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Keyboard stays in a remote desktop window, or a game minimizes, when you switch computers

Updated

Written for Synergy 3 (v3.8.2) and Synergy 1 (v1.22.2), checked 13 October 2026.

Product: Synergy 1 and Synergy 3
Operating system: Windows

One setting decides whether Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 takes the foreground window when you move the mouse to another computer, and it fixes 2 opposite problems, so set it for the one you have. Change it on the Windows computer whose keyboard and mouse you share (the server, or primary computer).

Keyboard keeps typing into a remote desktop or full-screen window?

If your mouse moves to another computer but your keystrokes still go into a remote desktop window, or another full-screen app, on the Windows computer, let Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 take the foreground window:

Synergy 3

  1. Go to Miscellaneous (under Advanced).
  2. Turn Take foreground window (more reliable input capture) off.

Despite its name, in Synergy 3 (v3.8.2) turning this switch off is what makes Synergy 3 take the foreground window. It's on by default.

Synergy 1

  1. Click Configure Server.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab.
  3. Clear Don't take foreground window (Windows only).
  4. Click OK.

It's cleared by default in Synergy 1.

Taking the foreground window makes the remote desktop window stop being the active window when you move away, so it lets go of the keyboard. A full-screen game may then minimize when you move away; if that matters more to you, see the next section.

Game or full-screen window minimizes when you move to another computer?

Stop Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 taking the foreground window:

Synergy 3

  1. Go to Miscellaneous (under Advanced).
  2. Turn Take foreground window (more reliable input capture) on. It's on by default.

Synergy 1

  1. Click Configure Server.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab.
  3. Tick Don't take foreground window (Windows only).
  4. Click OK.

Many full-screen applications, particularly games (and remote desktop windows), minimize when they're no longer the active (foreground) application on Windows. The server computer normally becomes the foreground when you switch to another computer, to capture all your input more reliably, and that makes those applications minimize.

With this setting, Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 may not work correctly when certain programs, particularly the command prompt, are in the foreground as you switch to another computer. Click a different program before switching to work around that.

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