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Installing on macOS

Updated

Written for Synergy 3 (v3.8.4) and Synergy 1 (v1.22.3), checked 20 October 2026.

For business and enterprise customers: to install on many computers at once, see: Deploying across your organization, including silent install on Windows

What you need before installation

  • An active Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 license
  • Your product's installation file from the download page
  • At least two computers, each with its own screen
  • Administrator privileges on all computers, to install and to allow the macOS permissions
  • Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection (computers must be on the same network)
  • The same product on every computer, since Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 aren't guaranteed to work with each other

The macOS versions Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 support are listed in: Operating system and hardware requirements

Switching a Mac from one product to the other? Uninstall the one you have first. The steps are in: Reinstalling or uninstalling

Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 are both called Synergy in the Applications folder, so a Mac can have only one of them.

Step 1 - Download the latest version

Get the latest version of Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 from the download page. For Synergy 1 Enterprise, log in with the email address your license is on. How to choose your product on the download page is covered in: Downloading the latest or an older version

There are two different installer files available for macOS: Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel chip.

To check what kind of processor your Mac has:

  1. Click the Apple logo in the menu bar (top left)
  2. Click About This Mac
  3. Note what it says after Chip or Processor

If it says M and a number (for example M1 or M2), use the Apple Silicon (M-series) installer file.

If it says "Intel", use the Intel chip installer file.

Save the installer DMG file to a convenient location on your computer.

Step 2 - Run the installer

  1. Double-click the downloaded DMG file in your Downloads folder (or wherever you downloaded it to).
  2. If a license agreement opens, click Agree.
  3. Drag Synergy to the Applications folder.

Step 3 - Give permission to share your keyboard and mouse

  1. Open Synergy from your Applications folder.
  2. Open the privacy settings:
    • Synergy 3: when it shows the macOS permissions dialog, which can appear before anything else, click Open privacy settings.
    • Synergy 1: the first time it opens, macOS asks to let it control this computer using accessibility features. Click Open System Settings. If you missed the prompt, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility (Device Control and Data Access on macOS 27 and later) yourself.
  3. Switch on Synergy:
    • Synergy 3: find Synergy in the Accessibility list and switch it on.
    • Synergy 1: under Privacy & Security > Accessibility, turn on the switch next to Synergy.

    On macOS 27 and later the list is called Device Control and Data Access.

  4. Enter your Mac user's password if macOS asks for it.
  5. Go back to the app:
    • Synergy 3: the dialog closes by itself once permission is granted.
    • Synergy 1: it closes until it has this access, so open it again from the Applications folder.

Problems with this permission, such as the app asking for it again and again, are covered in: Troubleshooting the macOS Device Control and Data Access or Accessibility permission

Step 4 - Activate

  • Synergy 3:
    1. On the Welcome to Synergy 3 screen, click Continue to login.
    2. Enter the email address and password of the account that has an active Synergy 3 license.
    3. Click Log in.

    Prefer to use your serial key? Click Use serial key manually instead of Continue to login, paste the serial key from your account page, and click Continue.

  • Synergy 1: with Synergy 1 Enterprise, which has no serial key, skip to step 5. Otherwise, once it's open again, Synergy 1 asks you to Enter your serial key:
    1. Log in to your account page.
    2. Click the copy button next to your serial key, under Serial key on your license.
    3. Paste the serial key into Synergy 1.
    4. Click OK.
    5. Click OK again on the message that thanks you for entering your serial key.

Step 5 - Name your computer

  • Synergy 3:
    1. Under Name your computer, enter a name for your computer that you haven't used for another computer (for example, Mac-One).
    2. Click Next.

    Then follow the instructions on screen to configure Synergy 3.

  • Synergy 1: your computer is named after its macOS host name, shown next to This computer's name: in the main window. To change it, click the edit button beside the name, type the new name and press Return. Use only letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores or dots (e.g. Mac-One).

Step 6 - Allow local network access

On macOS 15 and later, when macOS asks to let the app find devices on your local network, allow it, so it can reach your other computers. If you missed it, or your computers can't connect, see: Can't connect on macOS 15 or later: allowing local network access

Step 7 - Repeat on other computers

Repeat steps 1 to 6 on all computers that will be part of your setup, with the same product on each.

Step 8 - Set up and configure

Once Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 is installed, you can connect your computers and share your peripherals. For the steps, see: Arranging your computers or Connecting your computers

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