Written for Synergy 1 (v1.21.4), checked 3 October 2026.
Open Edit > Preferences (on macOS, Preferences is in the Synergy menu at the top of the screen). Change what you need and click Save. If Synergy 1 is running, it restarts to apply the change. Cancel closes without saving, Reset puts back the values you last saved, and Restore Defaults sets every setting back to its default.
If a message says your settings are read-only, or some settings are greyed out, an administrator controls them on this computer. For administrators: Lock down Synergy settings so users cannot change them
General
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Language | The language of the Synergy 1 window. It changes as soon as you pick one. Available: English, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Chinese (simplified). | Your system's language if available, otherwise English |
| Check for updates on startup | Synergy 1 checks for a newer version each time it starts, and shows Update available in the status bar when there is one. | On |
| Update channel | Stable or Beta. Choose Beta to be told about beta releases too. Only available while Check for updates on startup is ticked. | Stable |
| Prevent this computer from going to sleep | Keeps this computer awake while Synergy 1 is running, so the connection isn't dropped. | Off |
| Tray icon style | Colorful or Monocolor icon in the notification area or menu bar. | Monocolor |
Window
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| When the application starts | Show the main window, or Send to background to start with only the tray icon. | Show the main window |
| When the main window is closed | Send to background keeps Synergy 1 running in the tray. Exit quits it, which stops sharing your keyboard and mouse. | Send to background |
| Include version in the window title | Adds the version number to the window title. | Off |
Logs
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Level | How much Synergy 1 writes to the log: Fatal, Error, Warning, Info, Debug or Verbose. Levels above Info may slow Synergy 1 down, so set it back after troubleshooting. | Info |
| Log to file | Also saves the log to the file in Log path. | Off; the file is synergy.log in your home folder |
| Enable GUI debug messages | Adds the window's own debug messages to the log. Only needed when our support team asks for it. | Off |
Step by step, for sending us a log: Saving the Synergy 1 log to file
Network
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Network IP | On a server with more than one network connection, pick the address Synergy 1 listens on. The main window then shows Using IP: with that address. | Automatic |
| Port | The network port Synergy 1 uses. If you change it, change it to the same number on every computer. | 24800 |
| Enable TLS Encryption | Encrypts the connection. Needs a Synergy 1 Pro or Business license. Turn it on for every computer. With it come Certificate, Key length, Regenerate certificate and Require client certificates, explained in: Encryption and fingerprints in Synergy 1 | On |
Which ports to open in a firewall: What ports does Synergy use?
Advanced
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Use background service (daemon) (Windows only) | Runs Synergy 1 through a Windows service, so it keeps working at the login screen and with UAC prompts. | On |
| Always run as system (work at login screen and UAC) (Windows only) | Lets the service control the login screen and UAC prompts. Needs Use background service (daemon). More: How to make Synergy work with UAC prompts | On |
| Run command on enter | Runs the command you type each time the cursor moves onto this computer. | Off |
| Run command on exit | Runs the command you type each time the cursor leaves this computer. | Off |
Scope (Synergy 1 Business)
With a Synergy 1 Business license, a Scope tab chooses where settings are stored: Current user (only your account) or All users (everyone on this computer, which needs administrator rights). Synergy 1 asks to quit, since the change takes effect when it starts again. Setting up a shared computer: Configure Synergy for multi-user support