Guide: Fix ‘Mouse Without Borders Not Working’ Issue
I wanted to increase my productivity as a writer, so I followed the lead of other bloggers, YouTubers and gamers by setting up a multi-screen setup. On a tight budget, I installed Mouse Without Borders to link my old laptop and new desktop - but it didn’t work.
Microsoft Garage’s free app, Mouse Without Borders, promised to let users control multiple screens and systems with one mouse and keyboard. Unfortunately, the app failed to deliver on its promise.
Mouse Without Borders is a Windows 7-10 compatible program that allows users to control multiple computers with different Windows OS versions from one device.
Microsoft’s Mouse Without Borders is a free program that allows users to control up to four computers with one mouse and keyboard. It is available for download on the Microsoft website. With this program, users can easily move files, documents, and applications between multiple computers.
1. Check your version
To ensure your computers are running the same version of Mouse Without Borders, right-click the icon in the system tray and select ‘About’.
To ensure successful installation, all machines should have the same version of the software. If not, download the latest version from the provided link and restart the installation process.
2. The same WiFi network
Ensure your computers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network for Mouse Without Borders to function properly. To verify, click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and check the network name.
If the two computers are not connected to the same network, ensure they are before proceeding to the next step.
3. Compatibility mode
Different versions of Windows can be installed on different computers, and this does not necessarily prevent Mouse Without Borders from working. Some users have reported success in getting the program to work by changing the compatibility mode; to do this, right-click on the Mouse Without Borders shortcut and select Properties.
To troubleshoot compatibility issues between two computers, try changing the version of Windows on one of them using the drop-down menu in the Compatibility tab. After selecting a different version, click Apply and OK to save the changes.
Ensure consistency across computers by selecting the same Windows version and check if this resolves the issue.
4. Run as administrator
Check the “Run this program as an administrator” box and try again.
To resolve a Mouse Without Borders issue, select the “Run this program as an administrator” option, click “Apply” and “OK,” then restart the program on all computers.
5. Firewall settings
Users have reported that manually creating a firewall rule for Mouse Without Limits can help them get the most out of their experience. To do this, follow these steps.
Press the Windows key, search for “Administrative Tools” in Control Panel, and access them.
Choose Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security from the list.
Choose Inbound Rules from the left pane to proceed.
Choose ‘New Rule’ from the Actions menu to create a new rule.
Click ‘Program’ and proceed to the next step.
Navigate to the Microsoft Garage folder on your C drive and launch the Mouse Without Borders app from its installation folder.
In the next step, click “Allow the connection” to proceed.
Select all three options on the next screen and click “Next” to proceed.
Name your rule “Mouse Without Borders” and click “Finish” to complete the setup.
To ensure Mouse Without Limits works on all computers, users should repeat the same steps on each device and restart the app to check if it is functioning properly.
6. Enter IP manually
Mouse Without Borders relies on the same IP address as your Wi-Fi network to link up computers. However, if the app fails to detect the correct settings, an error message will appear.
Press the Windows key and R on your keyboard to open the Run prompt, then type “cmd” to launch the command prompt.
Avoid using your web browser to locate your IP address. Instead, open the command prompt and enter the following command to find it.
Record the IPv4 address from each computer’s results, then move on to the next.
Open Mouse Without Borders and assign each computer a unique IP address: click the IP Assignments tab, then enter the name of each computer and its corresponding IP address on separate lines.
To establish a connection between two computers, enter the IPv4 address and computer name of the remote or slave computer on the primary or host computer. Then, return to the Machine Setup tab and click Apply to restart the connection process. If successful, you should see “Connected” written under the name of the remote computer.
If Mouse Without Borders stops working, users should click the Apply button again to re-establish a connection. This is a known issue with the app.
7. Synergy
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Synergy could be the solution. It’s a third-party tool that works across Windows, macOS and Linux platforms, giving you more flexibility for just $29. Perfect for programmers and other professionals who need to switch between operating systems regularly.
You can transfer files and copy text snippets and URLs with Mouse Without Borders, but for an extra $39 you can upgrade to the Pro version which includes an SSL connection.
Magic on multiple screens
Mouse Without Borders is a great tool that requires minimal setup and usually works right away. Simply enter the password and you’re ready to go. If you experience any connection issues, there are solutions available to help resolve them.
If you’re in need of a replacement for Mouse Without Borders, there are three apps that can help you share your keyboard and mouse between multiple computers.
Fix ‘Mouse Without Borders Not Working’ Issue: benefits
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Final note
If you’re having trouble getting Mouse Without Borders to work, this guide can help. Got questions? Reach out for assistance. And don’t forget to share the love by passing it along to your friends.
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