Mouse Without Borders Not Working? 8 Ways to Solve It

The seamless flow between multiple computers with Mouse Without Borders is a productivity dream. Bundled inside Microsoft PowerToys, this app allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across multiple screens and different systems. But what happens when the tool just fails to work as advertised? If you’ve found yourself struggling to fix Mouse Without Borders, fret not, for the solution(s) are here.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through multiple ways that should help you get Mouse Without Borders working properly. From slight tweaks to advanced settings, we’ve got the entire package. Once done, you’ll be able to not only use the same peripherals across multiple Windows devices but also transfer files and share the clipboard. So let’s get to it.

1. Reinstall PowerToys

Often, a simple reinstallation can work wonders. Since Mouse Without Borders is a part of the PowerToys package, you will have to uninstall and reinstall it. To do so, press the Windows + I keys together on your keyboard to launch Windows Settings. Here, head over to Apps > Installed apps.

Here, search for PowerToys. In the results, click on the three-dot icon next to PowerToys and select Uninstall.

Windows should now uninstall PowerToys from your PC. Once done, you can download it again from the Microsoft Store.

Download Microsoft PowerToys

Do this on all the systems, and then try giving Mouse Without Borders another shot.

2. Make Sure Both Machines Are Running

It might sound obvious, but ensuring that both computers are up and running is crucial. Sometimes, one of the machines might be in sleep mode or turned off, leading to connectivity problems. Ensure that the host machine, where Mouse Without Borders is running, and the remote machine you’re attempting to connect to exist on the same network and can communicate effectively. Verify that both machines possess functional network connections and can access the internet.

3. Ensure You’re on the Same Network

It’s also crucial to ensure that all the computers that you’re trying to use Mouse Without Borders on, are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You can check for the same by clicking on the Wi-Fi icon in the Taskbar and checking the name of the network.

Make sure to connect to the same network as the other computer. Once done, try using Mouse Without Borders again.

4. Change DNS Settings

DNS issues can occasionally interfere with Mouse Without Borders. Try changing your DNS settings to a reliable and fast DNS server. You can use Google’s DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220). There are multiple ways to change the DNS Server on Windows, so you can use the one that you like.

Regardless of the method you opt for, it’s recommended to use the same DNS server on all the machines. Once done, try using Mouse Without Borders once again to see if it works now.

5. Run as Administrator

Mouse Without Borders might need a little extra authority to work its magic. As such, running PowerToys with administrative privileges can sometimes resolve compatibility issues. To do that, search for PowerToys inside the Windows Search, and then select ‘Run as Administrator’.

Do this on all the computers, and try using Mouse Without Borders again. With the elevated permissions, you shouldn’t face any issues.

6. Adjusting Firewall Settings

If you’re still facing connectivity issues, it might be due to the Windows Firewall. Some of our users pointed out that manually creating a rule for Mouse Without Borders helped them. So follow these steps.

Step 1: Inside Windows Search, search for ‘Allow an app through Windows Firewall’. Click on the first result.

Step 2: Inside the Windows Firewall settings, click on ‘Change Settings’. Grant it the Admin rights for the same.

Step 3: Now, you can add Microsoft PowerToys to the Firewall’s exceptions list. To do that, click on ‘Allow another app’.

Step 4: In the new window that pops up, select Browse.

Step 5: Now, navigate to This PC > Windows > Program Files > PowerToys. Here, select ‘PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders’ and click on Open.

Step 6: Then, click on Add.

And that’s it. Once done, try using Mouse Without Borders once again.

7. Enter IP Manually

Mouse Without Borders uses your Wi-Fi network’s IP address to connect with other computers running on the same network. Sometimes, the app is unable to detect the correct IP settings leading to this error. Thankfully, the tool also comes with a mapping option in the Settings. This allows you to manually enter the IP address of the remote machine instead of relying on DNS. Here’s how to use it.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Here, type in ‘cmd’ and press Enter.

Step 2: This should launch the Command Prompt window. Now, enter the following command.

ipconfig

Note down the IPv4 address of your PC. Repeat both these steps for each computer.

Step 3: Now, open Mouse Without Borders inside PowerToys, and enter the Security Key and Device name as usual. Then, scroll down to the ‘IP address mapping’ section. Here, enter the Device name followed by its IP address. Do this on all systems.

That’s it. You can now try connecting. Instead of using the DNS resolver, the app should now be able to seamlessly connect to all the systems, and share the mouse and keyboard with ease.

8. Other Products

If everything fails and you find yourselves pulling your hair in frustration, maybe you should consider a third-party solution. For instance, Logitech offers the MX Master 3S, which is an excellent mouse with Multi-Device Connectivity. With its use of Logitech Flow, you can use the mouse across different computers connected over the same Wi-Fi network. Similarly, you can also check out multi-device keyboards out there that have similar features.

Multi-Screen Magic

Mouse Without Borders is an excellent tool and usually works right out of the box with a minimum setup process. Just enter the password, and you are good to go. If you are having trouble connecting, try the solutions mentioned above to resolve the Mouse Without Borders not connecting error.

Next up: Looking for alternatives to Mouse Without Borders? Here are 3 apps to share your keyboard and mouse between two or more computers.