Written for Synergy 3 (v3.8.2) and Synergy 1 (v1.22.2), checked 13 October 2026.
These apps and devices fill gaps alongside Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 on a desk with several computers. Other developers make them, so for help with one of them, contact its maker.
Turn off a Mac's display without unplugging it
These apps disconnect a display and reconnect it when you want it back. While a display is switched off or showing another computer, it still counts as part of that Mac's screen in Synergy 1 or Synergy 3, so the cursor can move onto it where you can't see it.
ScreenToggle (macOS)
ScreenToggle is made for this one job: it disconnects and reconnects displays from the menu bar, and those controls are free. ScreenToggle Pro adds presets for switching several displays at once, and works with Focus modes and the Shortcuts app.
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Lunar (macOS)
Lunar turns off a display with a single hotkey, using its BlackOut feature (part of Lunar Pro). It suits you if you also want to control your external monitors' brightness, which is Lunar's main job.
BetterDisplay (macOS)
BetterDisplay disconnects and reconnects displays from the menu bar (part of BetterDisplay Pro). It suits you if you also want to change your displays' resolution and scaling, which BetterDisplay does too.
Switch a shared monitor between computers
When two computers share one monitor, these apps switch the monitor's input, so the screen can follow your keyboard and mouse to the other computer. They need a monitor that supports DDC/CI, which many monitors have as a setting in their on-screen menu.
ControlMyMonitor (Windows)
ControlMyMonitor is free and switches the input from the command line, so a desktop shortcut or a script can run it.
BetterDisplay (macOS)
BetterDisplay switches the input from its menu, alongside its resolution and scaling settings for the same monitor.
Lunar (macOS)
Lunar switches the input from its menu, alongside its brightness controls for the same monitor.
ddcutil (Linux)
ddcutil is free and open source, and switches the input from the command line, so a keyboard shortcut in your desktop's settings can run it.
A video-only KVM switch (any computer)
A KVM switch that switches only the video, or a monitor with a KVM or input button of its own, changes the screen at the press of a button while Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 shares the keyboard and mouse. It suits you if you'd rather press a button than install an app, or if your monitor doesn't support DDC/CI.
Send files between computers
Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 share your keyboard, mouse and clipboard. To move files from one computer to another, these apps send them over your local network.
LocalSend (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS)
LocalSend is free and open source, and is made for this one job: it sends files and text to your other computers and phones over your local network, encrypted, without going through the cloud.
KDE Connect (Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS)
KDE Connect is free and open source, and sends files between your computers and phones. It suits you if you also want your phone's notifications on your computers, or to control your phone from them.
Try new features early and help shape Synergy 1 and Synergy 3
Deskflow (Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD)
Deskflow is the free, open source keyboard and mouse sharing app that the core of Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 is built on, and we sponsor it and contribute code to it. New changes reach Deskflow before they reach Synergy 1 and Synergy 3, so it suits you if you'd like to try them early. Through its community you can report problems, suggest ideas and contribute code, and that work flows into Synergy 1 and Synergy 3 too. Help with Deskflow comes from that community rather than from our support team. We don't moderate the Deskflow community, and contributors who aren't part of our company speak for themselves, not for us.