Mouse Without Borders for Android and other OSs

[kk-spartans]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

I would like mouse without borders to be available for android; It would be the exact same thing

Scenario when this would be used?

I always have my phone next to my PC and I would like to not need to
always reach out for it when I need to use it

Supporting information

No response

[JacobDB]

I'd also love to see this, this would be a great way to compete with "Universal Control" on macOS/iPad, beyond just Surface tablets, and it seems like a great extension of the "Phone Link" app's work towards integrating Android and Windows together.

Perhaps the PowerToys team could work with the Phone Link team to make this work through their app as an "Experimental" feature, or perhaps via a new area in the settings called "PowerToys," so that the PowerToys team themselves don't have to worry about maintaining a separate Android app.

I picked up a Pixel Tablet last month, and with it set up just below my monitor, I'd love to be able to seamlessly control it with my keyboard and mouse.

It'd also be awesome if this could work with iOS, but I agree Android should be the priority.

---

This would be better as a new issue, I'm sure, but somewhat related, it'd be awesome if PowerToys could support something like "Sidecar" on macOS/iPad. Now that I think about it though, I think this is already built in to Phone Link for Samsung phones. Maybe we'll get wider support eventually...

[crutkas]

Linux, iPad, ....

[Luk164]

I second this for linux

[nightsparc]

Would be great to have this possibility :)

[uebmaster]

Hi.

Just like a comment, you can use https://github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy to display and control android your android devices, i mean, will be great that Mouse without borders could integrate the feature, but for now you could use the other project.

[JacobDB]

@uebmaster while Scrcpy can be used to control an Android device from Windows, it can only do so through screen mirroring, so it's not really a good alternative to Mouse Without Borders, which essentially lets you share a keyboard and mouse between two devices. Essentially, instead of screen mirroring, you instead move your cursor between devices, as if they were one device.

Scrcpy is fine for some use cases, but it's really not the same thing.

[uebmaster]

I know it, i've used it synergy in the past, but i said scrcpy just to "fix" the necesity in the moment, i think that is posible to use mouse without borders and scrcpy at same time and resolve the problem at least temporaly.

…

________________________________ De: Jacob Bearce ***@***.***> Enviado: martes, 15 de agosto de 2023 01:26 p. m. Para: microsoft/PowerToys ***@***.***> Cc: Uebmaster ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Asunto: Re: [microsoft/PowerToys] Mouse Without Borders for Android and other OSs (Issue #26296) @uebmaster<https://github.com/uebmaster> while Scrcpy can be used to control an Android device from Windows, it can only do so through screen mirroring, so it's not really a good alternative to Mouse Without Borders, which essentially lets you share a keyboard and mouse between two devices. Essentially, instead of screen mirroring, you instead move your cursor between devices, as if they were one device. Scrcpy is fine for some use cases, but it's really not the same thing. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#26296 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABKOYQVJZTYIO377ISYQL43XVPEMZANCNFSM6AAAAAAYOWC624>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[WhoMI7]

+1 for this feature

[emendoza2]

I agree that this feature would be very valuable for linux and macOS

[noahstreller]

I would love to see this enhancement, especially for Android. It would also be convenient if it doesn't depend on the local network, since there are a lot of moments where I'm not able to connect to the same network as my windows device. If it could work over WAN or Bluetooth (or at least have mobile hotspot discovery support), then this would be ideal! Though the security question is the follow up issue to that, I might imagine.

[TLCPlusPlus]

I would love this just so I can use my phone as a second screen for my pc for increased productivity, not just for controlling android.

[GingerGraham]

I see #26630 was merged to this ticket.

Just to be clear, as most of the discussion here is for mobile devices, another use case, and for me a stronger one, would be support for MacOS and Linux.

Context would be consulting type roles where I have a work device and a client device running different OS. As an example, I have a Windows based work laptop and the client has just issued a MacBook.

Also, may not be directly relevant but for the use case or mobile devices as a second screen I know GNOME desktop Linux is able to leverage RDP in reverse where the mobile client RDPs to the target desktop machine but instead of remote control it appears as a second screen. Feels like Windows own implementation of RDP should handle this use case?

[tobiasgraeber]

Huge Fan and also subscribing to this feature request. My usecase would be Android < > win.

How is the currently state regarding this?

Whats needed to make this real next?

