If you have multiple computers in your home, you can use a single mouse, keyboard and monitor setup to control them all. ..

There are a variety of ways to control multiple computers from a single set of monitors and controls. This includes methods that cater for virtually any mix of multi-computer setups. ..

Connect Two Computers to One Monitor with Multiple Ports 

The second answer comes from the way monitors are designed. Most monitors have a backlight that emits light in different colors to help you see what’s on the screen. The backlight is usually controlled by a switch or a light bulb. Older monitors also had an “incandescent” light bulb, which used heat to create light. This type of monitor usually doesn’t have any inputs, and it’s usually older than most modern monitors.

To switch between the two different computers with one monitor, you need to access the internal menu of the monitor and change the input.

This is an affordable and quick way to take control of a computer from another room, but it’s not ideal for other situations.

split-screen configurations can be a great way to use two different computers’ input simultaneously, but unless you have an ultrawide monitor, it’s not worth going out and buying one for this reason alone.

Hardware KVM Switches

A hardware KVM switch is a physical device that can accept connections from multiple computers and then output to a single monitor, while accepting input from a single keyboard and mouse. This makes it perfect for use with multiple users who need to share one computer. ..

There are a variety of KVM switches on the market, each with its own unique benefits and drawbacks. A basic 2-port VGA model for about twenty dollars can be a good option if you’re looking for a simple way to connect two devices, but spending hundreds of dollars on a high-end 4K 4-port unit with fancy features may be more beneficial for your needs.

A KVM switch is a great way to connect multiple computers together without any performance penalty or potential software glitches causing downtime.

Another downside is that the switch is not very reliable. In fact, it has been known to go out on occasion. If you’re unlucky enough to experience this, you’ll need to take your machines down for a while and then reboot them.

Some KVM switches can be slow to actually make the switch, depending on the specific hardware you are using. It might take a few seconds to change between computers and if you have to do so constantly that can be a bit of a pain.

Software KVM Switches

Software-based KVM switches are not always equivalent to hardware-based KVM switches. What you typically get is a software solution that lets you use multiple computers with the primary computer’s mouse and keyboard. ..

Computer monitors still need to be in the same room as the computer. There are many software packages that include this feature. ..

Microsoft Garage Mouse Without Borders is a mouse that doesn’t require a Microsoft account to use. It’s available for free on the Microsoft website.

These switches are actually software “KM” switches and don’t really solve our problem at all. However, if you combine a software KM switch with our first solution where we plug two computers into one monitor, you effectively get a KVM switch without paying anything extra!

There are true software KVM’s, such as Stardock Multiplicity (30-day trial). Unfortunately, that product is not free, although you can try it out to see if it works for you. However, compared to the price of a hardware KVM, Multiplicity is a real bargain and adds many advantages. Such as a lack of cabling and the ability to KVM computers that are very far away. ..

Mouse Without Borders is a software KM switch that allows seamless use of the clipboard and drag files between machines as if they were one. ..

Remote Desktop Solutions

If you need to control two computers using one monitor and a hardware KVM switch is out of the question, there are a few things you can do. One option is to use a software KVM switch. Another option is to use a hardware KVM switch and split the monitors between the two computers. ..

A good way to do this is to use a remote desktop client and server application. Basically, you run the client app on the computer you will be sitting at, and run the server app on a second computer you want to control. ..

If you have a remote computer connected to your primary machine, you can use the screen of the remote computer as if it were sitting in front of your primary machine. You can maximize the screen so that it looks just like your primary machine’s screen. ..

There are many free remote desktop clients to choose from, so it seems like using a remote desktop app would be the best solution overall. However, there are many potential problems that could arise from using multiple computers to access the same remote desktop session. ..

Since you are relying on a network connection, any problems with that connections can be an issue. A poor connection can lead to bad performance, including audio and video lag. Additionally, if the remote machine hangs or has any sort of problem that needs a physical fix, you can’t just reach out and fix it.

If you have a machine that’s right there, you can use remote desktop technology to connect two computers together directly with an ethernet cable and run the remote desktop software over that connection. This will be nearly 100% reliable and more than fast enough.

Both VNC Viewer and Chrome Remote Desktop are excellent choices for remote viewing of computer screens.