Guide
From first connection to everyday features, step by step.
Most people only need to follow this order. For the harder networking details see Technical & Security, and when something isn't working, check Help separately.
Android setup
For your first Android connection, just follow this order.
This assumes Wi-Fi (the same router). Android needs its Accessibility Service; for Mac, use the separate five-step flow below.
Open the PC app
Run OneMouse on Windows and a 6-digit code and a QR code appear on screen.
Turn on the Android Accessibility Service
To receive mouse and keyboard input from the PC, turn on the OneMouse Accessibility Service on Android. In practice, this is the only thing you need to set up.
Search for your PC
Find the PC on the same Wi-Fi (the same router). On Android 13 and up, you may be asked once for the "nearby Wi-Fi devices" permission at this point.
Pair with the QR or 6-digit code
Scan the QR code or enter the 6-digit code to confirm it's your device. Once pairing is done, the input, file, and clipboard channels open.
Set your phone's position
Choose which edge of the PC screen (left, right, top, or bottom) leads to your phone, and arrange it to match the real direction. That edge is where the cursor crosses over.
Cross over and use it
Push the mouse toward the edge you set and it moves onto the phone. Drop files on the Quick Drop zone, and to reach another PC drag them across the screen boundary. For screen capture, use Print Screen or Ctrl+Alt+S.
See the real-UI pairing flowGet ready → check the PC code → enter the number → scan the QR
Phone position
After connecting, just match your phone's position to where it really is.
Decide which edge the mouse crosses over, then arrange each device where it really sits. Android, another Windows PC, and a supported Mac can all be placed around the Windows display.
See the arrangement screen
Remote control
Mobile screen remote control starts from Devices.
In Devices, tap the remote control icon on the row of a paired Android, and a separate window opens showing the phone's screen. The first time you open it, Android screen capture approval is required.
Controls in the window
- Left click, drag, and wheel pass straight through.
- Right click = Back, wheel click = Home.
- Your PC keyboard — including IME and non-Latin input — goes to the phone's current text field.
- If the screen looks blank, check the capture approval pop-up and turn remote control off and on again.
The device row and icon
The open remote control window
Files & clipboard
Send files from the transfer screen, the Quick Drop zone, or a desktop-to-desktop drag.
- Drop files on the transfer screen or small drop zone to send them to the selected Android, Windows PC, or Mac.
- Windows-to-Windows or Windows-to-Mac over LAN: hold a file, drag it across the arranged screen boundary, and drop it on the target.
- Android → PC: send from the Android transfer tab or the share menu.
- If it won't start, check the connection status and the selected device.
Quick Drop zone
- Press Ctrl+Alt+D to hide or show the drop zone.
- Its position and state are saved in the PC app.
The Quick Drop zone screen
Mobile to PC
Send files and selected text from your phone to your PC.
First make sure the phone is paired and connected to the PC. Send files from the transfer tab or Android's share menu, and send text through OneMouse to PC in the selection menu.
Send a file
- In the mobile app's Transfer tab, tap Choose files and send to PC.
- Select the files and they are sent to the currently selected PC.
- From a photo or document app, you can also choose Share and select OneMouse.
Send text
- Long-press text on Android, select it, then open More.
- Tap OneMouse to PC to copy it to the PC clipboard.
- If it is missing the first time, turn on OneMouse once in app management, then select it again.
See the text-transfer screensHow to enable and use OneMouse to PC from Android's selection menu.
Number shortcuts
Connect instantly with the number from your device list.
Ctrl + Alt + 1~9
- The first 9 devices in Devices get Ctrl+Alt+1~9.
- Press a number to connect to that device.
- Press the number of an already-connected device again to disconnect.
- A small notification appears at the bottom right when you connect or disconnect.
Auto-reconnect
- When on, the PC app reconnects automatically when your last device reappears or when only one device is ready.
- No separate notification appears as the mouse moves between devices.
Bluetooth
You can also connect over Bluetooth, without a router.