[Galaxy0Gamer]

me too, I need this I have been searching for something like this for a while but most of what I found has been abandoned.
I really hope this feature gets more attention, my use case is also between windows and android.

[Shinbly]

I need this too, for now I'm using https://github.com/debauchee/barrier for that kind of behaviour. It's not for android though

[back2yes]

Until this feature comes out i think just using a multi channel keyboard and mouse would be the way to go I also don't have a Samsung phone so I can't use phone link. (I really didn't think that so many people would pay attention to this feature)

Mouse without borders is way better than a multi channel mouse. You can share clipboard and drag-and-drop files. And you can switch to other devices simply by moving cursor, not clicking a button each time.

[hatrd]

Are there any alternatives to 'Mouse Without Borders' available for Linux&Windows now? It would be really useful.

[ArjixWasTaken]

Are there any alternatives to 'Mouse Without Borders' available for Linux&Windows now? It would be really useful.

Synergy 3 is pretty good
Although it ain't free, but it is a one time purchase

[Luk164]

Are there any alternatives to 'Mouse Without Borders' available for Linux&Windows now? It would be really useful.

Barrier is a good one, free and open-source as well

[hatrd]

Are there any alternatives to 'Mouse Without Borders' available for Linux&Windows now? It would be really useful.

Barrier is a good one, free and open-source as well

Thanks a lot, I am using it now.

[Lumanac]

I just use scrcpy with otg. If you use my command it basically mimics the seamless switching of synergy by moving your mouse to the edge of the screen to switch devices but with this you have to click "scrcpy --otg --always-on-top --window-x=0 --window-y=350 --window-width=35 --window-height=400 --window-borderless"

[crispearson]

+2
Would love this to control my iPad and Mac, Both of which I have on the same desk as my PC which is my main, at the moment. Was a super nice experience when I had 2 PC's on my desk. I'm on the edge of buying sharemouse or synergy after struggling to make barrier work well a few months ago. Trying again now, but I've wasted a lot of time with this issue.

[Lumanac]

Guys i finally found the solution. It's made by another developer though. https://github.com/rohitsangwan01/uni_control_hub Check this out guys!

[Luk164]

Guys i finally found the solution. It's made by another developer though. https://github.com/rohitsangwan01/uni_control_hub Check this out guys!

Interesting, but other than the nice UI, what extra functionality does this bring over say barrier?

[bradyguyc]

Are there any alternatives to 'Mouse Without Borders' available for Linux&Windows now? It would be really useful.

I use a product called sharemouse. It's pretty good and I use with my surface studio laptop and mac mini. Works well with windows and MacOS. Tho I would like to see mouse without borders support macos

[dark-hub166]

Guys i finally found the solution. It's made by another developer though. https://github.com/rohitsangwan01/uni_control_hub Check this out guys!

i tried it, and when i minimize the window, it doesnt work
(i was using it in Windows and android)

[willnode]

Someone could isolate the Mouse without Borders code and adopt it to single package like npm module or something.

[alexchandel]

Please add support for macOS and/or Linux. Supporting these platforms is a requirement for complex software, and Mouse without Borders would make it so easy.

@willnode is this all of it? https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/tree/main/src/modules/MouseWithoutBorders

I see a Service but no indication or documentation of the protocol / comms, or how inputs are executed.

[willnode]

All you need to know is in https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/d51ca9f8d4ebf15dee7060315e75aca3ccf941f1/src/modules/MouseWithoutBorders/App/Class/Common.cs

[ppghb]

As much as I would like to see an Android version of Mouse Without Borders, here is the simple workaround that I am using. I have a logitec bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Each has three push-buttons (or keys) that you can assign to a differents devices. I assign my mouse & keyboard to my PC on key 1, and on my Android on key 2. Each time I need to jump from PC to Android, I just press the 2nd button on my mouse and on my keyboard, and I am now connected to my Android phone.

This is not ideal (no text copy / paste capability), however is good enough for what I need (manipulate the phone from keyboard and mouse, without having to touch it).

[bradyguyc]

I have been using sharemouse for several years now and it works just fine with multiple OS's. While it cost a little I have found it to be worth it. Given the power toys is really focused on windows environments not sure it's worth pushing them into multi OS support.

[TripleEYE]

I would like to join the horde requesting support for Mouse without Borders on Android, and would like to add Chromebook to this request (even older Chromebook devices please)