How to control a Mac and a PC with one keyboard, mouse & monitor
If you run a Mac and a Windows PC at the same desk, you don't need two keyboards, two mice, or two monitors. There are three ways to drive both machines from one set of peripherals — here's how each works, and which to choose for your setup.
Option 1 — A hardware KVM switch
A hardware KVM switch is a physical box. You plug both computers, your monitor, keyboard, and mouse into it, then press a button to switch. It works without software, but you have to match ports and resolutions exactly (DisplayPort vs HDMI vs USB-C, refresh rate, power delivery), it costs $80–$400 for one that handles 1440p/4K at high refresh, and cheaper units drop USB devices every time you switch. Good if you can't install software; otherwise it's the most expensive, most cable-heavy route.
Option 2 — Mouse-sharing software (two monitors)
Tools like Synergy, Barrier, and Logitech Flow let your cursor glide off the edge of one screen onto another. They're a great fit when each computer has its own monitor sitting side by side. They don't switch a monitor's input, though, so they don't help if you want two computers to share one screen.
Option 3 — EasyKVM (one shared monitor, over your LAN)
EasyKVM is a software KVM switch built for the common case: one monitor, two computers. Press a hotkey and it switches the monitor's input over DDC/CI while your keyboard, mouse, and audio hand off to the other machine — all over your local network, nothing on the internet. Each computer drives the monitor natively, so you keep full resolution, refresh rate, and HDR. It isn't limited to the Mac + PC combo either: two Windows PCs pair the same way (monitor swap included), and two Macs share keyboard, mouse, and audio with a manual monitor switch.
Set it up in about five minutes
- Install EasyKVM on both the Mac and the Windows PC (download here).
- Pair them with a one-time 6-digit code over your LAN — no account needed.
- Plug each computer into the monitor on its own input (HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C).
- Pick a hotkey (default Ctrl+Alt+Q) and press it to swap. Press again to come back.
Which option is right for you?
- One monitor shared by both computers → EasyKVM (it's the only software option that switches the monitor input).
- A separate monitor per computer → mouse-sharing software (Synergy / Barrier / Logitech Flow), or EasyKVM in peripherals-only mode.
- Can't install software at all → a hardware KVM switch.