Windows↔Android and Windows↔Windows can exchange input, clipboard, and files directly over Bluetooth. Mac Bluetooth ships as a beta (enable it in the Mac app settings; off by default) — LAN remains the officially supported path for Mac.
Great when
- You're in a room, outdoors, or in a car with no shared Wi-Fi
- Guest Wi-Fi or a firewall blocks device discovery
- You mostly do light keyboard and clipboard work
Good to know
- Turn it on from the Android settings tab; it works independently of Wi-Fi (with retry backoff).
- Windows↔Windows supports two-way file drag.
- Mac connections, file transfer, and screen sharing currently use LAN.
- You can turn on several Bluetooth devices from the list at once.
- Bluetooth is slower than Wi-Fi — for large files, use Wi-Fi.
- Mac screen and window sharing is not supported over Bluetooth; it is LAN-only.
- If you run into trouble, pair again from Windows Bluetooth.
Connection order
Turn on Bluetooth mode in the Android settings tab
Pair the phone once in Windows Bluetooth settings
The PC app auto-connects → shown in Devices
Use input, clipboard, and files just like Wi-Fi
The Bluetooth target device screen
Another PC
Link another Windows PC in this order: Settings · Devices · arrangement.
Connecting
- Choose the Windows PC that will start and manage the connection.
- Pair the other Windows PC to add it to Devices.
- In the layout editor, place the other PC where it really sits.
- Move the mouse in that direction to control the other PC, and exchange files by dragging across the boundary.
The arrangement screen
Mac · Public support
Connect an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 13+ from Windows.
Install the public DMG on the Mac, then start and manage the LAN connection from OneMouse on Windows. Follow these five steps.
Put Windows and Mac on the same local network
Run OneMouse on Windows 10/11 and on the Mac, with both computers connected to the same Wi-Fi or LAN. Connections are started and managed from Windows.
Allow the Mac permissions
Allow Accessibility so the Mac can perform received mouse and keyboard input. On macOS 15+, also allow Local Network for discovery; macOS 13/14 may not show this item.
Select the Mac in Windows
Open Devices in the Windows app and select the detected Mac.
Enter the Mac's 6-digit code
Enter in Windows the 6-digit pairing code displayed by the Mac, then confirm the pairing.
Arrange the Mac and cross over
Place the Mac beside the Windows display in the arrangement editor. Move the cursor across that edge to control it and exchange files and clipboard content in both directions.
Optional LAN screen sharing
Screen & System Audio Recording permission is needed only when you choose to view or control the Mac's display from Windows. OneMouse does not capture system audio.
Mac Bluetooth
Mac Bluetooth is available as a beta: enable it in the Mac app settings (off by default). LAN remains the officially supported path, and screen or window sharing is LAN-only.
Permissions
Each platform asks only for the permissions its features need.
Permissions aren't all requested at once — they're asked for when you use the feature. Detailed notes on each item are in Technical & Security.
- Accessibility Service — required: needed for Android control and for screen capture and remote input.
- Screen capture approval — when remote control starts: approved through an Android system pop-up.
- Nearby Wi-Fi devices — when connecting: may be requested once on Android 13+ while finding the PC.
- Notifications, system settings, battery exception: only when needed — for showing service status, adjusting brightness, and stability after the screen turns off, respectively.
- Mac Accessibility — required for input: allows the Mac to perform input received from Windows. Local Network is allowed for discovery on macOS 15+; macOS 13/14 may not show it.
- Mac Screen Recording — optional: used only when sharing the Mac's display with Windows.
- Mac Bluetooth — beta: enable it in the Mac app settings (off by default). LAN is the officially supported path; Mac screen and window sharing is LAN-only.
Shortcuts
The keyboard shortcuts you'll use most.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Alt+1~9 | Connect the matching device in the list / press again to disconnect |
| Ctrl+Alt+D | Hide / show the Quick Drop zone |
| Ctrl+Alt+S · PrintScreen | Capture the mobile screen |
| Ctrl+Alt+Backspace | Force the cursor back to your PC (center of the monitor) |
| Alt+Shift+↑/↓ | Adjust the mobile screen brightness (needs system settings permission) |