP up to the KVM switch, I use a CalDigit T3+ Thunderbolt 3 dock, and that connects to my KVM switch with USB, audio and display port cables.
The KVM works pretty well, but there are some quirks. I had to disable keyboard and mouse emulation to use my multiple button mouse and keyboard with media controls. And sometimes when things initially wake up from sleep for the work day I can run into some resolution mismatches that just require a KVM power cycle. But I've been using the switch for about a year and a half and it's the best solution I've found so far.
In addition to ATEN, look into ConnectPro switches too.
These switches run in the $500-800 range.
At one point I was using Barrier, but Catalina broke that (security risk?). Anyone know if that has been updated?
Based on the feedback here, it seems like monitor switches are a hassle worse than just having separate inputs into one monitor and switching input on the monitor itself.
But USB switches still seem interesting.
Is Unity receiver the best solution for this?
But USB switches still seem interesting.
Is Unity receiver the best solution for this?
I have Samsung 34'' ultrawide, DP goes to gaming PC, HDMI to USBc goes to MBP - although I cannot get 100hz out of it, Logitech G915 TKL receiver in PC and bluetooth to MBP - switch with one button, I have two mouses, but still one Logitech anywhere 2s could be used same way as keyboard