I recently started a second work-from-home job and now need to use two laptops with four monitors. My current setup uses Dell P2422H and P2425HE monitors, with DisplayPort and USB-C connections, and the monitors are extended from one laptop. I have another pair of the same monitors available, but I'd prefer not to keep two separate keyboards and mice on my desk. I'm looking for a KVM or similar solution that lets me switch one keyboard and mouse between both laptops, ideally with a hotkey or button. It would be helpful if the setup could support as many of the four monitors as possible, although I'm willing to compromise on extended displays. Is there also a legitimate way to keep the inactive laptop from going idle while I'm working on the other one?
4 Answers
A dual- or quad-monitor KVM is the most direct solution, but make sure it supports the exact video standards and resolutions of your Dell displays, plus USB-C if you want the laptops to connect through a single cable. Many USB-C monitor chains and DisplayPort daisy-chains don’t pass cleanly through a basic KVM, so you may need a KVM with multiple DisplayPort inputs per computer or separate video connections for each laptop. A hotkey or front-panel button can then switch the keyboard, mouse, and selected monitors together.
You could also use a multi-device Bluetooth or wireless keyboard and mouse. Many models let you pair with two or three computers and switch between them with a dedicated button. That won’t switch the monitors, but it’s simple and avoids the compatibility issues that can come with a multi-monitor KVM.
Remote-control software is another possibility, but separate VPNs, endpoint security, and employer policies may block it or make it unreliable. Also, deliberately preventing a work computer from going idle or making activity indicators stay active can violate company policy. It’s safer to configure approved sleep and presence settings through your employers’ IT departments rather than using a mouse-jiggling workaround.
Software such as Logitech’s multi-computer device feature can let one keyboard and mouse move between computers by moving the pointer to the edge of the screen. It can sometimes share clipboard contents too, provided the software is installed and permitted on both machines. That may work well if you can leave each laptop connected to its own monitors, though company VPN and security policies could prevent cross-device features.
That sounds promising. I’ll need to check whether both work machines allow the required software, especially with their VPN and security restrictions.